AC Milan vs. Hellas Verona | Serie A | Pre Match

AC Milan find themselves at a critical juncture, facing the possibility of an early exit from European competition after a disappointing midweek defeat. With their continental ambitions hanging in the balance, the Rossoneri must now turn their focus back to Serie A, where their top-four challenge is beginning to falter. Their latest domestic assignment sees them welcome Hellas Verona to the San Siro on Saturday, with three crucial points on the line. Verona, meanwhile, arrive in Milan in dire need of a confidence-boosting result, as they continue to flirt with the relegation zone. Having never won a Serie A fixture at San Siro, the Gialloblu will be hoping to defy history and claim an unlikely victory against a Milan side desperate to bounce back.

Milan’s latest setback came in the UEFA Champions League playoff round, where they fell 1-0 to Feyenoord at De Kuip on Wednesday night. A lackluster performance saw them struggle to create clear-cut chances, while an uncharacteristic mistake from goalkeeper and captain Mike Maignan gifted the Dutch side their decisive goal. Maignan’s early mishap set the tone for an evening of frustration, as Milan failed to find an equalizer despite their attacking intent. The result continued Milan’s woeful record in European knockout ties away from home, extending their winless streak in such fixtures to 12 matches. Even more concerning, they have failed to score in eight of those outings, highlighting their struggles on the road in high-pressure situations. With the second leg looming, Milan now face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit and secure progression to the Champions League Round of 16, where they could face either Arsenal or city rivals Inter Milan.

Before their European fate is decided, Milan must first turn their attention back to Serie A, where they find themselves in seventh place. A seven-point gap separates them from the coveted top-four spots, making victory against Verona all the more essential. Despite their struggles in Europe, Milan have shown signs of resilience in the domestic arena, putting together a three-match unbeaten run. Their most recent league outing saw them secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Empoli, with goals from substitutes Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez sealing the win. The triumph followed a spirited Coppa Italia quarter-final success against Roma, reinforcing Milan’s ability to grind out results even when not at their best.

Recent history suggests that Milan will be confident of extending their winning streak against Verona, having dominated this fixture in recent years. The Rossoneri have emerged victorious in 11 of their last 15 encounters with sides positioned inside the bottom six, while Verona have been particularly vulnerable in this matchup. The Gialloblu have scored just once in their last three meetings with Milan and have not tasted victory in this fixture since December. Even more damning for Verona is their historically dismal record at San Siro. Since their first visit in 1957, Hellas have failed to win a single league match at the iconic stadium in over 65 attempts. If they are to finally break that curse, they will need to deliver a near-perfect performance against a Milan side determined to bounce back from midweek disappointment.

Verona’s preparations for this clash have been far from ideal, as they were on the receiving end of a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta last weekend. The defensive collapse laid bare their vulnerabilities, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side ruthlessly exploiting Verona’s frailties at the back. Only Southampton and Holstein Kiel have conceded more goals than Paolo Zanetti’s men across Europe’s top five leagues this season, underlining the severity of their defensive struggles. With 53 goals shipped so far, Verona are enduring their worst-ever defensive campaign at this stage of a Serie A season, further compounding their relegation fears. However, despite their woes, they remain just three points above the drop zone, meaning survival is still within reach if they can string together a few positive results.

Encouragingly for Verona, their recent away form suggests they are capable of causing problems for Milan. After suffering a dismal six-match losing streak on their travels, they have steadied the ship somewhat, losing just one of their last five away fixtures. Nevertheless, history remains firmly against them heading into this contest, and they will need to produce a significant turnaround in performance if they are to emerge with any points from San Siro.

Milan manager Sergio Conceicao faces some key selection dilemmas ahead of Saturday’s match, particularly in midfield and attack. Having deployed an ultra-attacking lineup featuring four forwards against Feyenoord, he may opt for a more balanced approach against Verona. Yunus Musah is available again after serving a suspension and is expected to slot back into the midfield, adding stability in the center of the park. However, Milan’s injury list remains concerning, with Emerson Royal (calf), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (thigh), Warren Bondo (muscular), and Alessandro Florenzi (knee) all ruled out. In defense, Fikayo Tomori is also absent as he serves a one-match suspension following his controversial red card against Empoli.

Up front, Santiago Gimenez has made an immediate impact since arriving from Feyenoord, scoring in his first two league appearances for Milan. However, he endured a frustrating evening against his former club on Wednesday, failing to find the net in Rotterdam. Despite that setback, he is expected to retain his place in the starting XI, with Tammy Abraham likely remaining on the bench. Rafael Leao, fresh from his goal-scoring exploits against Empoli, will also be crucial in providing Milan’s attacking threat down the left flank. Given Verona’s defensive frailties, Milan will be eager to exploit the spaces in behind and capitalize on their opponents’ weaknesses.

Verona, meanwhile, will welcome the return of key midfielder Ondrej Duda, who is back from suspension and will slot straight into the starting lineup. However, their defensive options have been depleted further, with Daniele Ghilardi now missing out through suspension. Suat Serdar, Martin Frese, Abdou Harroui, and top scorer Casper Tengstedt all remain sidelined due to injury, adding to Verona’s selection headaches. With Tengstedt unavailable, Daniel Mosquera is expected to continue leading the line, supported by Lyon loanee Amin Sarr. Given Milan’s defensive absences, Verona may look to capitalize on set-pieces and counterattacking opportunities in a bid to cause an upset.

Ultimately, Saturday’s clash represents a must-win encounter for AC Milan, who cannot afford to drop points if they are to keep their top-four ambitions alive. With a critical European tie on the horizon, a strong performance against Verona would provide a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their second-leg showdown with Feyenoord. For Verona, the challenge is clear: defy history and produce a shock result to ease their relegation worries. However, given their defensive struggles and Milan’s home advantage, the odds remain stacked against them. Expect the Rossoneri to come out firing as they seek to reclaim momentum in both their domestic and European campaigns.