AC Milan welcome Hellas Verona to San Siro tonight as they’re again in Serie A motion, searching for a response after the midweek defeat to Feyenoord.
The loss within the Champions League left a bitter style after back-to-back wins over Roma and Empoli, however there may be , with a watch on the truth that Lazio play Napoli and Juventus face Inter.
Verona although are a facet as soon as once more scrapping to get away from the relegation locations and the Rossoneri have already dropped factors to sides they need to beat on paper, so they are going to be desirous to keep away from doing that once more.
The 5 key battles
In reality, this may be the toughest key battles piece that we have now needed to put collectively in a while, and largely as a result of there are such a lot of conflicting reviews relating to who will begin the sport for Milan.
One participant who does appear locked in is Santiago Giménez. After his aim in opposition to Empoli, might turn into the third participant to attain in every of his first two Serie A appearances for Milan within the three factors for a win period – amongst these of their debut season within the competitors – after Andriy Shevchenko in September 1999 and Christian Pulisic in August 2023.
On the alternative facet, the person who ought to be the anchor of Verona’s three-man defence is Diego Coppola. He is the participant with essentially the most interceptions in Serie A this time period (48), has performed 68 video games for Hellas Verona in Serie A. Solely Ivan Ilic (72) has performed extra video games for the membership within the period of three factors for a win earlier than turning 22.
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Shifting to the left facet, the stress is absolutely on Theo Hernandez to ship a efficiency. It appears like we have now picked him out many instances already this season as somebody who has to lift his stage, however with Theo there may be discuss of , and Conceicao is but to see the perfect of him.
As we speak is without doubt one of the video games the place he’ll maybe should do extra defending that attacking due to the specter of Jackson Tchatchoua. He has two objectives and two assists within the league up to now this season along with his tempo and physicality making him a really tough opponent for many, and a duel that Theo ought to relish.
Among the many gamers anticipated to start out for Verona tonight, Amin Sarr is the participant with essentially the most objectives within the league to this point, with three. The 23-year-old Swede has nonetheless already proven that he generally is a actual handful and he ought to lead the road alongside Tomas Suslov in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Sarr’s opponent ought to be Malick Thiaw, who began within the defeat to Feyenoord in midweek and can begin once more provided that Fikayo Tomori will serve a one-match ban. The German was mainly a everlasting fixture below Paulo Fonseca earlier than he was fired however has not had as many appearances below Conceicao, so he has a degree to show in some ways.
Joao Felix is tipped to start out his third recreation in a row since arriving from Chelsea on deadline day, and after scoring on his debut (off the bench) in opposition to Roma at San Siro there will likely be additional hopes that the Portuguese playmaker could make use of the house comforts. He’s anticipated to play within the No.10 function, behind Gimenez.
That implies that Felix is more likely to face off in opposition to Ondrej Duda, a combative holding midfielder who occupies the double pivot with Cheikh Niasse. Duda already has eight yellow playing cards in Serie A alone this season which says rather a lot about his want to not let opposing attacking midfielders pull the strings, and it’s possible he’ll afford little area or time immediately.
Lastly, we finish with one other duel in midfield between Youssouf Fofana and Grigoris Kastanos. Fofana’s presence is vital for Milan when it comes to the stability that he brings and in addition the creativity given he has chipped in with assists, however the Frenchman has fluctuated when it comes to latest efficiency ranges, maybe as a consequence of a little bit of fatigue.
With Warren Bondo ready within the wings prepared for his debut, his compatriot will purpose to guide by instance. Kastanos in the meantime has a few aim contributions in seven begins and is predicted to play because the attacking midfielder, searching for area between the strains that Fofana and the entire defensive unit should deny, particularly in transition.