Preview

After the loss within the Champions League, AC Milan are making ready to host Hellas Verona, and the Rossoneri should bounce again for the sake of their season.

While we’re not in a meltdown state of affairs, we’re not far-off. Milan dropping in midweek has opened a void, and it’s in everybody’s curiosity for it to be ignored for the meantime. One of the best ways to do that? Claiming three factors towards Hellas Verona this weekend.

While Sergio Conceicao has not spoken earlier than the sport, we all know that he was deeply pissed off by the lead to midweek and reviews have recommended that he’s going to . A telling state of affairs.

Sport date: Saturday, February 15Kick-off time: 20:45 (CET)Venue: San SiroReferee: Francesco Fourneau (VAR: Francesco Meraviglia)

Crew information

Beginning with an damage replace, there may be some excellent news as Warren Bondo returned to coaching, and might be referred to as up for tomorrow’s recreation. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, in the meantime, continues to be coaching individually so Conceicao should wait a bit longer there.

The likes of Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal may also miss out, however that isn’t precisely any shock given the intense nature of their accidents. With the addition of Kyle Walker to the squad, it’s not precisely like Milan are missing depth within the right-back spot both (additionally Alex Jimenez).

Yunus Musah was suspended towards Feyenoord mid-week however might be again from this one, which is nice information contemplating the struggles in midfield. After all, he might be traded for an additional absentee, specifically Fikayo Tomori who’s serving a one-game suspension.

In brief, Conceicao may have a reasonably wholesome squad and now could be the time to ship. For the reason that begin of the 12 months, when the supervisor took over within the league, Milan have claimed simply three out of a doable six wins, albeit together with two attracts. Nonetheless, the Rossoneri can not afford attracts for the time being.

With a near-full squad out there, the Portuguese should get his lineup spot on to maintain the stress off of his again. Regardless of his error in midweek, Mike Maignan retains his place within the purpose, and the defence may also stay the identical: Walker, Malick Thiaw, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez.

Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders will as soon as once more begin within the centre, however the former might be given an opportunity to relaxation in the course of the recreation if Warren Bondo could make an look.

After the failings of the 4-4-2, Milan will revert to a 4-2-3-1, and Yunus Musah will begin on the wing with Joao Felix and Christian Pulisic beside him. Nevertheless, the American might additionally sit in midfield to permit Felix the vast space. Santiago Gimenez may also retain his place up entrance.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Felix, Pulisic; Gimenez

The opponents

Below the steering of Paolo Zanetti, Verona have been preventing on the backside of the standings for the reason that begin of the season. If it hadn’t been for claiming one win and one draw within the final three video games, the Bentegodi aspect would have been in 18th place, the final relegation spot.

In any case, the season can solely be described as dire up to now and whereas Verona have had a knack for avoiding relegation regardless of difficulties in recent times, nothing about that is good. They’ve conceded probably the most objectives in the complete league, at 53 presently, with 9 greater than Parma.

Because of the aforementioned, additionally they have the worst purpose distinction at -27. Put shortly, they are going to actually need to select themselves as much as keep away from making the drop to Serie B. Having stated that, it’s prone to worsen with Milan, Fiorentina, Juventus and Bologna up subsequent.

The one silver lining can be that they’ve gained seven video games, which is greater than the rivals on the backside. It’s the other when attracts however in fact, claiming factors by successful is value an entire lot extra.

Extra Tales / The Match

Montipo must be chosen between the sticks by Zanetti, who can also be anticipated to pick out Daniliuc, Coppola and Dawidowicz in his again line while Tchatchoua and Bradaric ought to act because the guests’ wing-backs. It’s value contemplating that Dawidowicz might lose his place to Valentini, however the probabilities of this are reasonably slim.

A midfield three consisting of Niasse, Duda and Suslov might be hoping to trigger the Rossoneri midfield issues, while Mosquera and Sarr might be tough opponents regardless of their points scoring all through this season.

Zanetti is that his workforce might face and sounded barely resigned to defeat in his press convention this afternoon, however to his gamers, his message might be clear – pounce on a wounded Diavolo.

