AC Milan suffer heavy home defeat to Udinese in Serie A setback
AC Milan slumped to a second consecutive Serie A defeat, falling 3-0 at home to Udinese at San Siro on Saturday. The loss, which follows a midweek defeat to Napoli, marks the first time this season the Rossoneri have lost back-to-back league matches and severely dents their hopes of a top-two finish.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who had boasted the league's second-best defensive record prior to the match, were undone by a clinical Udinese performance. The visitors took the lead in the 27th minute when Arthur Atta’s shot deflected off Milan defender Davide Bartesaghi and past Mike Maignan. Udinese doubled their advantage ten minutes later, with Nicolò Zaniolo providing a precise cross for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp to head home.
Milan attempted to respond after the break, with Alexis Saelemaekers forcing a superb save onto the crossbar from Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Any hope of a comeback was extinguished in the 71st minute, however, as Atta capped the performance with a fine individual goal to seal a comprehensive victory for Kosta Runjaić’s team. According to OptaPaolo, it was the first time since October 2024 that Milan had trailed by at least two goals at halftime in a Serie A home match without scoring.
The result leaves Milan vulnerable in the race for Champions League qualification, having now ceded second place to Napoli. For Udinese, the three points represent a significant step towards securing their top-flight status for another season. The manner of the defeat will raise serious questions about Milan’s defensive solidity, particularly after a switch to a back four proved ineffective against Udinese’s incisive counter-attacks.
Allegri’s team selection featured Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão in attack, with the latter hitting the crossbar early on, but the team lacked cohesion as the game progressed. The manager made several second-half substitutions, including introducing Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Füllkrug, but could not alter the momentum. The performance stands in stark contrast to Milan’s midweek progress in the Coppa Italia, where they advanced thanks to a goal from Nkunku.
With the Serie A season entering its final stages, the pressure is now on Allegri to rectify his team’s form quickly. The defeat not only impacts the standings but also delivers a psychological blow ahead of a crucial run-in. For Udinese, the victory, built on disciplined defending and efficient finishing, is one of their most impressive results of the campaign and provides a major boost in their fight against relegation.
