Milan continue winless run with shock 1-0 home loss to Udinese
Lacklustre AC Milan lost 1-0 to lowly Udinese in Serie A at San Siro on Saturday, extending their winless run to four games in all competitions and leaving them six points adrift of top spot.
Udinese’s Roberto Pereyra converted the decisive penalty for the visitors in the 62nd minute after Milan had dominated the first half but failed to put away their chances.
Stefano Pioli’s faltering side, who host Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, lost 1-0 at home to Juventus and drew 2-2 at champions Napoli in their previous two league outings either side of a 3-0 loss in Paris.
The latest defeat leaves Milan in third place on 22 points from 11 games and losing touch with leaders Inter Milan, who beat Atalanta 2-1 away earlier on Saturday. Milan remain one point behind second-placed Juve who visit Fiorentina on Sunday.
Udinese, who beat visiting Milan 3-1 in their last encounter in March, have won back-to-back games against the Rossoneri in Serie A for the first time since 2017.
“Clearly we didn’t play a game on a good level, and going forward it became more and more difficult,” Pioli told DAZN.
“In the first half we had some good chances but it was the worst game of this recent period. We struggled to find space, and we conceded a penalty on which the opponent took home the win.
“The defeat hurts, there is disappointment but (also) great determination to prepare for the next Champions League game against a very strong team that can be beaten.”
Milan captain Davide Calabria was close to opening the scoring after 25 minutes but his shot from distance was saved by Marco Silvestri, who was called on once again 10 minutes later to keep out an effort by Yunus Musah.
Pereyra scored from the spot after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Udinese winger Festy Ebosele. Milan’s Mike Maignan then saved a header by Isaac Success following a corner.
Milan stepped up the pressure towards the end of the game but the heroic Silvestri ensured he kept a clean sheet.
The 32-year-old made another superb save in the 90th minute, denying Olivier Giroud, before diving to keep out a powerful shot by Alessandro Florenzi in stoppage time.
Milan, who failed to score in back-to-back league games on home soil for the first time since January 2020, lost successive games at San Siro for the first time since September 2019.
Udinese, who won their first league game of the season, are 16th with 10 points, now three points above the relegation zone.
