AC Milan have six games left in the Serie A season, the first of which will come on Sunday afternoon away against Hellas Verona.
After being in the title race and firmly in the top four, things have taken a downward turn for Milan since their 24-game unbeaten run was snapped by Parma. Since then they have lost four out of seven, killing the Scudetto dream and jeopardising Champions League qualification.
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Massimiliano Allegri admitted in his pre-match press conference that his side must pick up from a ‘difficult moment’ in the season. Instead of being frustrated though, he asked for calm in the camp, hoping serenity could get them back into the Champions League driving seat.
Game date: Sunday, April 19
Kick-off time: 15:00 (CEST)
Venue: Stadio MarcAntonio Bentegodi
Referee: Daniele Chiffi (VAR: Mazzoleni)
Team news
As mentioned, there is a lot of pressure on Milan to return to winning ways against Verona, a team that they admittedly have a very good recent record against. With Juventus and Como having closed the gap in the table, no more mistakes are permitted or a crisis will develop.
Against Udinese last Saturday, Allegri decided it was time to try out a new system. He went with a 4-3-3 to try and unlock the attack, but instead what happened is the rearguard was blown wide open as the Zebre won 3-0.
Given how badly the game went it is almost certain to be a one-game experiment, with a return to the solidity of the 3-5-2 practically a given. Indeed, all of the reports leading up to the trip to Veneto suggest he will revert to a three-man defence.
Allegri had the entire squad at his disposal on Monday at Milanello, with no absences due to injury. It’s happened rarely this season, but Milan can finally say they’re at full strength with Matteo Gabbia back after recovering from surgery on a hernia.
Changes are expected, too. Keep an eye on the defence: Fikayo Tomori, who missed out against Udinese with Zachary Athekame preferred as a natural full-back. Allegri will evaluate the condition of Gabbia but he is a candidate to start, as if Youssouf Fofana in midfield.
Then, the big question mark(s) will be regarding the attacking department. Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic are in far from good form, with the Portuguese even getting jeered off during the defeat last weekend. So, could Santiago Gimenez, Niclas Füllkrug or Christopher Nkunku get a chance?
One thing that Milan will have to be very careful of is the disciplinary situation. Luka Modric, Fofana, Athekame, Saelemaekers and Leao are all one yellow card away from suspension. The next game? Juventus at home.
Allegri will not pay much, if any, attention to the suspension risks though. Instead, he will name a full strength squad.
Mike Maignan starts in goal, while Fikayo Tomori and Matteo Gabbia return to the backline, hoping to have an impact after last weekend’s defensive calamity. Despite the goals conceded, Strahinja Pavlovic retains his place on the left.
The midfield three provides few questions. Indeed, it is the collective set that has been relied upon all season. Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Adrien Rabiot and finally Davide Bartesaghi. Unchanged from his preferred midfield.
Up front, Christian Pulisic and Leao may have their final chance at proving they can play together up front. They must perform in a vital moment.
Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Leao, Pulisic
Predicted bench: Terracciano, Pittarella, De Winter, Odogu, Athekame, Estupinan, Ricci, Jashari, Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku, Gimenez, Fullkrug
Injuries & suspensions: None.
The opponents
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: Mosquera, Serdar.
Head to head
Milan have played against Hellas Verona 81 times in competitive games across their nearly 127-year history, with 39 wins, 28 draws and just 14 defeats in that span. It makes it one of the most one-sided regular match-ups that the Rossoneri have.
Last season, the Diavolo did the double over the Gialloblu, winning both games 1-0 in the end. In the away fixture, Tijjani Reijnders got the only goal in a game just before Christmas, while at home Santiago Gimenez was the match-winner.
Milan are on a 10-game winning run versus Verona, having won 3-0 at San Siro on December 28 thanks to goals from Pulisic and Nkunku (x2). The last time they lost was away from home back in 2017.
