Outstanding Leão: Milan overwhelms Udinese

Milan won against Udinese in Serie A on Friday evening with a strong performance – and can continue to hope for participation in international competitions.

11 April 2025

From: do

AC Milan has had a difficult season in Serie A. Instead of a title challenge, the Rossoneri fans currently have only the – albeit slim – hope of qualifying for European competitions. On Friday evening, the Milanese faced Udinese, where Rafael Leão and Co. offered some balm for the battered red and black side. Milan won 4-0 and is now four points behind sixth place, having played a game in hand.

At the Stadio Friuli, an attractive match unfolded, with neither team holding back and both striving to make their mark going forward. After Tijjani Reijnders was narrowly denied by Maduka Okoye in the first minute and Udinese had a good chance through Kingsley Ehizibue in the 33rd minute, the Rossoneri's moment came in the final minutes of the first half.

Leão started things off. © ANSA / Gabriele Menis

And who else but star winger Rafael Leão should make the first move? The Portuguese player took a central pass from outside the penalty area and curled it powerfully into the far right corner (42'). Just three minutes later, Strahinja Pavlovic rose highest in the air after a corner and headed Milan 2-0 up (45').

Hernandez with solo action

The protagonist of the second half, both good and bad, was undoubtedly Theo Hernández. The Rossoneri full-back was initially involved in a nasty incident in which goalkeeper Mike Maignan completely misjudged the situation and collided violently with his teammate outside the penalty area. Maignan ultimately had to be stretchered off, and Marco Sportiello took over (55').

Theo did it with force. © ANSA / Gabriele Menis

Hernández, who had also been briefly injured during the incident, then launched an impressive attack: He broke free on the left flank, launched a powerful solo run, and marched inexorably toward goal. The 27-year-old crowned his solo run with a powerful shot under the crossbar to make it 3-0 (74').

Leão, the best player on the pitch, then beautifully set up Reijnders for the 4-0 (81') and that was the end of the game.