With their hopes of winning the Serie A title nearly dashed before the halfway point of the season, AC Milan aims to strengthen their pursuit of a top-four finish when they visit Hellas Verona on Friday evening.
Hellas Verona has had a challenging first half of the season and is currently in 17th position after 16 games, with a record of five wins and 11 losses. Their inconsistent performance has contributed to a precarious standing near the relegation zone.
Despite a few bright moments on the pitch, the team has struggled to find their rhythm and capitalize on scoring opportunities, leading to a disappointing win-loss ratio. As the season progresses, the club will need to regroup and develop effective strategies to improve their performance in upcoming matches.
Looking ahead to their match against Milan, Paulo Zanetti understands the tough challenge that awaits. He will need his team to stay focused and resilient throughout the game. Defensively, Verona has faced significant challenges, conceding at least one goal in each of their last 13 league matches, and they have not achieved back-to-back wins since March.
Verona has several issues to address if they want to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. However, their recent 3-2 victory over Parma has ended a streak of four consecutive losses and is likely to restore some confidence and belief within the team.
Casper Tengstedt and Daniel Mosquera have been Verona’s key strikers, contributing a combined total of nine goals. Zanetti will aim to create scoring opportunities in hopes of causing an upset, especially on home turf.
Since the start of the 2024/25 Serie A season, AC Milan has consistently undermined their own efforts, becoming their own worst enemy on the pitch. This self-sabotage has not only affected their performance but has also exacerbated the ongoing coaching dilemma the club has faced this season.
As a result, the team’s struggles have been further compounded, leading to a disappointing run of form that has left fans and analysts concerned about the club’s future. Key issues such as tactical inconsistency, poor decision-making during crucial moments, and a lack of cohesion on the field have all contributed to this troubling situation.
Paulo Fonseca’s team has secured only six victories in their first 15 league matches, marking the club’s lowest total at this stage since 2019. This has Fonseca under the microscope and speculation about the former Roma coach’s future continues to rise.
On a more positive note, after conceding two goals in their first three Serie A matches, the Rossoneri have managed to keep a clean sheet in seven of their next twelve games. Only Napoli has achieved more clean sheets during that period.
However, the Rossoneri’s inconsistency has still made it difficult for them to keep up with Italy’s top four teams.
Milan’s record against Verona has been quite dominant, with the Rossoneri winning their last seven matches in the top-flight against them. This strong performance should give Fonseca the confidence to arrange his team in a way that maximizes their effectiveness in dangerous areas.
Even with a lengthy injury list, Fonseca can still rely on Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana to manage the midfield and generate scoring chances for players like Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham, who are both more than capable of helping secure an away victory.
Written by Marc Strydom.