Udinese-Milan, CM’s player ratings: Bartesaghi is a train, rated 7. Modric shines, Pulisc is back
Ratings for the players in Sunday’s late match at the Blu Energy Stadium
Milan overcame the absence of five starters to win at the Blu Energy Stadium with a solid, determined display. The convincing 0-2 victory could leave Runjaic in trouble, while Udinese must reflect on five consecutive defeats.
Udinese player ratings
Okoye 5.5: earns an extra half-mark for his save from Ramos, but he could have done better with Jashari's shot, which leads to Hutchinson's goal. Inconsistent
Abankwah 6: Strong and up for the fight. AC Milan have more trouble breaking through on his side.
Kabasele 5: shares much of the blame for the collective lapse that leads to Pulisic's goal and never recovers from it.
Palma 5: Catches Ramos with his hand, perhaps unintentionally, but Marcenaro lets him off. Struggles throughout.
Vojvoda 5: The former Como and Torino player has a disastrous time defensively. He plays Pulisic onside for the goal after just six minutes, then gets his covering run wrong against Tomori. Better going forward, he forces Maignan into a save from distance (from the 63rd minute Zaniolo 5.5: makes little impact, but his return to the pitch is the news)
Piotrowski 5: Slow and awkward. He struggles badly.
Karlstrom 5.5: Udinese's guiding light cannot bring clarity to their initial build-up play. The opposition press smothers him. (from the 83rd minute Lovric not rated)
Kamara 6.5: His side's best player keeps driving down the flank, and almost all of Udinese's moves go through him. Runjaic takes him off, a baffling decision, and Udinese concede a minute later (from the 63rd minute Arizala 5.5: offers little going forward and lacks quality)
Chakvetadze 5.5: Barely gets going.
Ekkelenkamp 5.5: Udinese miss the Dutchman's contributions as he cannot find the right position to make an impact.
Davis 5.5: Fights like a lion but remains a long, long way from peak fitness. (from the 83rd minute Vinciati)
Manager Runjaic 5: A sixth consecutive defeat leaves things looking bleak, with the sack now seemingly just around the corner.
AC Milan player ratings
Maignan 6: The Juventus crowd jeer him throughout, but he keeps his concentration in a difficult atmosphere. He is ready for Udinese's only two dangerous shots on target, from Vojvoda and Davis.
Tomori 6.5: Operating at full-back, he moves well, joins the attack and comes close to scoring. His intriguing duel with Kamara ends level on points. (From 73' Musah 6: He helps manage the closing stages. Mission accomplished.)
De Winter 6.5: Amorim asks him to put in an extra shift, and the Belgium international responds with great tactical awareness. He is very good in the air, too.
Pavlovic 6: Despite some physical problems that leave him short of his best, he does his job without overdoing it and tries to conserve his energy. A loyal foot soldier.
Diawara 6.5: His first start comes almost as a surprise, but he plays with great confidence. Very good both on and off the ball. A positive discovery.
Hutchinson 6.5: Across the attacking line, he often moves inside to cause problems between the lines. He fades in the second half, then reappears for the tap-in that seals the 0-2 win. It is the Anglo-Jamaican winger's first Serie A goal. (From 73' Loftus-Cheek is forced off almost immediately with a muscle problem. From 91' Comotto: The young AC Milan talent makes his Serie A debut.)
Modric 7: With a wonderfully delicate touch, he anticipates the opposition defence's movement to set up Pulisic's goal. More gems follow as he guides the team at key moments. Legend.
Jashari 6.5: A so-so first half includes the now-familiar lapse in his own defensive third that sends Vojvoda through on goal. His second half is far better: Hutchinson pounces on his dangerous shot to put the game to bed.
Bartesaghi 7: High up on the left, the AC Milan academy product is simply too much for his opponents. He narrowly misses out on a first-half goal after a fine pass from Tomori, then leaves to deserved applause from the crowd. Rejuvenated (from 85' Cisse not rated)
Pulisic 7: His first-time control is a thing of rare beauty. The goal matters even more, carrying enormous weight for the match and AC Milan's ambitions. He is returning to the lethal form AC Milan so desperately need.
Ramos 6: Up against three Udinese defenders, he gets drawn into a rough duel that at times goes too far. Palma deals him a nasty blow, he loses his patience and gets booked. He is unlucky when Okoye tips his shot onto the crossbar from a chance that was almost like a penalty on the move. (from 91' Camarda not rated)
Manager Amorim 7: Amid a full-blown personnel crisis, he prepares superbly for a difficult match. His reading of the back four is excellent, with Tomori and Diawara pushing high and Hutchinson operating in the attacking midfield area. He sticks to his ideas.
