Tomorrow afternoon, AC Milan will travel to Verona for a big clash to help them qualify for the Champions League after their recent form dip.
With three losses in their last four games, it is imperative that Milan get back to winning ways against Hellas Verona. In the worst-case scenario, if Roma win later tonight, they would be three points behind the Rossoneri.
Of course, a win against Hellas Verona could make the gap six points. However, they could even end the weekend eight points away from the Champions League chasers. In other words, it is a huge game for their chances.
Opposition insight on Hellas Verona
➤ Manager: Paolo Sammarco
➤ Form (all comps): W-L-L-L-L (most recent)
➤ Top scorer (Serie A): Gift Orban – 7
➤ Most assists (Serie A): Antoine Bernede, Gift Orban, Daniel Mosquera – 2
➤ Injuries & suspensions: Mosquera, Serdar.
In our preview ahead of the 3-0 home victory that rounded off 2025, we took a look at the business that Verona did during the summer transfer window. Unfortunately for them, it seems to be a contributing factor in a so-far dismal season.
The Gialloblu have been rooted inside the relegation places since the ninth round of the season. Things didn’t work under Paolo Zanetti who was sacked in early February, replaced by the interim Paolo Sammarco.
So far, they have three wins in 32 league games and the most losses in the division with 20. They have scored just 23 goals, which is joint for the second-lowest, and have let in 55 with only Pisa having conceded more.
They have been particularly bad at home, losing 10 of their 15 games at the Bentegodi and winning just once, though that was a 3-1 victory over Atalanta in round 14 that was followed by a win away at Fiorentina, giving them hope of survival briefly.
Since Milan last played Verona on 28 December, they have won just once in 16 games, a surprise 2-1 victory away from home against Bologna. They come into this one off the back of four defeats (to Genoa, Atalanta, Fiorentina and Torino) in which they scored only once.
They have several players struggling for form too, with the previous first-choice striker Gift Orban on a long goal drought which has seen him lose his spot to Keiron Bowie. With the gap to 17th now nine points, a return to Serie B looks almost certain, but they will want to go down swinging.
In terms of team news, Tomas Suslov will return from suspension which is a boost for Sammarco. Suat Serdar remains a long-term absentee, while there are doubts about Armel Bella-Kotchap and Sandi Lovric who are both nursing knocks.
It seems like Sammarco will name a pretty standard XI when facing the Rossoneri on Saturday. Indeed, the backline will see no changes. So, Montipo will start in goal, with Nelsson, Edmundsson and Frese supporting.
Ahead of them, it remains unchanged too. The coach will make no changes to the midfield five that lost 2-1 to Torino last weekend.
So, the only changes are up top, where Sammarco will replace both of his front two. Bowie and Harroui go to the bench, whilst Orban and Sarr come into the starting XI.
Predicted Verona XI (3-5-2): Montipò; Nelsson, Edmundsson, Frese; Oyegoke, Akpa Akpro, Gagliardini, Bernede, Belghali; Sarr, Orban
Predicted bench: Perilli, Toniolo, Slotsager, Bella-Kotchap, Fallou, Valentini, Lovric, Niasse, Bradaric, Lirola, Al-Musrati, Suslov, Harroui, Isaac, Bowie
Injuries & suspensions: None.
Paolo Sammarco, that’s a long time since I heard that name, former Milan youth player.