Milan's failure to secure a win against Carpi on Thursday, has made their pursuit of a sixth place finish in Serie A a little more complicated. A dull 0-0 draw, the match showcased the same perpetual problems that have hampered the Rossoneri as far back as last season. More importantly, it demonstrated that changing managers would not be the quick fix Silvio Berlusconi may have anticipated it to be. Brocchi has changed things up tactically since being appointed coach, but his desire to play a more attacking brand of football is yet to yield results.
Milan currently have a four point gap between themselves and seventh placed Sassuolo, but with five games still remaining that could change very quickly. It is imperative that Milan take maximum points from these remaining fixtures. Performances like the one against Carpi on Thursday simply won't do. Verona have been the worst side in Serie A this season by a significant margin and they are there for the taking, even away at the Bentegodi. When they visited the San Siro in December, Verona managed to hold out for a draw. It would take an incredible showing of incompetence for that to happen this time as well. Hopefully Milan can improve upon their dismal recent showings and get a result.
A loss in this match could see Verona mathematically relegated (assuming other results go against them as well) and whilst the odds of them staying up are virtually non-existent at this point, it's hard to see them going down without a fight. The Gialloblu will be without talismanic striker Luca Toni, who is set to miss this game with a thigh injury, as well as Samuel Souprayen and Federico Viviani due to suspension. Despite all this, at the same stage last season an already bankrupt Parma beat Juventus 1-0 at home, so anything is possible. Milanisti will be expecting better however and the team really need to deliver.
Milan will most likely line up in a 4-3-1-2 formation once again. The Rossoneri will be without both Alex and Mario Balotelli through suspension. As well as this, Giacomo Bonaventura will miss the match through injury. Luiz Adriano is back in training however and given the lack of alternatives, could be due for a run out in this match. Cristian Zapata will most likely deputise for Alex, whilst Keisuke Honda could fill in as a trequartista. Manuel Locatelli, who made his debut against Carpi could be in line for another appearance here too, albeit probably as a substitute. Milan have only ever lost 8 times in 51 Serie A encounters with Verona, hopefully they won't add to that tally here. It won't be easy, but Milan need to come away with all three points.
Predicted Line-Ups
Verona: 4-4-1-1 - Pierluigi Gollini; Eros Pisano, Samir, Matteo Bianchetti, Michelangelo Albertazzi; Pavel Wszolek, Luca Marrone, Leandro Greco, Urby Emanuelson; Luca Siligardi; Giampaolo Pazzini.
Milan: 4-3-1-2 - Gianluigi Donnarumma; Ignazio Abate, Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli, Luca Antonelli; Juraj Kucka, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Poli; Kieuke Honda; Carlos Bacca, Jeremy Menez.
How To Watch
Where: Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
When: 5.00pm local, 1.00pm EST, 25th April 2016.
TV: SKY Calcio 2 (Italy), BT Sport Europe (UK), RAI International (USA)
Online: SKY Go Italia (Italy), BT Sport (UK), beIN Sports Connect (USA)
International listings can be viewed here.
Score Prediction
Playing away against the bottom side in Serie A usually means a stalemate for Milan, except Milan have Carlos Bacca.
Verona 0-1 Milan.