Milan's last trip ended 0-3 at Bournemouth after more than an hour with ten men, Maignan sent off in the 27th minute. Three days later they go to Udine without Rabiot, Moreira and Gila, and that matters beyond the names: those three were the chain behind Milan's open-play goals in the 3-2 against Atalanta, Moreira setting up Rabiot and Rabiot setting up Gila. Gabbia, Saelemaekers and Chukwueze are out as well, and Pianeta Milan reports five Milan Futuro players called up to fill the squad. Udinese have had a full week off.
On paper that's a gift for a home side, but tiredness hasn't been Udinese's problem. They've lost five league games in a row and sit 16th, and the last two show a team that can't turn territory into chances: 0.55 xG at home to Lecce with 67% of the ball, 0.70 at Torino with 62%. Runjaic's plan, per TuttoUdinese, is a high-level defensive performance and then using the spaces that open up. That only works if Milan have to open up, and a squad this stretched, still unbeaten in the league and with Bologna next, has every reason to keep this slow and safe.
Where the week of rest could still bite is late. Runjaic says Zaniolo will play but not start, and Abankwah and Piotrowski are back. Milan's bench is mostly youth call-ups, with Loftus-Cheek carrying a knee knock and fighting Jashari for a place. If it's level going into the last half-hour, that's when Udinese's fresher legs should show. A Milan goal first would put Udinese straight back into the role they've been losing in.
