AC Milan are back in Serie A action after the international break and their first test will be against a Udinese side who are actually higher in the table having had a surprisingly good start to the campaign.
While these key battles pieces often talk about the importance of Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao, the main news going into this game is that head coach Paulo Fonseca is planning four changes, with only the midfield double pivot remaining a constant.
One of the other constants is Christian Pulisic, who has scored in four matches in a row in the ‘top five’ European Leagues. Only five Milan players have found the net in five consecutive Serie A games in the three-points-for-a-win era: Olivier Giroud, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (twice), Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko (twice) and George Weah.
The USA winger returned early from international duty and is expected to play centrally, meaning he will come up against Jesper Karlstrom, Udinese’s summer signing who occupies the defensive midfielder role. The Swede international (29) has plenty of experience and is important in their build-up, giving Pulisic a double job to do.
The main threat for the Zebrette is without a doubt Lorenzo Lucca, especially with Florian Thauvin absent. The 6ft7 Italian striker has scored five goals across all competitions this season after scoring nine on loan from Pisa last season, and he looks a real handful because he is technically strong for his size.
The centre-back pairing for Milan is expected to include Malick Thiaw alonside Fikayo Tomori. The German has not started a game since round one of the season against Torino due to an injury and then being out of favour, so being dropped back in could be a tough proposition against such a tricky opponent.
This feels like an important game for Samuel Chukwueze, who is in line to get a rare start in his preferred right wing position given Pulisic’s absurd form. The Nigerian has shaken off a small physical problem he had on international duty and he really needs to show what he can do from minute one, amid rumours that the management’s patience is wearing thin.
His opponent will be Lautaro – no, not that one, but his compatriot Lautaro Giannetti who will play as the left-sided centre-back for Udinese. The 30-year-old played just seven games last season and yet has found himself in the line-up more often this year, so he could be somebody to target.
Moving into the midfield, the impression that most Milan fans have been getting is that Youssouf Fofana is beginning to show exactly why the directors pursued him so relentlessly for so long. He is the balancer in the middle of the park and his performances have grown almost game by game.
The Frenchman started on the bench in both of Les Bleus’ games over the break so should be relatively fresh, and his task will be to keep tabs on Udinese’s creative midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp who they signed for €5.5m from Royal Antwerp this summer and who scored on his Coppa Italia debut.
Another player that will have a rare chance to shine is Filippo Terracciano, who at present seems to be the one chosen to replace the suspended Theo Hernandez over Alex Jimenez. He started the Lazio game in round three but didn’t leave much of a mark, and given Theo is also out for next weekend’s match in Bologna the Italian will have to show he is worth his spot.
The former Verona man could perhaps do with silencing some of the rumours about Milan shopping for a new deputy to Theo too, and his battle will be against the right wing-back Kingsley Ehizibue. The 29-year-old is entering his third season at Udinese now and has an assist to his name this season, with his pace and physicality having the potential to cause issues.