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December 19 2024, 01:07 · Alex Lawes

Hellas Verona vs AC Milan Preview: Team News & Prediction

Hellas Verona vs AC Milan Preview: Team News & Prediction

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After a bright-ish start to the campaign, Hellas Verona have sunk down the Serie A table but they did get a much-needed win last weekend as they now take on AC Milan at the Bentegodi.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 20th December, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule

How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+

Hellas Verona Preview: Time to build

Former Empoli coach Paolo Zanetti remains in charge of a Hellas Verona side that begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just outside of the bottom three and the relegation places. The home team have managed five victories with 11 defeats in their opening 16 matches.

They come into this one on the back of a dramatic and much-needed 3-2 win against Parma at the Ennio Tardini in Emilio-Romagna last weekend. Goals from Davide Coppola, Amin Sarr and Daniel Mosquera ended what was a four-match losing streak for Verona ahead of that game.

AC Milan Preview: Faltering Rossoneri

Paulo Fonseca was appointed in the summer and supporters were immediately unhappy with pressure now growing further on the former Lille boss as they sit outside of the top seven and the UEFA competition qualification spots in Serie A after 15 matches of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Rossoneri come into this one on the back of a very disappointing goalless draw at home to Patrick Vieira’s Genoa at San Siro last weekend. They have now managed just one win in seven matches in Serie A amid impressive form in the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League.

Hellas Verona Team News: No Harroui

Key midfielder Abdou Harroui is unavailable for this weekend’s visit of Milan as he deals with a knee injury. As well as the absence of Harroui for this one, Martin Frese also remains injured with both Suat Serdar and Mathis Lambourde key doubts.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Duda, Belahyane, Lazovic; Suslov, Dailon Livramento; Sarr

Unavailable: Frese (Injured), Harroui (Injured), Juan Manuel Cruz (Injured)

Questionable: Serdar (Injured), Lambourde (Injured)

AC Milan Team News: Key absentees

AC Milan are dealing with several key injury absentees for this weekend with ‘Captain America’ Christian Pulisic still unavailable after an excellent start to this season. England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also sidelined alongside Ismael Bennacer in midfield.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana; Chukwueze, Alvaro Morata, Leao; Abraham

Unavailable: Florenzi (Injured), Bennacer (Injured), Loftus-Cheek (Injured), Pulisic (Injured), Jovic (Injured)

Questionable: Musah (Fitness), Okafor (Injured), Abraham (Injured)

Hellas Verona vs AC Milan Prediction

Hellas Verona have been chaotic throughout this season. They are a weak side and that is shown by the fact they have lost 11 in 16 games so far. They are expected to struggle throughout the campaign but have enough attacking talent to produce the odd important victory. Despite their poor form, and lack of goals of late, in Serie A, AC Milan remain strong with a lot of depth and should really get on the front foot here so a high-scoring affair would seem a good bet, albeit Milan remain favourites.

Hellas Verona vs AC Milan Tip: AC Milan to win & over 2.5 goals