HELLAS VERONA v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan are ready to take on Hellas Verona on matchday 17 of the 2024/25 Serie A season. The match will be played at 20:45 CET on Friday 20 December at the historic Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi in Verona. Coach Fonseca's side are eager to climb the standings, while Zanetti's men are aiming to consolidate their position. With both teams keen to secure valuable points, an intense and hard-fought match awaits. Here is our Match Preview as kick-off draws nearer.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan head into this fixture on the back of a goalless draw against Genoa in Serie A, a bit of a disappointing result for the Rossoneri fans. However, the Diavolo showed signs of improvement in their recent 2-1 victory over Crvena Zvezda in the UEFA Champions League. Coach Fonseca's men are aiming to find consistency in the league as they look to move up the standings. Despite some difficulties, AC Milan are determined to return to winning ways and show what they can do out on the pitch. To do so, the Rossoneri will have to overcome several unavailabilities: Bennacer, Florenzi, Jović, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Okafor and Pulisic have been joined in the last few hours by Morata, out of action due to tonsillitis. In the conference, the coach confirmed that there will be several youngsters on the squad list, maybe even the starting XI. Fofana has been warned.

This is what the Coach said on the day before the match: "Every match is important; we have worked hard to aim for this win. We are aware that at this moment, the most important thing is the results. We understand the frustration of the fans, and we play first and foremost to win. I feel that the criticism and booing are for me as well, not just for the players. Maybe they are mostly for me. We're all in this together, and I will not pretend otherwise."

LATEST FROM HELLAS VERONA
Hellas Verona recently ended a four-match losing streak in Serie A with a 3-2 victory over Parma. This win provided a much-needed boost for Zanetti's side, who are looking to build on this victory to improve their league position. However, they continue to struggle defensively, conceding in each of their last 13 league matches. Hellas Verona are determined to make the most of home advantage to achieve a positive result against AC Milan. The Scaligeri will not be able to rely on Harroui, an important absence in addition to Cruz, Frese and Okou. No one has been expelled, but the midfielder Belahyane, who has been a key player in the last few months, has been booked. The 3-man defence seen in their victory away at the Tardini could be repeated.

Paolo Zanetti did not hold a pre-match press conference, but said this about the match against the Rossoneri after winning in Parma: "We have difficult matches ahead of us; in Serie A, you have to know how to face difficulties with the right head. Otherwise, you are always insecure, maybe losing next week against AC Milan. It will be important how we face AC Milan: with the correct mindset and heart."

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• AC Milan have won each of their last seven Serie A matches against Hellas Verona; only against Siena do the Rossoneri have a longer ongoing winning streak in the Italian top flight (nine, the last of which was on 19 May 2013).
• After conceding two goals in each of their first three matches in the league this season, AC Milan have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last twelve Serie A matches since. During the latter period, only Napoli have done better across the division (eight clean sheets, but having played one more game than the Rossoneri).
• Rafael Leão, who has scored all three of his league goals this season away from home, has already found the net three times against Hellas Verona in Serie A; only against Cagliari, Lecce (five against both) and Fiorentina (four) has he done better in the competition. Leão only needs one more goal to match the number he scored last season on the road.

WHERE TO WATCH HELLAS VERONA v AC MILAN
In Italy, the match will be broadcast by DAZN. To watch Hellas Verona v AC Milan in a different country, you can consult the "Where to watch AC Milan on TV" section under "Abroad". On the Rossoneri channels, the following Matchday schedule will be on Milan TV: the live broadcast will open at 20:00 CET until just before kick-off, followed by interviews and the press conference from Coach Fonseca. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, AC Milan Official App, official Social Media, and WhatsApp.

SERIE A UPDATE
Livio Marinelli, the 40-year-old from Tivoli, will be the referee for Hellas Verona v AC Milan. He has 52 games in Serie A under his belt, including four matches with the Rossoneri, with the last dating back to AC Milan 1-0 Sassuolo last season. Assisting the Lazio referee will be assistants Del Giovane and Pagliardini, fourth official Perri, VAR Serra and AVAR Chiffi.

Serie A's Matchday 17 will kick off at the Bentegodi. The schedule features Torino v Bologna on Saturday 21 at 15:00 CET, Genoa v Napoli at 18:00 and Lecce v Lazio at 20:45. We'll have Roma v Parma on Sunday 22 at 12:30 CET, Venezia v Cagliari at 15:00, Atalanta v Empoli at 18:00 and at 20:45 Monza v Juventus. Monday 23 will conclude with Fiorentina v Udinese at 18:30 and Inter v Como at 20:45.

This is the current standings: Atalanta 37; Napoli 35; Inter* 34; Fiorentina* and Lazio 31; Juventus 28; Bologna* 25; AC Milan* 23; Udinese 20; Empoli and Torino 19; Roma, Genoa and Lecce 16; Parma, Hellas Verona and Como 15; Cagliari 14; Monza and Venezia 10. (* one game in hand)

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