THREE POINTS IN VERONA
Serie A
AC Milan are back to winning ways following a 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona. After defeats to Udinese and Napoli, it was important for the Rossoneri to show a reaction and take all three points back to Milan. Boosted by some favourable results yesterday, Massimiliano Allegri's men were aiming to control the game with personality. Allegri wanted depth and late runs into the box, as Pulisic and Leão tried to combine up top. In the key moment of the game, the Portuguese forward found Adrien Rabiot, who netted the winner.
After the break, AC Milan dropped off, and Verona grew into it, as they created various chances. The Rossoneri's defence, however, passed the test and held out, thanks in part to the return of a very solid Matteo Gabbia. At the end of the day, the result is what matters. These are three important points after Napoli and Como's results this weekend. AC Milan are back in second for now, level on 66 points with Napoli but ahead on goal difference and eight points clear of the Lariani in fifth. Up next: Juventus at San Siro.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM HELLAS VERONA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
It was a lively start at the Bentegodi: in the second minute, Gabbia's long ball was knocked down by Rabiot, and Pulisic's delicate chip set up Leão, who was denied by the outrushing Montipò. Verona responded with a long-range effort from Edmundsson that flew over the bar. AC Milan threatened from a free-kick through Bartesaghi, whose powerful strike went over, and then through Rabiot, picked out by Fofana, but his effort was straight at the Verona goalkeeper. In the 41st minute, the Rossoneri took the lead: Leão slipped a through ball to Rabiot, who, one-on-one with Montipò, finished with his left foot to make it 1-0. In the second of two minutes of added time, Belghali had a big chance to equalise, only to be denied by a superb stop from Maignan.
After the break, Verona looked to get back into the game and tried to catch AC Milan out, but the Rossoneri remained well organised at the back. In the 53rd minute, Belghali fired narrowly wide from distance, before Vermeșan tested Maignan with a deflected effort and shortly after curled a shot just wide of the post. With 74 minutes on the clock, AC Milan thought they had doubled their lead when Gabbia converted a Saelemaekers cross, but the goal was ruled out due to Gimenez being in an offside position earlier in the move. Late on, Verona piled on the pressure: Lovrić delivered into the box and Orban attacked the near post, but Gabbia got across to deny him. Deep into stoppage time, AC Milan had a chance to seal it, but Saelemaekers' left-footed effort was cleared off the line by Valentini. The match finished 1-0 to us.
MATCH DETAILS
HELLAS VERONA 0-1 AC MILAN
HELLAS VERONA (3-4-2-1): Montipò; Edmundsson, Nelsson, Valentini; Oyegoke (21' Lirola), Akpa Akpro (19'st Al Musrati), Gagliardini (38'st Lovrić), Bradarić (1'st Vermeșan); Belghali, Bernede (38'st Isaac); Orban. Subs: Perilli, Toniolo; Bella-Kotchap, Cham, Frese, Slotsager; Harroui; Ajayi. Coach: Sammarco.
AC MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Athekame (18'st Saelemaekers), Fofana (18'st Ricci), Modrić, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Leão (18'st Gimenez), Pulisic (35'st Nkunku). Subs: Pittarella, Terracciano; De Winter, Estupiñan, Odogu; Jashari, Loftus-Cheek; Füllkrug. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Chiffi from Padova.
Goal: 41' Rabiot (M).
Booked: 24' Akpa Akpro (HV), 84' Al Musrati (HV).
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