After the loss in the Champions League, AC Milan are preparing to host Hellas Verona, and the Rossoneri must bounce back for the sake of their season.
Whilst we’re not in a meltdown situation, we are not far away. Milan losing in midweek has opened a void, and it is in everyone’s interest for it to be ignored for the meantime. The best way to do this? Claiming three points against Hellas Verona this weekend.
Whilst Sergio Conceicao has not spoken before the game, we know that he was deeply frustrated by the result in midweek and reports have suggested that he is going to revolutionise the squad again. A telling situation.
Game date: Saturday, February 15
Kick-off time: 20:45 (CET)
Venue: San Siro
Referee: Francesco Fourneau (VAR: Francesco Meraviglia)
Team news
Starting with an injury update, there is some good news as Warren Bondo returned to training, and will be called up for tomorrow’s game. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, is still training individually so Conceicao will have to wait a little longer there.
The likes of Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal will also miss out, but that isn’t exactly any surprise given the serious nature of their injuries. With the addition of Kyle Walker to the squad, it’s not exactly like Milan are lacking depth in the right-back spot either (also Alex Jimenez).
Yunus Musah was suspended against Feyenoord mid-week but will be back from this one, which is great news considering the struggles in midfield. Of course, he will be traded for another absentee, namely Fikayo Tomori who is serving a one-game suspension.
In short, Conceicao will have a rather healthy squad and now is the time to deliver. Since the start of the year, when the manager took over in the league, Milan have claimed just three out of a possible six wins, albeit including two draws. Still, the Rossoneri cannot afford draws at the moment.
With a near-full squad available, the Portuguese must get his lineup spot on to keep the pressure off of his back. Despite his error in midweek, Mike Maignan keeps his place in the goal, and the defence will also remain the same: Walker, Malick Thiaw, Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez.
Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders will once again start in the centre, but the former could be given a chance to rest during the game if Warren Bondo can make an appearance.
After the failings of the 4-4-2, Milan will revert to a 4-2-3-1, and Yunus Musah will start on the wing with Joao Felix and Christian Pulisic beside him. However, the American could also sit in midfield to allow Felix the wide area. Santiago Gimenez will also retain his place up front.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Felix, Pulisic; Gimenez
The opponents
Under the guidance of Paolo Zanetti, Verona have been fighting at the bottom of the standings since the start of the season. If it hadn’t been for claiming one win and one draw in the last three games, the Bentegodi side would have been in 18th place, the last relegation spot.
In any case, the season can only be described as dire so far and while Verona have had a knack for avoiding relegation despite difficulties in recent years, nothing about this is good. They have conceded the most goals in the entire league, at 53 currently, with nine more than Parma.
As a result of the aforementioned, they also have the worst goal difference at -27. Put shortly, they will really need to pick themselves up to avoid making the drop to Serie B. Having said that, it’s likely to get worse with Milan, Fiorentina, Juventus and Bologna up next.
The only silver lining would be that they have won seven games, which is more than the competitors at the bottom. It’s the opposite when looking at draws but of course, claiming points by winning is worth a whole lot more.
Montipo should be chosen between the sticks by Zanetti, who is also expected to select Daniliuc, Coppola and Dawidowicz in his back line whilst Tchatchoua and Bradaric should act as the visitors’ wing-backs. It is worth considering that Dawidowicz could lose his place to Valentini, but the chances of this are rather slim.
A midfield three consisting of Niasse, Duda and Suslov will be hoping to cause the Rossoneri midfield problems, whilst Mosquera and Sarr can be difficult opponents despite their issues scoring throughout this season.
Zanetti is aware of the difficulties that his team may face and sounded slightly resigned to defeat in his press conference this afternoon, but to his players, his message will 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.
Head to head
Tomorrow’s clash will be the 80th meeting between AC Milan and Hellas Verona across all competitions, with some cup and even two Serie B encounters included in the overall tally. The Rossoneri have amassed 37 wins, 28 draws and 14 defeats so far, putting them in the front seat.
Milan prevailed in both games last season and are currently on an eight-game winning run against the Bentegodi side, which says a lot. The most recent clash at San Siro, i.e. in the 2023-24 season, ended 1-0 in favour of the Rossoneri with Rafael Leao scoring the only goal of the game.
The reverse fixture this season also finished 1-0 in favour of Milan, who found the back of the net through Tijjani Reijnders. It was a brilliant pass by Youssouf Fofana to set him up and the finish was clinical too.
Ones to watch
Starting with the opposition, Jackson Tchatchoua could be a huge issue for Milan if they are not careful. Whilst his role will mainly be regimented, if he get an opportunity to attack the flank, Theo Hernandez has proved to be vulnerable and this could be exploited.
Ondrej Duda is set to return for the opposition, and after a month sidelined he will be keen to return with a bang. The midfielder is very much able to dictate the game from deep, and if the Rossoneri are not aware of this, they will be punished.
Yunus Musah has a big game ahead of him, for several reasons. Not only is the American displacing Leao, but he also is coming back in when midfielders are coming back. In other words, if he wants the continuity which he has sought after for so long, he needs to prove his value.
Theo Hernandez also needs to prove himself – what an odd sentence. The Frenchman has been too poor for too long, and against a system where he could capitalise, Theo has an opportunity to flip the script. It is in his own hands, only he can change the future.
