ShareAfter a humbling defeat to Bournemouth in the Europa League, AC Milan are looking to bounce back in Serie A against Udinese.Mike Maignan defended his actions after receiving a red card in AC Milan's Europa League defeat to Bournemouth.The goalkeeper was shown a red card in the first half after pushing Tyler Adams in the face, with the Rossoneri going 3-0 down at Vitality Stadium.Milan's Serie A form, on the other hand, has been better as they remain unbeaten after seven games, with a trip to Udinese up next.Ruben Amorim is the third manager to remain unbeaten in each of his first seven Serie A games with Milan, after Hector Puricelli in 1955 (unbeaten in his first eight) and Luis Carniglia in 1963 (unbeaten in his first 13).Milan could go unbeaten in their first eight league games of a season for the third time in the last 20 Serie A seasons, after 2020-21 and 2021-22, though Maignan felt the need to explain his actions after being sent off in Europe."My action was not intentional. Like every goalkeeper in every match, I wanted to make space for myself in my area," Maignan explained on Instagram."Unfortunately, this gave off a bad image, especially in front of the young supporters who watch us."The club, the staff and my team-mates know what sort of person I am. They know my intentions and abandoning them is never part of the plan."As for the rest, we are accustomed to the interpretations given by certain people and certain media outlets."Udinese, meanwhile, are 16th in Serie A after winning just four points from their seven games.Udinese have lost five of their seven Serie A games this season (W1 D1); only three times in their history in the competition have they registered more defeats in their first eight league games: in 1960-61 (six), in 1961-62 (seven) and in 2017-18 (six).PLAYERS TO WATCHUdinese – Jurgen EkkelenkampEkkelenkamp has only scored and assisted in the same Serie A match once, which was back in April against Milan.The Udinese player, who is yet to score at home in the current Serie A season, is the midfielder with the second-most shots attempted in the competition (20), fewer only than Nico Paz (35).AC Milan – Adrien RabiotRabiot has scored or assisted in each of his last four Serie A appearances (three goals, two assists).The only Milan midfielders to have been involved in at least one goal in five consecutive games in the competition since Opta has recorded this data (2004-05) are Hakan Calhanoglu (July 2020) and Kaka (October 2004 and May 2008).MATCH PREDICTION: AC MILAN WINMilan have won their last three Serie A away games against Udinese by an aggregate score of 10-2; they have only managed to record four consecutive away wins against them in the competition once before, between 1999 and 2001.Udinese and Milan have not drawn any of their last eight Serie A meetings, with five wins for the Rossoneri and three for the Bianconeri in that period, including a 3-0 victory for Udinese in their most recent encounter on 11th April.However, Milan have drawn each of their last three away Serie A matches. The last time they recorded four consecutive away draws in the competition was between April and May 2017, under Vincenzo Montella.Nevertheless, Udinese have lost all of their last five Serie A matches by an aggregate score of 13-5. The last time they registered a longer run of consecutive defeats in the competition was between February and April 2018 (11, under Massimo Oddo).Only Troyes (-9) and Racing Santander (-9) have a worse goal difference in the second half of games in Europe's top five leagues this season than Udinese (-8, level with Borussia Monchengladbach).OPTA WIN PROBABILITYUdinese – 20.9%Draw – 24%AC Milan – 55.1%After a humbling defeat to Bournemouth in the Europa League, AC Milan are looking to bounce back in Serie A against Udinese.Mike Maignan defended his actions after receiving a red card in AC Milan's Europa League defeat to Bournemouth.The goalkeeper was shown a red card in the first half after pushing Tyler Adams in the face, with the Rossoneri going 3-0 down at Vitality Stadium.Milan's Serie A form, on the other hand, has been better as they remain unbeaten after seven games, with a trip to Udinese up next.Ruben Amorim is the third manager to remain unbeaten in each of his first seven Serie A games with Milan, after Hector Puricelli in 1955 (unbeaten in his first eight) and Luis Carniglia in 1963 (unbeaten in his first 13).Milan could go unbeaten in their first eight league games of a season for the third time in the last 20 Serie A seasons, after 2020-21 and 2021-22, though Maignan felt the need to explain his actions after being sent off in Europe."My action was not intentional. Like every goalkeeper in every match, I wanted to make space for myself in my area," Maignan explained on Instagram."Unfortunately, this gave off a bad image, especially in front of the young supporters who watch us."The club, the staff and my team-mates know what sort of person I am. They know my intentions and abandoning them is never part of the plan."As for the rest, we are accustomed to the interpretations given by certain people and certain media outlets."Udinese, meanwhile, are 16th in Serie A after winning just four points from their seven games.Udinese have lost five of their seven Serie A games this season (W1 D1); only three times in their history in the competition have they registered more defeats in their first eight league games: in 1960-61 (six), in 1961-62 (seven) and in 2017-18 (six).PLAYERS TO WATCHUdinese – Jurgen EkkelenkampEkkelenkamp has only scored and assisted in the same Serie A match once, which was back in April against Milan.The Udinese player, who is yet to score at home in the current Serie A season, is the midfielder with the second-most shots attempted in the competition (20), fewer only than Nico Paz (35).AC Milan – Adrien RabiotRabiot has scored or assisted in each of his last four Serie A appearances (three goals, two assists).The only Milan midfielders to have been involved in at least one goal in five consecutive games in the competition since Opta has recorded this data (2004-05) are Hakan Calhanoglu (July 2020) and Kaka (October 2004 and May 2008).MATCH PREDICTION: AC MILAN WINMilan have won their last three Serie A away games against Udinese by an aggregate score of 10-2; they have only managed to record four consecutive away wins against them in the competition once before, between 1999 and 2001.Udinese and Milan have not drawn any of their last eight Serie A meetings, with five wins for the Rossoneri and three for the Bianconeri in that period, including a 3-0 victory for Udinese in their most recent encounter on 11th April.However, Milan have drawn each of their last three away Serie A matches. The last time they recorded four consecutive away draws in the competition was between April and May 2017, under Vincenzo Montella.Nevertheless, Udinese have lost all of their last five Serie A matches by an aggregate score of 13-5. The last time they registered a longer run of consecutive defeats in the competition was between February and April 2018 (11, under Massimo Oddo).Only Troyes (-9) and Racing Santander (-9) have a worse goal difference in the second half of games in Europe's top five leagues this season than Udinese (-8, level with Borussia Monchengladbach).OPTA WIN PROBABILITYUdinese – 20.9%Draw – 24%AC Milan – 55.1%