Both Milan and Fiorentina, deeply involved in a fierce battle among multiple clubs for European spots, faced off in last Saturday night's high - stakes encounter. At the San Siro, the Viola astonishingly raced into a two - goal lead within the first 10 minutes.

The Rossoneri once more found themselves in a losing position, but they demonstrated their resilience yet again. Tammy Abraham capitalized on a well - executed one - two combination to reduce the deficit before the halftime break, and Luka Jovic later scored an equalizer against his former team.

This season, Milan has already conceded eight goals during the opening 10 minutes of matches. This concerning trend has become more pronounced since Sergio Conceicao assumed managerial duties in January.

Since the start of 2025, no team in Serie A has fallen behind more frequently than Milan - a total of 10 times, which is the same as the three teams facing relegation threats: Empoli, Parma, and Monza. However, only Bologna has managed to accumulate more points after initially trailing in games.

Previously, Abraham scored in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi - final as Conceicao's team played out a draw against their long - standing rivals, Inter Milan. Success in this tournament might now present their best opportunity to secure a return to European competition.

Characterized by their inconsistent form, the Rossoneri currently occupy the ninth position in the league table. Even if they were to win in Udine, with only six rounds of the season remaining, they would still not be able to overtake Fiorentina, who are in eighth place.

They also face a battle to overcome other contenders such as Juventus, Lazio, Bologna and Roma, so any more slip-ups cannot be countenanced.

But, as well as conceding twice in all their last four league fixtures on the road, Milan have lost half of their last 16 games away to Udinese - so neither form nor precedent will be on their side this weekend.

After previously recording consecutive wins over the Rossoneri, Udinese have since lost their last two meetings with Milan - including a 1-0 defeat in October's reverse fixture - and they also endured frustration last week.

The Friulani's star striker missed a sitter in their 1-0 loss to Genoa, with towering frontman Lorenzo Lucca left ashen-faced as the home side went on to net a late winner at Stadio Ferraris.

So, following a six-match unbeaten run that featured four wins, Udinese have failed to take a point from three subsequent fixtures, leaving their top-half hopes in the balance.

Long safe from danger - in stark contrast to last term's dramatic escape from relegation - and with no chance of reaching Europe, Kosta Runjaic and co are currently vying with Torino and Genoa to claim a place in Italy's final top 10.

Having suffered three consecutive league defeats for just a second time under Runjaic, the Bianconeri will now be keen to get back on track at the expense of Milan and overtake Toro in the table.

Capping off a tough start to his Milan career - and perhaps bringing its continuation into some doubt - Manchester City loanee Kyle Walker has undergone surgery on a fractured elbow and could miss the rest of this season.

As Emerson Royal is still sidelined by injury, either Alex Jimenez or Filippo Terracciano should fill in at right-back for the Rossoneri on Friday evening.

Sergio Conceicao must again choose between Santiago Gimenez, Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham to lead his attack, with the latter's recent goals making him favourite to start.

Abraham has now found the net 29 times in Serie A - trailing only David Platt (31) and Gerry Hitchens (59) in terms of all-time English scorers - and he seems to have surpassed big-money buy Gimenez in the pecking order.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Lucca shoulders the burden in Udinese's front line, particularly as fellow forwards Keinan Davis, Alexis Sanchez and Florian Thauvin are all expected to miss out.

Iker Bravo deputised alongside Lucca last weekend, while teenage striker Simone Pafundi is in contention too.

Left-back Jordan Zemura, reserve goalkeeper Razvan Sava and long-term absentee Isaak Toure will also watch on from the sidelines.

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Ehizibue, Bijol, Solet, Kamara; Atta, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp; Bravo, Lucca

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Jimenez, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham