Seria A: Milan thrash Udinese, boosts Europe hopes

AC Milan earned a comfortable 4-0 away win over Udinese, to revive their hope in qualification for European competition.

Goals from Rafael Leao, Strahinja Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders gave Milan the victory.

The game started with both sides looking to get ground running but no difference until late into the first half.

Udinese were fortunate not to concede an early opener when a defensive mistake gave Tijjani Reijnders a golden chance to open the scoring in the first minute.

However, Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye was able to avoid a worst possible start for his side, as he denied Reijnders.

The hosts had an attempt afterwards, but Mike Maignan did well to parry away Kingsley Ehizibue’s powerful strike.

The visitors then broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, when Leao ended his six-game goal. The Portuguese winger whipped a right-foot shot beyond Okoye after being teed up by Youssouf Fofana.

Milan quickly doubled the lead before halftime, as Pavlovic rose high in the box to head home Christian Pulisic’s corner.

The Rossoneris had a shaky start to the second interval with goalkeeper Mike Maignan been stretched off following a nasty collision with his teammate Alex Jimenez. The Frenchman was replaced by Marco Sportiello, who is making his second league appearance of the season.

Milan goalkeeper was however quiet as they continued to dominate the game, earning two more goals to seal the victory.

Sergio Conceicao’s side got the third, when Tammy Abraham fed Hernandez a forward pass into the box, with the left-back lashing a fierce effort past a helpless Okoye.

Dutch midfielder Reijnders then got the made it 4-0, as he guided the ball home from Leao’s clipped pass.

Meanwhile, the visitors got the fifth but it was chalked off for offside, as the ninth-position Milan are now four points away from the top six.

Udinese however remains in 11th position on the log, following a fourth consecutive defeat.