Soccer Italy Serie A Prediction

AC Milan vs Verona - Match Preview

⚽ 4 June 2023 - 19:00 GMT +0

Despite a failed Serie A (SA) title defence, Milan had something to be satisfied with by securing a consecutive UEFA Champions League (UCL) appearance with a 1-0 win against Juventus in the last round. After achieving something that seemed quite complicated only a few weeks ago, coach Stefano Pioli cried out for squad reinforcements ahead of next season, stating he could not guarantee another top-four finish without any additions.

Even with a thinner squad, their home performances haven’t been an issue as Milan has already collected as many home points (40: W12, D4, L2) as they did in the entirety of their previous title-winning season. In fact, a draw here would see them finish with their most profitable SA home campaign since 2012/13, and given Milan are yet to lose a single home SA H2H against Hellas Verona (W17, D13), history suggests it shouldn’t be a problem.

But when running into a team fighting for survival, anything can happen, especially a wounded one like Verona, who was only moments away from a vital victory against Empoli prior to conceding a late equaliser in the last round (1-1). That draw left them on the same points as 17th-placed Spezia going into this round, and their task for this week is clear: they need to better Spezia’s result, for if the two clubs finish level on points, they will play each other in a tiebreak game to avoid relegation next week!

If their historical H2H record here wasn’t enough to deflate them, Verona has picked up only ten of their 31 points this season on the road (W1, D7, L10), which leaves them the second-worst travelling side going into the final round. However, the visitors have shown a fighting spirit recently by suffering only one defeat in their last four away league matches (W1, D2), including a 0-0 draw against champions Napoli.

📋 Players to watch: Sandro Tonali has become an expert recently when it comes to playing against Verona as he scored three times in his last two H2Hs. After netting his second SA goal of the season in the last round, Adolfo Gaich is still unbeaten in each of his 15 competitive career goal-scoring appearances.

⚡ Hot stat: Milan has kept only one clean sheet against the current bottom four sides this season.