AC Milan fail to go beyond a 1-1 draw against Verona losing the opportunity to shorten the distance with Atalanta and Roma to 5 points.
Stalemate at San Siro as the Rossoneri can’t go further than a draw against Hellas Verona. AC Milan find themselves early in disadvantage when Faraoni comes behind Theo Hernandez to score in the 13-th minute.
Thankfully AC Milan would equalize in the first half with a deflected free kick from Hakan Calhanoglu. In the middle of the second half Verona’s midfielder Amrabat would get a red card leaving his squad with 10 players but the Rossoneri are unable to make use of it. A great chance lost to get just five points behind fourth-placed Roma and Atalanta who respectively lost and drew.
With Bennacer suspended, Kajer and Ibrahimovic sick (flu) and Krunic injured, Pioli had to deploy Calhanoglu as central midfielder with Rebic and Rafael Leao in attack.
Ibrahimovic’s students failed to hurt the opponents proving once again that the presence of the giant Swedish striker is a huge technical and moral boost for the squad. At the same time it highlighted the consequences of the management’s decision to not sign a replacement for Piatek leaving Zlatan the only available centre forward under Pioli’s orders.
Despite the disappointing result the Rossoneri dominated in terms of possession and goal attempts. However, the performance of the back four was underwhelming often risking to concede the second. On the positive side new signing Alexis Saelemaekers and Daniel Maldini made their debut with AC Milan. Next Sunday AC Milan face Inter in the derby della Madoninna.
AC Milan (4-4-2): Donnarumma 6, Calabria 6, Musacchio 6, Romagnoli 6.5, Theo Hernandez 5, Castillejo 6, Kessie 5.5, Calhanoglu 6, Bonaventura 5, Rebic 6, Leao 5.
READ MORE: AC Milan close the January window with 11 transfers
