AC Milan face Udinese at San Siro tomorrow night and three points would significantly enhance the Rossoneri’s chances of a Champions League spot.
After recent results, Milan will consider moving away from a 4-3-3 and against a difficult opposition in Udinese, the switch could be a difference maker. The Bianconeri are more than capable of an upset and they will look for three points on Saturday.
Seen as a potential preparation for next season, the Rossoneri’s switch to a new formation will be of huge interest. However, it could equally become a nightmare if Massimiliano Allegri’s men cannot adapt to the switch.
Opposition insight on Udinese
➤ Manager: Kosta Runjaic
➤ Form (all comps): W-D-L-W-D (most recent)
➤ Top scorer (Serie A): Keinan Davis – 10
➤ Most assists (Serie A): Nicolo Zaniolo – 5
➤ Injuries & suspensions: Buksa, Zemura, Zanoli.
In our preview ahead of the first meeting with Udinese in the league earlier this season, we recapped the summer transfer business that they had done. It seems to have helped what is looking like being a positive campaign for the Zebre.
Often grouped in with the usual mid-table suspects, Udinese have once again achieved their objective of staying up comfortably. The lowest they have been all season is 12th, while for the past few rounds they have remained steady in their current position (11th).
Their last few results tell a bit of a story regarding what they have become under Kosta Runjaic. They held Como to a 0-0 draw in the last round, won 2-0 at Genoa before that, lost 1-0 to Juventus, drew 2-2 with Atalanta and beat Fiorentina 3-0.
It is a five-game spread that shows they are capable of making things tough for the top sides, and they beat who they probably should. It is not a bad recipe for staying in the division, with 11 wins and 13 defeats in their 31 games so far.
In terms of team news, Runjaic is expected to be without the injured Adam Buksa, Jordan Zemura and Alessandro Zanoli. The big news is the return of Keinan Davis, who has 10 Serie A goals this season and is the third-top scorer in the league as a result.
After last week’s draw, Kosta Runjaic will make a slight personnel change in formation and will change to a 3-5-2 system.
After keeping their eighth clean sheet of the season, there will be no changes to the backline, understandably. Okoye, then, starts in goal with Rossoneri interest Thomas Kristensen, Kabasele and Solet in front of him.
A midfield five is made up of Piotrowski, Karlstrom and Ekkelenkamp as the midfield triangle. The latter will play in a more advanced role. On the wings, Ehizibue and Kamara again will retain their spots.
Finally, Keinan Davis will return to the starting XI for Runjaic and he starts alongside Allegri’s interest, Nicolo Zaniolo.
Predicted Udinese XI (3-5-2): Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Solet; Ehizibue, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Kamara; Zaniolo, Davis.
Predicted bench: Nunziante, Padelli, Bertola, Mlacic, Zarraga, Atta, Miller, Arizala, Gueye, Camara, Bayo.
