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 distant. Milan shedding in midweek has opened a void, and it’s in everybody’s curiosity for it to be ignored for the meantime. The easiest way to do that? Claiming three factors in opposition to 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 end in midweek and experiences have prompt 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 harm replace, there’s 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 must wait just a little longer there.
The likes of Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal will even 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 in opposition to Feyenoord mid-week however might be again from this one, which is nice information contemplating the struggles in midfield. In fact, he might be traded for an additional absentee, specifically Fikayo Tomori who’s serving a one-game suspension.
Briefly, Conceicao can have a somewhat wholesome squad and now could be the time to ship. Because the begin of the 12 months, when the supervisor took over within the league, Milan have claimed simply three out of a attainable six wins, albeit together with two attracts. Nonetheless, the Rossoneri can not afford attracts in the mean time.
With a near-full squad obtainable, the Portuguese should get his lineup spot on to maintain the strain off of his again. Regardless of his error in midweek, Mike Maignan retains his place within the aim, and the defence will even 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 through 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. Nonetheless, the American might additionally sit in midfield to permit Felix the vast space. Santiago Gimenez will even 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
Beneath the steering of Paolo Zanetti, Verona have been preventing on the backside of the standings because the begin of the season. If it hadn’t been for claiming one win and one draw within the final three video games, the Bentegodi facet would have been in 18th place, the final relegation spot.
In any case, the season can solely be described as dire to date and whereas Verona have had a knack for avoiding relegation regardless of difficulties lately, nothing about that is good. They’ve conceded probably the most objectives in all the league, at 53 at present, with 9 greater than Parma.
On account of the aforementioned, additionally they have the worst aim distinction at -27. Put shortly, they are going to actually need to choose themselves as much as keep away from making the drop to Serie B. Having mentioned that, it’s more likely to worsen with Milan, Fiorentina, Juventus and Bologna up subsequent.
The one silver lining can be that they’ve received seven video games, which is greater than the opponents on the backside. It’s the alternative when attracts however after all, claiming factors by profitable is value a complete lot extra.
Extra Tales / The Match
Montipo ought to be chosen between the sticks by Zanetti, who can 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 somewhat slim.
A midfield three consisting of Niasse, Duda and Suslov might be hoping to trigger the Rossoneri midfield issues, while Mosquera and Sarr could be tough opponents regardless of their points scoring all through this season.
Zanetti is that his workforce could 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 general tally. The Rossoneri have amassed 37 wins, 28 attracts and 14 defeats to date, placing them within the entrance seat.
Milan prevailed in each video games final season and are at present on an eight-game profitable run in opposition to the Bentegodi facet, which says loads. The latest 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 aim of the sport.
The reverse fixture this season additionally completed 1-0 in favour of Milan, who discovered the again of the web via Tijjani Reijnders. It was a superb cross by Youssouf Fofana to set him up and the end was scientific too.
Key details and stats
➤ Milan have received every of their final eight Serie A matches in opposition to Hellas Verona; the Rossoneri have solely managed to file an extended consecutive profitable streak in opposition to 4 opponents of their historical past within the competitors: 13 in opposition to Chievo, 10 in opposition to Novara, 10 in opposition to Pescara and 9 in opposition to Siena.
➤ Hellas Verona have by no means received away in opposition to Milan (D13 L19) nor in opposition to 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 profitable: 24 attracts and 41 defeats in 65 earlier such matches.
➤ Though Hellas Verona have scored just one aim within the final three matches in opposition to Milan in Serie A, the Venetians have scored 66 objectives general in opposition to the Rossoneri within the competitors, solely in opposition to Fiorentina (71) have they scored extra (additionally 66 in opposition to Lazio).
➤ Milan have received 11 of their final 15 Serie A matches in opposition to opponents within the backside six positions of the desk at the beginning 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 received solely two of their final eight dwelling league video games (D5 L1); nevertheless, no workforce has stored extra clear sheets than the Rossoneri at dwelling 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, degree with Leicester) within the large 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 to date, greater than solely Juventus (22), Atalanta (20) and Lazio (16).
➤ Santiago Giménez, after his aim in opposition to Empoli, might change 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 difficulty for Milan if they don’t seem to be cautious. While his position will primarily be regimented, if he get a chance to assault the flank, Theo Hernandez has proved to be susceptible 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 in a position to dictate the sport from deep, and if the Rossoneri aren’t 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 needs the continuity which he has wanted for therefore 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 in opposition to a system the place he might capitalise, Theo has a chance to flip the script. It’s in his personal fingers, solely he .
Prediction
It’s not desperation for the Rossoneri, no less than not but. Saturday’s end in some ways generally is a catalyst for good (or unhealthy), and everybody wants a optimistic outcome. Reviews have already prompt that Milan are this weekend and nearly 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
