Lasagne scores a point while Udinese frustrates AC Milan

Milan – Kevin Lasagna caught a point for Udinese to go deeper AC Milan The ambitions of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw in San Siro on Tuesday.

Milan, injured, struggled against his opponent in 15th place. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma lost after 11 minutes of play with a thigh problem and Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta suffered ankle injury in the first period.

Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek managed to break through just before the interval after being injured with a center from Patrick Cutrone.

The Italian international Lasagna brought Udinese to a tie after a smooth counter-attack in 65 minutes.

This stalemate complicates the race to the Champions League of Gennaro Gattuso's team, which aims a return to competition for the first time since the 2013-2014 season.

After three defeats against Inter Milan (3-2) and Sampdoria (1-0), Milan have scored just one point in their last three games.

They are in fourth place, the last place in the Champions League, but Lazio is four points behind two games late before moving to SPAL on Wednesday.

"In a season, a team can have ups and downs, we have won five straight and we have a bad time now," said Gattuso, a two-time Champions League winner with Milan as a player.

"When we are not brilliant, the ball starts weighing 120 kilos today, we did little, I saw a flexible team in the second half.

"At the moment, we need to recover energy and let the fear go, we play with the handbrake on a technical and mental level."

For Udinese, the point was vital in the fight against relegation as it was four points away from the drop zone.

"This draw is worth so much for us," said Lasagna.

"We know that the championship is still long, but it is important to come to Milan and take a point."

Atalanta (sixth) and Rome (seventh) may narrow the gap on Milan later this week by facing Bologna and Fiorentina respectively.

The Juventus champions, who are 15 points clear of Naples, will travel to Cagliari later Tuesday without injured star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina's Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic.