Udinese VS AC Milan

AC Milan will travel to face Udinese in Serie A on Sunday night, hoping to recover from a disappointing European performance and maintain their strong start to the domestic campaign. Milan suffered a 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth in midweek after defensive mistakes and a red card for goalkeeper Mike Maignan left them struggling to compete. The result interrupted their recent progress in Europe, where their inconsistent performances have raised concerns about their ability to advance to the knockout stages. Despite this setback, Milan have been much more convincing in Serie A, collecting 15 points and remaining unbeaten in their first seven league matches under new manager Ruben Amorim. Their recent victory over Atalanta demonstrated their attacking quality, although allowing their opponents to threaten a comeback exposed weaknesses in their defensive organisation. Milan will now look to regain their composure and secure three important points against Udinese, particularly as they prepare for a demanding schedule that includes another league fixture and the highly anticipated Derby della Madonnina. Udinese, meanwhile, are experiencing a difficult period and face increasing pressure to improve their performances. The team have lost five of their first seven Serie A matches, leaving them close to the relegation zone and raising concerns about their defensive stability. Their latest setback was a 3-0 home defeat against Lecce, during which they struggled to deal with set-pieces and failed to create enough opportunities to challenge their opponents. One of Udinese's biggest problems has been their inability to maintain their performance after half-time, as their limited second-half scoring record has made it difficult to recover from setbacks. Nevertheless, their previous encounters with Milan suggest that the hosts should not be underestimated. Udinese secured an impressive 3-0 victory at San Siro in April, demonstrating that they can exploit Milan's defensive weaknesses when given the opportunity. Midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp could once again play an important role in creating chances, while striker Keinan Davis is expected to lead the attack. Udinese will need greater discipline, improved concentration and a more consistent attacking approach if they hope to take advantage of Milan's recent disappointment.