Predicted Empoli XI (3-5-2): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Viti, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezzella, Cacace; Esposito, Colombo.

Face to face

Tomorrow’s conflict would be the eightieth assembly between AC Milan and Hellas Verona throughout all competitions, with some cup and even two Serie B encounters included within the total tally. The Rossoneri have amassed 37 wins, 28 attracts and 14 defeats up to now, placing them within the entrance seat.

Milan prevailed in each video games final season and are presently on an eight-game successful run towards the Bentegodi aspect, which says lots. The newest conflict at San Siro, i.e. within the 2023-24 season, ended 1-0 in favour of the Rossoneri with Rafael Leao scoring the one purpose of the sport.

The reverse fixture this season additionally completed 1-0 in favour of Milan, who discovered the again of the web by way of Tijjani Reijnders. It was a superb go by Youssouf Fofana to set him up and the end was scientific too.

Key info and stats

➤ Milan have gained every of their final eight Serie A matches towards Hellas Verona; the Rossoneri have solely managed to file an extended consecutive successful streak towards 4 opponents of their historical past within the competitors: 13 towards Chievo, 10 towards Novara, 10 towards Pescara and 9 towards Siena.

➤ Hellas Verona have by no means gained away towards Milan (D13 L19) nor towards Inter; since their first Serie A season in 1957/58, they’ve performed probably the most instances at a single stadium (San Siro) with out successful: 24 attracts and 41 defeats in 65 earlier such matches.

➤ Though Hellas Verona have scored just one purpose within the final three matches towards Milan in Serie A, the Venetians have scored 66 objectives total towards the Rossoneri within the competitors, solely towards Fiorentina (71) have they scored extra (additionally 66 towards Lazio).

➤ Milan have gained 11 of their final 15 Serie A matches towards opponents within the backside six positions of the desk firstly of the matchday (D4).

➤ Hellas Verona have remained unbeaten in 4 of their final 5 Serie A away video games (W3 D1), after recording a run of six consecutive away defeats within the competitors.

➤ Milan have gained solely two of their final eight house league video games (D5 L1); nevertheless, no workforce has saved extra clear sheets than the Rossoneri at house in Serie A this time period (6, alongside Napoli and Juventus).

➤ Solely Southampton (54) and Holstein Kiel (54) have conceded extra objectives than Hellas Verona (53, stage with Leicester) within the massive 5 European Leagues in 2024-25; certainly, earlier than this season, the Venetians had by no means conceded greater than 50 objectives of their first 24 matches performed in a Serie A season.

➤ Milan have made probably the most direct assaults in Serie A this time period (58) – alternatively, Verona have conceded solely 25 such assaults to their opponents up to now, greater than solely Juventus (22), Atalanta (20) and Lazio (16).

➤ Santiago Giménez, after his purpose towards Empoli, might develop 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.

➤ Diego Coppola, who’s the participant with probably 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.

Ones to look at

Beginning with the opposition, Jackson Tchatchoua might be an enormous concern for Milan if they aren’t cautious. While his position will primarily be regimented, if he get a possibility to assault the flank, Theo Hernandez has proved to be weak and this might be exploited.

Ondrej Duda is ready to return for the opposition, and after a month sidelined he might be eager to return with a bang. The midfielder could be very a lot capable of dictate the sport from deep, and if the Rossoneri usually are not conscious of this, they are going to be punished.

Yunus Musah has a giant recreation forward of him, for a number of causes. Not solely is the American displacing Leao, however he is also coming again in when midfielders are coming again. In different phrases, if he desires the continuity which he has wanted for thus lengthy, he must show his worth.

Theo Hernandez additionally must show himself – what an odd sentence. The Frenchman has been too poor for too lengthy, and towards a system the place he might capitalise, Theo has a possibility to flip the script. It’s in his personal arms, solely he .

Prediction

It’s not desperation for the Rossoneri, no less than not but. Saturday’s lead to some ways could be a catalyst for good (or unhealthy), and everybody wants a constructive outcome. Studies have already recommended that Milan are this weekend and virtually everybody has one thing to show. A dominant efficiency is required, and that is the place the important thing gamers should flip up.

Milan 2-0 Verona