On Saturday, October 19, AC Milan will host Udinese at the iconic San Siro in the 8th round of the Serie A season. Udinese are off to a solid start sitting 5th in the league with 13 points, while the rossoneri are 6th with 11 points. The match promises to be a close contest between two sides vying for a top-four spot.
Head-to-Head Analysis
Milan has shown mixed form this season under new head coach Paulo Fonseca. With 3 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses from 7 matches, they’ve scored 15 goals and conceded 9, highlighting their attacking potency but also some defensive frailties. Meanwhile, Udinese, managed by Kostja Runjaić, has 4 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. They’ve scored 10 and conceded 10, indicating a well-balanced but sometimes inconsistent team.
In their last five games, Milan has managed 7 goals while conceding 7, showing that their defense needs improvement. Udinese, on the other hand, has scored 9 and conceded 9 in their last five, displaying a similar trend of defensive vulnerability. The last match between the two teams at San Siro in 2023 ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Milan, but historically, 1-1 draws have been common between these two sides.
Player to Watch
Maduka Okoye, Udinese’s Nigerian goalkeeper, will be a key figure in this match. Having played every game so far and kept two clean sheets, his shot-stopping ability will be crucial if Udinese hopes to frustrate Milan’s attackers. Though he has conceded 10 goals, his individual performances have often kept Udinese in games. The odds that the Udinese keeper will keep the clean sheet are 8 according to 1xBet.
Related article: Maduka Okoye Shines in the Starting Lineup of an Italian Club: Salary and Prospects of the Young Nigerian Goalkeeper
Prediction
Based on current form and statistics, Milan holds a slight advantage, especially playing at home. With a stronger attack and key players like Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão in form, Milan could dictate much of the game. However, Udinese’s balanced approach and ability to spring surprises away from home cannot be underestimated. A closely fought match is expected, with Milan likely to edge it. 1xBet estimates the odds of the hosts victory at 1.425.
Betting Tip
If you are willing to risk, consider betting on a draw (5.25 according to 1xBet). Additionally, both teams scoring seems likely given their recent performance, so both teams to score at 1.83 on 1xBet looks like a solid bet.
