Form, injuries, predicted XI and more

AC Milan will hope to provide the followers a Christmas current on Sunday with a win in opposition to Sassuolo in Serie A. Here’s a take a look at their opposition.

This can be a actually large recreation for Milan, and it maybe shouldn’t be. Circumstances this season have meant that the Rossoneri should get three factors right here and failing to take action solely raises questions on their potential to carry out in opposition to lesser groups within the division.

Given suspicions have arisen about their probabilities of the highest 4, this can be a actual likelihood to make a press release, and it have to be made.

➤ Supervisor: Paolo Zanetti➤ Kind (all comps): W-W-L-L-D➤ High scorer (Serie A): Present Orban – 4➤ Most assists (Serie A): Giovane – 4➤ Accidents & suspensions: Suslov, Belghali, Akpa Akpro and Bradaric.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the problem for Verona was to attempt to observe up a comparatively optimistic marketing campaign final trip underneath Paolo Zanetti by which they ended up ending 14th and due to this fact a number of locations away from the relegation locations.

The Gialloblu had an intriguing summer time window by which they spent round €16.6m however made about €26m in gross sales. Amin Sarr, Cheikh Niasse, Antoine Bernede, Rafik Belghali and Grigoris Kastanos all arrived for between €1m and €3.5m.

It’s the mortgage enterprise Verona did that has offered a lift to their squad. Moatasem Al-Musrati joined from Besiktas, Victor Nelson got here from Galatasaray, Present Orban from Hoffenheim and Armel Bella-Kotchap from Southampton.

By way of gross sales, nearly all the cash got here from two exits: Jackson Tchatchoua to Wolves for €12.5m, and Diego Coppola to Brighton.

Verona have spent nearly all of the season inside the underside three as they did not win in any of their first 12 league video games. Nonetheless, they received their most up-to-date two, 3-1 in opposition to Atalanta and 2-1 away at Fiorentina.

Getting knocked out of the Coppa Italia on penalties by Serie B facet Venezia was not properly acquired, so with out these newest two Serie A wins, Zanetti may properly have been underneath an terrible lot of strain. Because it stands, they’re 18th.

By way of choice points for Verona to cope with, there are two recognized absences: Suslov is anticipated to be out for a number of weeks longer, whereas Belghali has headed to the African Cup of Nations. Each Akpa Akpro and Bradaric are uncertain.

Consequently, the beginning XI ought to be fairly simple. Montipo will sit on the base of the defence, with Nunez, Nelson and Bella-Kotchap sitting in entrance of the goalkeeper.

Oyegoke and Valentini will begin on the wings, while Serdar, Al-Musrati and Bernede make up the midfield trio. Lastly, Giovane will sit behind Mosquera within the No.10 place, seeking to create some risk to the Rossoneri.

Predicted Verona XI (3-5-1-1): Montipo; Nunez, Nelson, Bella-Kotchap; Oyegoke, Serdar, Al-Musrati, Bernede, Valentini; Younger; Mosquera.

Predicted bench: Perilli, Toniolo, Fallou, Harroui, Slotsager, Ebosse, Niasse, Yellu, Kastanos, Sarr, Ajayi, Gagliardini, Orban.