Key facts and stats
➤ AC Milan have won all of their last ten Serie A matches against Hellas Verona, with a score of 22-6. So far, the Rossoneri have only won more than ten consecutive Serie A games against one opponent in their history: against Chievo (13).
➤ Milan have scored in 25 of their last 26 Serie A matches against Hellas Verona (48 goals in total, 1.85 on average per game), with the only exception being their last defeat against the Gialloblù in the competition (3-0 at the Bentegodi, with goals from Antonio Caracciolo, Moise Kean and Daniel Bessa, on 17th December 2017).
➤ Milan have won their last six away games at the Bentegodi against Hellas Verona in Serie A, also keeping three clean sheets in the process. In their previous eight away games against Hellas Verona in the competition, the Rossoneri had only managed two wins (D2 L4).
➤ Hellas Verona have lost their last four Serie A matches and have not recorded a worse run in the competition since a sequence of five defeats between October and November 2023, under Marco Baroni.
➤ Milan have lost their last two Serie A matches without scoring; the Rossoneri have not suffered three consecutive defeats in the competition since March 2025, and have not lost three games in a row without finding the net since April 1967. Furthermore, Massimiliano Allegri has not overseen three consecutive defeats as a manager in the top- flight since April 2023, when he was in charge of Juventus.
➤ Milan finished the first half of this Serie A season with an average of 2.2 points per match, a figure that has dropped to 1.6 in the second half. Considering only from the 20th matchday onwards, the Rossoneri would be in seventh place, with 21 points from 13 games (the same as Roma).
➤ Among the top six teams in the Serie A table, Milan have the largest negative difference (-5.83) between goals scored (47) and expected goals (52.83), and also the lowest big chance conversion rate (just 33.7%).
➤ Hellas Verona continue to be the side who have scored the fewest goals in the last 15 minutes of play in Serie A this season (just one goal, Gift Orban’s against Fiorentina on 14th December) and the side who have conceded the most goals from the 76th minute onwards (18). The Veneto side have conceded seven goals from the 90th minute onwards, another negative record in the current tournament.
➤ This is the Serie A season in which Rafael Leão – who has never scored at the Bentegodi against Hellas Verona in the top-flight – has recorded both his lowest successful take-ons per game average (0.88) and his lowest take-on success rate (40.4%).
➤ Christian Pulisic’s last Serie A goal was against Hellas Verona at the Meazza on 28th December 2025; since then, the American has gone 14 consecutive appearances in the competition without scoring. This is his longest goal drought in Serie A and his longest overall since 16 consecutive matches with Chelsea in the Premier League between October 2022 and May 2023.
Ones to watch
For the hosts, an eye must be kept on Gift Orban, who has had a quieter season. With seven goals in 22 starts, he is still capable of hurting teams and he will hope to grab his first goal since early March on Saturday.
Even at 32, Roberto Gagliardini could look to orchestrate the game. However, he will face a tough challenge in the form of Luka Modric.
In terms of the Rossoneri’s players to watch, it is rather simple and it is about duos. Yes, we’re breaking the rules. The first partnership is the reintroduction of Fikayo Tomori and Matteo Gabbia in the backline. After last weekend’s defeat, a big defensive showing is a must. They must prove their worth.
Then, more importantly, arguably, is the attacking duo. Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic face their final run-in as a pair. If they do not impress here, they may not get many other chances to shine together, let alone in the same team.
Prediction
This should be a typical Allegri game, the noise needs to be quietened, and the league must be given a reminder as to why Milan have sat so comfortably in the Champions League places until now. They have a five-point gap to fifth.
It must extend to eight.
Hellas Verona 0-2 AC Milan
Napoli 0 Lazio 2
Both Como and Napoli made you a favour today.
Even if you want 433 please put Pulisic on the right and Leao on the left. And put the proper number 9 in the center
Put Santi on with both Leao and Pulisic flank both sides. Santi deserve a chance to start to proof himself…. Besides even if he is not scoring he is hardworking and can hold the ball. He is better than fulkurg….