AC Milan vs. Verona: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
As AC Milan prepare to welcome Hellas Verona to San Siro on Sunday, the real Rossoneri have yet to fully reveal themselves. Each week a different version of the team plays, obtaining markedly contrasting results.
As such, all bets are off when Milan play nowadays. Their maddeningly inconsistent nature makes them a difficult team to read and find an angle on. Just when it seems as if they have emerged from a slump, they fall right back into it.
Only in such wildly uncertain circumstances could a coach go from the recipient of genuine optimism to being subject to rumours about his future with the club. This is the situation Sinisa Mihajlovic finds himself in at present.
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When Milan beat Lazio 3-1 in the Stadio Olimpico, the skies were blue. However, days later, Milan were outplayed at home by Atalanta en route to a dispiriting 0-0 draw and the mood shifted.
Milan then thrashed Sampdoria 4-1 at San Siro, and it felt as if Mihajlovic and his players were once again on track to great things, but such euphoria was shortlived, ending sharply with a 0-0 draw to newly promoted minnows Carpi.
This is the story of Milan’s season so far. It is a turbulent and unpredictable tale, and no-one quite knows how it ends.
After his side dismantled Sampdoria, Mihajlovic was proclaimed a bit of a tactical genius. His 4-4-2 formation was a triumph. On such form, Milan "can beat anybody." At least those were the coach’s words, spoken to Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) in the wake of the win.
That was November 28. It’s now December 12 and the world has changed. Now Mihajlovic’s job is at risk, and if his Milan don’t beat Verona, he could reportedly be replaced by Cesare Prandelli per Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia).
Not for the first time this season then, Mihajlovic finds himself in a state where victory is not an objective but a necessity.
At least Milan know how it feels to win. In 15 rounds of fixtures this season, Verona have yet to savour such an experience. With six draws and nine defeats, the Butei are rooted to the bottom of Serie A, nine points away from Palermo outside the relegation places.
It’s been a traumatic period, and as good a job as Andrea Mandorlini had done over the years—first in achieving two promotions to lead Verona back into the top tier, then in keeping them there—he couldn’t survive such a dramatic downturn. He was given his marching orders on 30 November and replaced by ex-Chievo boss, Luigi Del Neri.
This Sunday represents Del Neri’s third game in charge, though they have not looked a particularly improved force in his first two matches. However, this will only pile more pressure on Milan to defeat an eminently beatable team.
There is no other plausible outcome for Mihajlovic in order to retain credibility. Milan simply must get the win against a team that doesn’t know how to.
Date: Sunday, 13 December
Time: 2 p.m. GMT (9 a.m. ET)
Venue: San Siro, Milan
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK)
Live Stream: Not available
Form Guide
Carpi 0-0 Milan
Milan 3-1 Crotone (Coppa Italia)
Milan 4-1 Sampdoria
Juventus 1-0 Milan
Milan 0-0 Atalanta
Verona 0-1 Empoli
Verona 1-0 Pavia (Coppa Italia)
Frosinone 3-2 Verona
Verona 0-2 Napoli
Verona 0-2 Bologna
Team News and Predicted Lineups
The good news for Milan is that Mario Balotelli and Andrea Bertolacci are close to returning from injury. According to FourFourTwo: "Reports have suggested the pair could form part of Mihajlovic's squad for the visit of...Verona on Sunday, although the club are yet to confirm a possible return date."
Both players were in good form prior to their injuries and their returns would be welcomed.
In Bertolacci’s absence, Juraj Kucka has partnered Riccardo Montolivo in central midfield. Yet while the Slovakian is an energetic physical presence, he lacks the subtle technique of Bertolacci, who also brings more creativity to the team.
Balotelli could also be a crucial player for Milan to have available once again, especially given Carlos Bacca's ongoing dry spell. The Colombian finisher hasn’t scored in his last four appearances and was completely absent in last weekend’s draw with Carpi.
In that match, the audacity of Balotelli and the penetrative left foot of Bertolacci could have made a real difference, and if they are anywhere near full fitness, they may perhaps play a part from the bench against Verona.
Aside from those two, the only other potential returnee is Luca Antonelli. The left-back missed the Carpi game through injury and is due to be assessed prior to this Sunday’s match. If he still isn’t ready, Mattia De Sciglio will continue in his place.
Verona are not without fitness concerns of their own. French left-back Samuel Souprayen is set to be evaluated, as are experienced former Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini, Brazilian midfielder Romulo and versatile attacker Juanito Gomez.
Solid shot-stopper Rafael and left-sided midfielder Emil Hallfredsson are also out of Verona’s trip to Milan due to suspension.
Mihajlovic will likely continue to line up his Milan side in the same 4-4-2 system he has used in recent weeks, even though several weaknesses with the formation were shown up by Carpi last weekend.
The Biancorossi matched Milan with a 4-4-2 but sat back, congested space between their defence and midfield lines and countered quickly via long balls over the top to their two strikers, Kevin Lasagna and Marco Borriello.
This tactic caused problems for Milan who lacked inventiveness in a clustered final third while also leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack.
If Del Neri was watching that game, he may have been persuaded to set up Verona to play in a similar manner, using veteran and last season’s capocannoniere, Luca Toni, as a battering ram in the same way Carpi utilised Borriello.
Ultimately Verona will probably line up in a rough 4-2-3-1 shape with Toni as the spearhead, though he will receive support from Luca Siligardi and Pavel Wszolek.
Milan (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Cerci, Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca
Verona (4-2-3-1): Gollini; Sala, Bianchetti, Moras, Pisano; Vivani, Greco; Wszolek, Ionita, Siligardi; Toni
Players to Watch
Juraj Kucka (Milan)
With Bertolacci close to a return, Kucka’s first-team spot is under threat. The dynamic central midfielder has played well in recent weeks, earning WhoScored’s man-of-the-match award for his display at Carpi last weekend.
However, Bertolacci was one of Milan’s major signings over the summer, and in a 4-4-2 system, there just isn’t room for both him and Kucka. As such, this Sunday represents an opportunity for Kucka to prove that he is the man to partner Montolivo and drive Milan forward from midfield.
If he underperforms, he may soon be on the bench.
Luca Toni (Verona)
After a meandering career of wanderlust and prolific strike rates, Toni announced to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) on December 6 that he plans to retire from playing at the end of this season. At 38 years old, it’s frankly incredible that the awkward centre-forward managed to continue playing at such a high level for so long.
In spite of his impending retirement, Toni remains a real threat to Serie A defences, and Milan’s centre-back duo of Alex and Alessio Romagnoli will have to be on their toes to keep out the veteran marksman.
Key Battle
Carlos Bacca (Milan) vs. Vangelis Moras (Verona)
In his last four Milan appearances, Bacca has picked up more yellow cards than goals. He hasn’t scored or assisted since the win over Lazio and is in desperate need of a confidence boost.
In the 0-0 draw with Carpi last weekend, he admittedly lacked service, but he also failed to conjure anything of his own. Previously his tenacity and work ethic often meant he was involved in some way, but in the Stadio Alberto Braglia, he was entirely ineffective.
This weekend provides him with a good opportunity to rejuvenate his form as he faces up to one of Serie A’s worst defences. Verona’s Vangelis Moras is experienced but lacks pace, and if Bacca is motivated and on his game, the Greek centre-back could be in for a torrid afternoon.
Odds
Milan: 50/143
Verona: 9/1
Draw: 15/4
Odds provided by Odds Shark
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