AC MILAN V HELLAS VERONA: MATCH PREVIEW

The league championship picks back up again following the second international break of the season. Back at San Siro after the successful double trip to La Spezia and Bergamo. AC Milan await Hellas Verona, who they will play at 20:45 CEST in matchday eight of Serie A. As we approach kick-off, we provide you with an in-depth analysis of this match:

THE LATEST FROM MILANELLO
The break allowed some players to recover, such as Ibrahimović, Giroud, and Krunić. This is important news, given the several recent negative updates: Maignan's operation, as well as positive tests for Hernández and Díaz. The Rossoneri will resume their league journey after the great showdown in Bergamo, beginning a very engaging, difficult and stimulating period of the calendar.

With no player disqualified or carrying a booking, Pioli will have to choose his best possible eleven while considering Tuesday evening's away match in the Champions League at the home of Porto. The Diavolo are in second place in the standings with 19 points, two behind the leaders Napoli; with Lazio v Inter and Juve v Roma also on the schedule this weekend, a victory would carry even greater weight.

"I witnessed the right desire and participation levels. We'll be playing an important and difficult match" said Coach Pioli at his press conference at Milanello. "Hellas Verona have turned things around since Tudor's arrival. We want to grit our teeth and overcome our problems, our group is strong and united, we want to transform this delicate moment into another positive opportunity to show who we are. San Siro will give us an extra boost".

THE LATEST ON HELLAS VERONA
It has been a true and proper turnaround for our opponents with their change of coach. Since bringing in Igor Tudor after losing three matches in a row, Hellas have picked up eight points following two wins and two draws. Before the break, Verona won 4-0 at home against Spezia.

No player is disqualified or carrying a booking for the Giallobù, who have recovered a big player in Miguel Veloso. Faraoni and Ilić are also okay, while Frabotta is also unavailable. On a tactical level, it is probable they will line up in a 3-4-3 formation: from Montipò to Günter and Dawidowicz in defence, with space in attack for Barak, Caprari and Simeone.

"We're looking forward to taking to the pitch", Coach Tudor stated at his press conference. "We'll play against a great team. We know that, in order to get a positive result, we will have to make as few mistakes as possible. It's a challenge that stimulates us. A big round of applause must go to Pioli, a strong coach who I have always appreciated".

PRE-MATCH
In the last five instalments of this fixture in the league, both teams have scored, and the match ended in a draw on four occasions, as it did in the most recent encounter which took place at nearly the same period of Serie A last season, on 8 November 2020, and finished 2-2. Despite a shocking start, with the Gialloblù 2-0 up and not even the first quarter of the game played (a goal by Barak and an own goal by Calabria), the Rossoneri put in a great performance: in addition to Magnani's own goal and Ibrahimović's goal in injury time, there was also a crossbar hit in the second half, as well as a missed penalty by Zlatan himself, and a goal ruled out for Calabria. Level after a spectacle.

SERIE A LATEST
The referee Alessandro Prontera from the Bologna section will take charge of AC Milan v Hellas Verona, in what will be his eighth appearance in Serie A. He will be assisted by Mastrodonato and Lanotte as linesmen, Paterna as the fourth official, and Di Paolo (assisted by Longo) in charge of VAR. The Rossoneri have never been refereed by the Tricase man, but he has refereed two matches for the Gialloblù: two defeats in the league last season, against Sassuolo (3-2 away in March) and Fiorentina (1-2 at home in April).

AC Milan v Hellas Verona will be one of the Saturday matches on matchday eight of Serie A, along with Spezia v Salernitana (15:00 CEST) and Lazio v Inter (18:00 CEST). On Sunday, then, we can expect Cagliari v Sampdoria (12:30 CEST), Empoli v Atalanta (15:00 CEST), Genoa v Sassuolo (15:00 CEST), Udinese v Bologna (15:00 CEST), Napoli v Torino (18:00 CEST) and Juventus v Roma (20:45 CEST). Finally, on Monday, Venezia host Fiorentina at 20:45 CEST.

Here are the current standings in Serie A: Napoli 21; AC Milan 19; Inter 17; Roma 15; Fiorentina 12; Lazio, Juventus, Atalanta & Bologna 11; Empoli 9; Torino, Hellas Verona & Udinese 8; Sassuolo 7; Sampdoria 6; Genoa & Venezia 5; Salernitana & Spezia 4; Cagliari 3.

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