In a critical Serie A clash on December 28, 2025, AC Milan finds themselves in a high-stakes battle against Verona at the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The stakes couldn't be higher: AC Milan, firmly positioned in second place with 32 points, is desperate to keep pace in the title race following a disappointing Super Cup exit. On the other hand, Verona languishes in the relegation zone with just 12 points and must seize this opportunity to pull themselves out of a dire situation.
Predicted Lineups
AC Milan: GK: Mike Maignan, DEF: Strahinja Pavlović, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia; MID: Adrien Rabiot, Davide Bartesaghi, Luka Modrić, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; FWD: Christian Pulišić, Rafael Leão. Verona: GK: Lorenzo Montipò, DEF: Armel Bella-Kotchap, Victor Nelsson, Unai Núñez; MID: Martin Frese, Antoine Bernede, Mutassim Al-Musrati; FWD: Gift Orban, Giovane.
AC Milan enters this fixture with something to prove after stumbling against Napoli in the Super Cup semi-finals and only managing a draw against Sassuolo last week. Their form has been inconsistent lately-winning only two of their last five outings. Yet there's no denying their attacking potency led by the likes of Christian Pulišić and Rafael Leão. The return of influential midfielder Luka Modrić could stabilize their midfield distribution after some erratic performances recently.
On the flip side, Verona comes off back-to-back victories over Fiorentina and Atalanta-moments that seem almost miraculous considering their overall season struggle. But can they carry that momentum into this daunting encounter? Their recent upturn is primarily attributed to Gift Orban's emergence as a goal-scoring threat; he netted twice against Fiorentina and created opportunities through clever runs and positioning.
Diving deeper into each team's statistics reveals both strengths and vulnerabilities that will shape this match.
Tactical Breakdown
AC Milan
The Rossoneri have dominated ball possession in their recent matches (averaging about 59% against Sassuolo), which reflects their strategic intent to control the tempo. However, this dominance hasn't translated into an abundance of clear chances-as seen by their low shots on target against Lazio (just one). They often adopt a 3-5-2 formation, relying on wingbacks to create width while central players dictate play. In recent games where they've struggled (like that Coppa Italia elimination), they've failed to effectively break down organized defenses.
Statistically speaking, Milan leads in expected goals (xG) with a solid performance of around 1.24 xG against Sassuolo compared to 1.07 for them-a clear sign they are generating decent chances but perhaps failing at critical moments in front of goal.
Verona
Conversely, Verona sits deep defensively and invites pressure while looking for counterattacking opportunities-a risky strategy against teams like AC Milan who possess quick attackers capable of exploiting any gaps left behind. The lack of possession isn't solely an issue when it's balanced by effective finishing-an aspect Verona showed signs of rediscovering with six goals across two wins recently.
Their defensive structure tends towards a similar three-man backline (3-5-2), focusing on compactness rather than playing expansive football. Despite holding less than 40% possession during these last games (e.g., only 34% against Fiorentina), they capitalized on the few opportunities they created-highlighted by their efficiency of converting lower xG chances into actual goals during those wins.
Key Player Battles
The contest between Christian Pulišić and Verona's defenders will be pivotal. With his dazzling footwork and acceleration coupled with good off-the-ball movement, he represents everything potent about AC Milan's attack. His link-up play alongside Rafael Leão needs to translate into decisive moments if Milan is to breach what has been Verona's obstinate defense.
On the other side lies Gift Orban-a player whose burgeoning reputation rests on his sharp instincts inside the box combined with raw speed on counterattacks. If Verona can find him running behind AC Milan's defensive line through rapid transitions from defense to attack as they've shown lately-and if he can capitalize like he did recently-they'll pose real threats that could exploit any lapses from Tomori or Pavlović at the back.
Conclusion: The Hot Take
Ultimately this matchup pivots on whether AC Milan can overcome its current malaise or whether Verona can continue its upward trajectory amidst lingering doubts over consistency throughout this season. Given Milan's pressing need for points-and especially having home advantage-I'm backing them for a gritty win here.
Expecting something like a 2-1 victory for AC Milan seems plausible; they'll create enough chances given their ability to dominate possession but may concede due to miscommunication or errors typical under pressure situations stemming from defensive rigidity facing quick attackers like Orban. This promises fireworks-not just for tactical aficionados but for fans eager for every bit of drama Serie A promises!