Troubled Hellas Verona halted their slide down the table with a victory over Parma (3:2) in the last round. However, they are unlikely to build on that success against AC Milan, who are expected to win convincingly against the lower-ranked side.
Hellas Verona's defensive frailties near their penalty area are glaringly apparent, visible both in basic stats (39 goals conceded in 16 rounds) and advanced metrics (32.31 xGA). In their last two home games, they fell to Inter Milan (0:5) and Empoli (1:4), allowing 12 shots on target—opponents don't need many attempts to break them down. Paolo Zanetti also faces challenges due to four injuries within his squad, which would make team selection easier.
AC Milan delivered a lacklustre performance against Genoa (0:0), a game marking the club's 125th anniversary. It's likely the coaching staff will reduce the playing time for the youth players—Mattia Liberali and Álex Jiménez made little impact on the pitch. On the brighter side, Milan have accumulated 27.72 xG over 15 Serie A matches, surpassed by only three teams. Since early November, they have netted 11 goals in five away outings.
AC Milan have recorded seven consecutive victories against Hellas Verona since March 2021, scoring at least twice in six of those encounters. We recommend backing the visitors for a win, as they are poised to make a strong start to the new round of the championship.
