AC Milan welcome Hellas Verona to San Siro tonight as they’re again in Serie A motion, on the lookout 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’s , with an eye fixed 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 desperate to keep away from doing that once more.
The 5 key battles
In reality, this could 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 experiences concerning who will begin the sport for Milan.
One participant who does appear locked in is Santiago Giménez. After his aim in opposition to Empoli, may turn out to be 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 needs 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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Transferring to the left facet, the strain is basically on Theo Hernandez to ship a efficiency. It looks like we have now picked him out many occasions already this season as somebody who has to lift his stage, however with Theo there’s speak of , and Conceicao is but to see the most effective of him.
At this time is without doubt one of the video games the place he’ll maybe must do extra defending that attacking due to the specter of Jackson Tchatchoua. He has two targets 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 begin for Verona tonight, Amin Sarr is the participant with essentially the most targets within the league to date, with three. The 23-year-old Swede has nevertheless already proven that he is usually a actual handful and he ought to lead the road alongside Tomas Suslov in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Sarr’s opponent needs 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 principally a everlasting fixture beneath Paulo Fonseca earlier than he was fired however has not had as many appearances beneath Conceicao, so he has a degree to show in some ways.
Joao Felix is tipped to begin his third sport 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 shall 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 prone 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 so much about his want to not let opposing attacking midfielders pull the strings, and it’s seemingly he’ll afford little area or time at the moment.
Lastly, we finish with one other duel in midfield between Youssouf Fofana and Grigoris Kastanos. Fofana’s presence is necessary for Milan by way of the stability that he brings and likewise the creativity given he has chipped in with assists, however the Frenchman has fluctuated by way of latest efficiency ranges, maybe resulting from a little bit of fatigue.
With Warren Bondo ready within the wings prepared for his debut, his compatriot will purpose to steer by instance. Kastanos in the meantime has a few aim contributions in seven begins and is anticipated to play because the attacking midfielder, on the lookout for area between the strains that Fofana and the entire defensive unit should deny, particularly in transition.
