Milan Second Lines Dismantle Verona to Reduce Gap from the Top

Stronger than their bad luck, Milan put together an impressive performance on Sunday as they returned from Verona with a 0-2 win that reduced their gap from Inter to three points only – as they wait for the Nerazzurri to take on Atalanta on Monday night. 

The Rossoneri were missing at least seven starters – with Sandro Tonali, Ante Rebic, and Theo Hernandez all raising a white flag only tomorrow, basically disrupting any kind of plan coach Stefano Pioli might have been having ahead of the game at the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi Stadium.

But Milan found some unexpected help from their second lines, with Rade Krunic opening the scoring with a brilliant free kick and Diogo Dalot finishing for the best a fine team effort in the second half. Perhaps it is not by chance that the goals came from two of the worst performing Rossoneri so far in the season.

It’s just as if, now that they have lost the lead in the table and are being forced to chase, the whole Milan roster understood they better step up their game – especially as multiple injuries continue to plague the team.

Which was your favourite goal?
? or✌️ ?
Have your say! ⤵️#VeronaMilan #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/gkexGO6lRx

— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 7, 2021

On the other hand, Milan found a surprisingly inconsistent Verona to face. Only one week ago, the Scaligeri had held Juventus on a 1-1 tie, then thrashed Benevento in a mid-week round to consolidate a comfortable mid-table position. Coach Ivan Juric could count on his ideal lineup, with Antonin Barak and Mattia Zaccagni behind lone striker Kevin Lasagna.

Verona started with their usual aggressiveness and were in control of the game for the initial 20 minutes. But their outburst didn’t turn into anything concrete, and so Gianluigi Donnarumma’s only reason for concern ended up being a slight injury to his thigh flexor muscles – which didn’t prevent him from continuing to play, however. 

Milan wisely waited for the Gialloblu‘s fury to placate and then hit them when they were less expecting it. After Rafael Leao wasted a mouthwatering Davide Calabria cross, heading the ball wide away of the target, it was Rade Krunic to put the visitors ahead.

The Bosnia international, who was deployed as a trequartista today to cover one of the multiple vacant offensive slots, was fouled by Giangiacomo Magnani on 27 minutes and made the best out of his chance from the free kick spot, curling the ball past hapless Marco Silvestri to give Milan the lead. 

? #VeronaMilan#DaiVerona #SerieATIM #lastoriAcontinuA pic.twitter.com/5a1gRA3beY

— Hellas Verona FC (@HellasVeronaFC) March 7, 2021

The second half seemed to follow the same pattern, with Verona trying to react but pierced again by the Rossoneri just five minutes after the restart. Milan’s second was the product of a brilliant team effort initiated by Alexis Saelemaekers and finalized by Diogo Dalot with a right-foot screamer that ended its run into top bottom corner of Silvestri’s goal.

The second goal sent the Gialloblu in disarray. Ivan Juric tried to reshuffle his cards, but the additions of Daniel Bessa and Eddie Salcedo didn’t change the trend, nor did the entrance of Federico Dimarco and Ivan Ilic later in the game.

Milan switched to cruise control mode and collected three fundamental points to send a message to their cross-town rivals. The Rossoneri are still there. Bruised and battered, but still there.    

 

MATCH REPORT

March 7, 2021 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 26
VERONA-MILAN 0-2

SCORERS: 27′ Krunic, 50′ Diogo Dalot

REFEREE: Mr. Orsato from Schio
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Magnani, Bessa (V); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 4′