Milan increased their unbeaten run to 24 matches, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in a sixth successive Serie A outing.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued his remarkable scoring streak with an acrobatic late strike to secure Milan a 2-1 win over Udinese, stretching the Rossoneri's unbeaten run in all competitions to 24 games.
Stefano Pioli's men appeared to be heading for an underwhelming draw with a side that had lost all but one of their first five Serie A games this term, but Ibrahimovic was decisive in the latter stages as he became the first Milan player to score in six successive league appearances since he accomplished the feat in 2012.
The 39-year-old Swede – who scored braces in each of his previous three league outings – had already made a telling contribution in setting up Franck Kessie's empathic opener.
Hosts Udinese levelled through a Rodrigo de Paul penalty just two minutes into the second half, but Milan pressed for a late winner and it duly arrived via Ibrahimovic, whose close-range bicycle kick opened up a four-point cushion at the Serie A summit for at least a couple of hours.
Milan established control early and were in front by the 18th minute as Ibrahimovic brought Ismael Bennacer's pass down on his chest in the box, held off Jens Stryger Larsen and teed up Kessie on the edge of the area.
But they were somewhat fortunate to not have their lead wiped out a few minutes later – former Milan player Gerard Deulofeu slicing high and wide after being fed into the box on the break.
Udinese then felt aggrieved not to get a penalty just before the interval, with Stefano Okaka sent tumbling by Ibrahimovic right in front of goal.
Milan were not so fortunate at the start of the second half, however, as Alessio Romagnoli was judged to have fouled Ignacio Pussetto in the area – despite replays showing he got a touch on the ball – and De Paul smashed the resulting penalty past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
For much of the second period that goal looked enough to earn Udinese a share of the spoils.
But Milan took the win seven minutes from time when Ante Rebic's cross was cleared into the air by Sebastien De Maio and Ibrahimovic produced an eye-catching finish to beat Juan Musso from a few yards out.
Milan spirit shines through
Failing to beat an Udinese team going through such a difficult spell would not have been a great look for Milan, particularly given the disappointment surrounding their 3-3 draw with Roma last time out, when they were pegged back three times.
They lacked a creator in chief, with no Milan player laying on more than one chance, but to their credit they kept plugging away, Ibrahimovic's winner arguably highlighting an improved attitude from last weekend as they got the job done this time.
