AC MILAN V UDINESE: DUELS

Off to San Siro on Friday for a match that is not to be missed. The Rossoneri face Udinese, who in the last two meetings have twice forced us into a draw late on. It's a tricky match against a physical side who are very good at closing down spaces and breaking forward. Let's analyse what could be the most interesting duels between the Rossoneri and the Bianconeri.

SANDRO TONALI vs WALACE
A big clash in the middle of the park between two ever-present players. Sandro has made 25 appearances in Serie A this season, while Walace, the Udinese player who has played the most games in this season's Serie A, has made 23. Should Tonali feature in the starting 11 against the Bianconeri, it will be the number 8's 50th appearance as a starter in all competitions for AC Milan. The 21-year-old is a guarantee of quantity and quality, both in breaking down the oppositions attacks as well as our own build-up, as confirmed by two significant figures: he is the Rossonero with the most crosses (80) and passes (535) made in the oppositions half of the field, he has also committed the most fouls (31). Sandro has also found the back of the net on two occasions this season, at San Siro against Cagliari and in Bergamo against Atalanta, missing very few games. Similar numbers for Udinese's Brazilian, Olympic champion in Rio 2016, with 578 passes in the opponent's half of the pitch, more than any of his teammates, and 53 tackles. It will therefore be a battle of strength and positioning in the midfield. 

RAFAEL LEÃO vs GERARD DEULOFEU
Both Rafa and Gerard employ dribbling as their best weapon. One - Leão - is more slender and more untouchable over distance, the other - Deulofeu - is very skilled in close. Two players who are similar in some respects but polar opposites in others. At their feet, however, could pass the fate of AC Milan v Udinese. Rafa, who made his Serie A debut against Udinese in August 2019, missed the first game earlier this season, which was played exactly one week after his injury at San Siro against Salernitana. Tomorrow he will be on the pitch, ready to do his bit for AC Milan, and the numbers are on his side: the Portuguese international leads the league in terms of the number of dribbles ending with a shot (24), three of which have led to goals, and he is the Rossonero with the most shots on target (23) and dribbles attempted (100). In 2021/22 he has so far recorded 10 goals and 6 assists across all competitions and is increasingly becoming the centrepiece of the Rossoneri attack. The Friulians are pinning their hopes on the flair of Deulofeu, who played his first 17 Serie A games in an AC Milan shirt in the 2016/17 season, scoring 4 goals and 3 assists. His leadership, in particular, has emerged this season, in which he has taken part in 9 goals (7 goals and 2 assists), and is the Bianconero with the most shots on target (20), crosses made (94) and dribbles attempted (72).

THEO HERNÁNDEZ vs NAHUEL MOLINA
Two darts on the flanks: Theo versus Nahuel, two imaginative, running players who can decide games. Theo, along with Leão, is one of the two players in this Serie A who has covered the most metres dribbling forward. The Frenchman's assist on Messias' goal against Salernitana brings his tally to six assists in a single season, plus three in the Coppa Italia. Fresh from the renewal of his contract, the Rossoneri's number 19 is enjoying another top-flight season on the left flank, forming a formidable pairing with Leão. Nahuel Molina, who has played on both the right and left this season and has never been less reliable, will do his best all the same. The Argentine national (with 14 appearances for his nation) has already scored four goals in this season's championship (plus one in the Coppa Italia) and is enjoying a remarkable run of form. He scored one of the decisive goals in the last-gasp victory over Torino and against Lazio in the last round, only the crossbar prevented him from scoring another decisive goal in the dying minutes. Whether he plays on the right or the left, the 23-year-old will be a thorn in AC Milan's side. 

FIKAYO TOMORI vs RODRIGO BECÃO
Two rugged defenders: Fik versus Rodrigo. The Rossoneri player has recently returned to full fitness and is still finding for his best form, but he is a pillar of coach Pioli's defence. An example? The Englishman is the leader in the rankings for tackles (44), defensive interventions (52), passes made (1066) and balls intercepted (31). He missed a whole month due to a meniscus injury but has been back in the starting line-up alongside Romagnoli since the San Siro match against Sampdoria. The Cioffi's defence will be led by a Brazilian defender who enjoys playing the Rossoneri: Rodrigo Becão. The 26-year-old has 2 goals to his name in Serie A, both against AC Milan: the first in August 2019 at the Dacia Arena, the second in the match last season at San Siro. Becão is also Udinese's outfield player with the most minutes in this year's Serie A (1965) and is increasingly a guarantee, in what is his third season in both Friuli and Serie A. 

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