AC Milan earn a resounding victory away at Udinese—a clear 4-0 win in the Friday night opener to reignite the Rossoneri’s European ambitions.
The match starts with bursts of pace in the first 20 minutes, with heavy pressing from both sides. Milan look to push forward with long-range shots, and Reijnders is especially dangerous. In the 33rd minute, a double chance for Udinese: Ehizibue tries his luck, but Maignan responds with a save. On Lucca’s rebound, Milan’s defense manages to clear. Milan rack up several corner kicks but don’t truly trouble the Friulian defense.
In the 42nd minute, Milan take the lead. Fofana breaks down the wing and finds Leao, who fires first-time into the top corner. Milan ahead in Udine. Another dangerous Milan counter in the 44th minute—Pulisic is blocked as he goes to shoot. From the resulting corner, Pavlovic rises to head in Milan’s second. Udinese stunned in just a few minutes.
The second half opens with a terrible collision. In the 52nd minute, Maignan and Jimenez clash violently—Maignan comes off worse and is stretchered off, dazed. Sportiello comes on in his place. The goalkeeper’s condition will need to be assessed. Notably, the Udinese Curva, which had been jeering Maignan during warm-ups, applaud him as he leaves the pitch.
In the 75th minute, Milan grab their third. A solo run by Theo Hernandez ends with a thunderous left-footed strike. Milan up 3-0. Then in the 81st minute, the fourth arrives. Leao does it all—bursts down the left and chips over Okoye, and Reijnders taps it in on the line for 4-0. At the 85th minute, Milan even score a fifth, but Abraham is offside. It ends 4-0 for the Rossoneri, who move up to 51 points in the standings. Udinese remain on 40.
