Modrić sets up Pulisic as Milan win 2-0 at Udinese

Luka Modrić set up Milan's opening goal in the sixth minute and played the full match as Milan won 2-0 at Udinese on Sunday night in the eighth round of Serie A. The Croatia captain is 41.

The goal

According to the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), Modrić took a free-kick quickly from the middle of the pitch and sent Christian Pulisic through to make it 1-0. Index.hr also calls it a quickly taken free-kick, with the ball played over the Udinese defence and Pulisic finishing one-on-one. Sportnet and a later Index article, which relay Italian press coverage, describe it as a long ball from the centre of the pitch to Pulisic, who beat goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. The sources agree on the minute and on who scored.

Omari Hutchinson made it 2-0 in the 65th minute. Okoye saved a shot from Ardon Jashari and Hutchinson reacted first to the rebound for his first goal for Milan, the club he joined on loan this summer, Index says.

A record, per Opta

Index, citing the statistics platform Opta, reports that Modrić now has four Serie A assists after turning 40, more than any other player since the league went to 20 clubs in 2004/05. Zlatan Ibrahimović, whose mark he passed, had three.

How the Italian press saw it

Italian outlets, as relayed by Index and Sportnet, were generous. Eurosport Italia gave him a 7 and also singled out a through ball for Fikayo Tomori. MilanNews gave 6.5 and Milan Vibes 7. Index notes that Milan were missing several players, with Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila injured before the game and Alexis Saelemaekers and Matteo Gabbia unavailable.

Corriere dello Sport picked out a moment in the 85th minute, when Modrić chased back about 50 metres to catch Udinese's Giulio Vinciati, born in 2007, who had started a counter-attack. This detail comes second-hand through the Croatian reports.

Where Milan stand

The win ended a run of three away draws, at Juventus, Lazio and Sassuolo. Under Ruben Amorim, Milan are unbeaten in the league, fourth with 18 points and four behind leader Inter, Index reports.

Milan face Inter in the derby on Saturday. Index, citing Corriere dello Sport, says Modrić is expected to start on the bench, with Yunus Musah and Ardon Jashari in midfield. That is the paper's expectation and not a confirmed line-up. Corriere also notes that Amorim is managing Modrić's minutes carefully.