HELLAS VERONA V AC MILAN: DUELS

It's time for the third-last matchday and penultimate away day of the season. AC Milan, who have won their last three games, will look to maintain their good form and notch up at a win at the Bentegodi. They will take on surprise package Hellas Verona, who are still in the fight for European football. This matchday 36 clash will be decided by individual battles on the pitch; let's take a look at the most interesting of them.

GIANLUCA CAPRARI v RAFAEL LEÃO
Goals from out on the left. Caprari has bagged twelve goals and seven assists to Leão's ten goals and five assists. Caprari made his Serie A debut against the Rossoneri back on 7 May 2011 as a Roma player, on the day that the Rossoneri wrapped up the Scudetto at the Olimpico. The 28-year-old wideman is just two away from breaking Verona's record for assists in a single Serie A season since 2004/05, set by Hallfreðsson in 2014/15 (9). Including his 12 league goals, Caprari could become just the second Italian in the last 17 years to have at least 20 goal involvements in a single top-flight season (the other being Luca Toni). It is safe to say, therefore, that he is having a stellar season, as is Leão who bagged the winner against Fiorentina. As a result, he became the fifth Portuguese player to reach double figures for goals in Serie A after Cristiano Ronaldo, Rui Barros, Rui Costa and Beto. Rafa also has the fourth-most completed dribbles (93) in Europe's Top-5 leagues after Allan Saint-Maximin, Adama Traoré and Kylian Mbappé. His main mission in Verona: bag a goal away from home, which has eluded him since the trip to Bologna in October.

GIOVANNI SIMEONE v OLIVIER GIROUD
This is a match-up of number 9's, even though the Argentine wears 99 on his back. The Verona striker is back in fine form in Serie A with 16 goals in 33 appearances, including a four-goal haul against Lazio in October and a hattrick against Venezia in February. Simeone has struck twice against AC Milan in Serie A, the most recent of which was on 20 May 2018, but hasn't found the net in his last five league games against the Rossoneri. He will meet Stefano Pioli again; Simeone scored 20 goals in 69 games under the tutelage of the current Rossoneri boss, his best record under any coach. Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, leads the line with a wealth of experience. The Rossoneri's striker has recorded nine goals and four assists in 26 games in his first season in Italian football and could become only the third Frenchman to reach double figures in a single Serie A campaign after Jean-Pierre Papin (13 in 1992/93) and Jérémy Ménez (16 in 2015/16). Decisive goals define his game, as was shown in the reverse fixture at San Siro, which kick-started the Rossoneri's comeback.

ANTONIN BARAK v FRANCK KESSIE
Both players have been moved higher up the pitch. The Czech midfielder's advancement up the field began a few seasons ago under the direction of Jurić, while the switch for the Ivorian came this season. Both players scored in the reverse fixture, both from the penalty spot. Furthermore, Barak has scored two goals in three Serie A matches against AC Milan, both at San Siro, and has reached double figures for league goals (11) for the first time in his career. Franck's goal in October was his first-ever against the Gialloblù. The Rossoneri's number 79 hasn't scored in the league in 2022 as yet and hasn't found the net since bagging a brace at the Castellani against Empoli in December. The Ivorian has scored five league goals in the current campaign, a long way off the 13 scores last season but still as important.

KORAY GÜNTER v FIKAYO TOMORI
Germany against England - one of the great international rivalries - embodied in Günter against Tomori. Both defenders have made 28 appearances in the league so far this season. The German scored an unfortunate own goal to decide the reverse fixture but leads his team for passes completed in his own half (748), clearances (100), shots blocked (19) and interceptions (67). Fik is, meanwhile, the AC Milan player with the most passes completed overall (1575), of which 1113 came in his own half, as well as duels won (67), clearances (71), shots blocked (21) and interceptions (42). Both Günter (career) and Tomori (in 2021/22) are looking for a first Serie A goal. 

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