The tops and flops of Verona-Milan of the 17th matchday of Serie A. It is always Reijnders who saves the Rossoneri, the performance of the Gialloblù is decent despite without effective attackers.
Verona it is not fatal to the plastered person Paulo Fonseca's Milan. The Rossoneri beat Bentegodi thanks to a goal than usual Reijnders in the second half, well guided by the trusted soldier Fofana. The bad news for the Devil is Rafa Leao's injury, forced to come off after half an hour to make room for a lifeless Theo Hernandez. The Scala team also put in a decent performance as they tried, even without effective attackers. Nervous match finale with expulsion of the yellow-blue sporting director Sogliano.
The choices of Zanetti and Fonseca
They have a lot in common Verona and Milan at this moment. Two coaches in the balance, corporate events taking center stage with Cardinale confirmed at the helm of the Devil and with Setti about to leave, the results not up to expectations. For the occasion, the Scala team opted for a careful 3-5-1-1 with Suslov acting behind the lone striker Sarr. In the Devil still out Theo: there is Jimenez. The former player Terracciano plays in midfield. Abraham is number nine.
Click here to relive the emotions of the match
Balance and few chances in the first half
The first half is essentially balanced. Milan does more things than Verona, none of which, however, turns out to be incisive. The most important news comes around half an hour into the game when Leao stops and forces Fonseca to make a substitution. Theo Hernandez returns to the field in place of the Portuguese after a short period spent in mothballs. Among the yellow-blues, the most dangerous is Suslov while in the final part of the half it is Terracciano who challenges Montipò with a long-range shot.
It's always Reijnders to save Fonseca
In the second half Milan revs up the engine and in the 56th minute finds a way to take the lead. Fofana prompts Reijnders how cold Montipò anticipating Daniliuc. When Jimenez accelerates he is scary: Montipò denies him the joy of a possible double. The Devil is unlucky: a few minutes from the end Gabbia hurts his ankle but resists. Tomori, already ready, thus replaces Emerson as full-back. For the rest, Verona tries, but without finding the key to break Maignan's door. Fonseca takes home three important points, for himself and for the team.
Milan's report cards
- Maignan 6 A save on Suslov which however is part of the ordinary for a goalkeeper like him.
- Emerson Royal 6 Assists Chukwueze in the offensive phase and contains Lazovic. (From 88' Tomori of)
- Cage 6 Fonseca elected him to be the leader of the department. Try to take a little more license on a quiet evening.
- Thiaw 6 Just a small smudge, without consequences. On the other hand, it's not like Verona attacks with many men and this simplifies the job.
- Jimenez 6,5 On his side there is Tchatchoua but he wins the duel by a landslide. Thorn in the side of the Scala family.
- Terracciano 6.5 It is difficult to expect it to be the element capable of making the difference. However, he combines quantitative work with a couple of not bad initiatives.
- Breath 7 He fights and takes blows. Then he serves the assist for Reijnders' 1st
- Chukwueze 5,5 So much thunder that it didn't rain. It goes around and around without materialising. (From 70′ Calabria 6 Come in to lend a hand in managing the finale.)
- Reijnders 7 In the first half he brings quality but low pace. In the second half he benefited from the support of his teammates to take back the stage: it was his goal that broke the deadlock.
- Leo 5.5 He went off on the half hour due to injury, just as he was losing patience and abandoning himself to individual initiatives. (From 32′ Theo Hernandez 5,5 He doesn't enter the race well: imprecise and listless).
- Abraham 5,5 Nothing to say for his commitment but he never kicks on goal.
Verona top and flop
- Suslov 6,5 Sometimes he starts his own business and even makes himself dangerous.
- Montiport 6,5 He gets as far as he can.
- Duda 6,5 Lots of running and dynamism but also excellent ability to steal balls.
- Dawidowicz 6.5 He constantly remains very high to attack the ball carrier and allow Verona to restart. Warned, it lasts a while.
- Sarr 5 Never dangerous, practically never received.
- Daniliuc 5 He was caught in the action for the 1-0 goal.
