MILAN (AP) 鈥� After falling out of the Serie A title race, AC Milan is looking nervously at the teams behind it following a shock 3-0 loss at home to Udinese on Saturday.
The Rossoneri were not only nine points below league leader Inter Milan but just three points above fourth-placed Juventus, which won at Atalanta 1-0. Fifth-placed Como was two points further back and hosts Inter Milan on Sunday.
AC Milan was loudly jeered off the field after its third defeat in four matches.
鈥淚t鈥檚 part of the game: When you win you鈥檙e good, when you lose you鈥檙e not. Tonight the whistles are right, even if the team worked hard,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “Now we have to look at the (next) match, and this defeat must represent the opportunity to do better in the next one.
鈥淭he team must react. 鈥� This defeat must make us understand that the Champions League place is at risk.鈥�
Nicol貌 Zaniolo starred for Udinese at San Siro. He counterattacked from deep inside his own half and rode a couple of challenges before spreading it to the right for Arthur Atta, whose cross was deflected in by Davide Bartesaghi 鈥� going down as an own goal by the young Milan defender.
Zaniolo also set up Udinese鈥檚 second in the 37th minute with a sensational cross from the right for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp鈥檚 header.
Moments earlier, Keinan Davis had an effort pushed onto the crossbar by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Bartesaghi had to clear an attempt off the line on the stroke of halftime.
The boos had already started by then and Milan was also roasted by its supporters at the break.
The Rossoneri鈥檚 hopes of clawing something from the match all but evaporated in the 71st when Atta netted Udinese鈥檚 third, feinting to shoot into the far corner before slotting into the bottom left.
Juve celebrate
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti marked his by steering his team to a vital win against a direct rival.
Atalanta hit the woodwork early but it was Juventus which took the lead at the start of the second half when J茅r茅mie Boga scored against his former team, finishing off a chaotic move.
Just four points separated the teams before the weekend but Atalanta was left seven points below the top four.
Relegation battle
Cagliari took a crucial step toward avoiding relegation by beating fellow struggler Cremonese 1-0.
Cagliari鈥檚 first win since January lifted the Sardinian team six points above Cremonese and the relegation zone.
Sebastiano Esposito scored his third goal in four matches in the 63rd minute, heading in a cross from Z茅 Pedro, who had only just come off the bench.
Hellas Verona remained nine points from safety after losing at mid-table Torino 2-1.
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