AC Milan Secures Vital 1-0 Victory Against Hellas Verona To End Poor Run Of Form

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Paulo Fonseca expressed satisfaction as AC Milan managed to secure a 1-0 victory against Hellas Verona in Serie A, despite several key players being absent. Tijjani Reijnders scored the decisive goal in the second half, lifting Milan to seventh place with only their second win in six matches. This victory extended Milan's winning streak against Verona to eight games, a record only surpassed by their nine consecutive wins against Siena.

Fonseca's team faced challenges without Alvaro Morata and Christian Pulisic due to injuries, while Theo Hernandez was limited to a substitute role. "The first half was somewhat inevitable with so many players missing and not winning the most recent match, so we were sluggish," Fonseca told DAZN after the game. Despite these setbacks, Fonseca was pleased with the outcome, emphasizing the importance of securing a win.

Milan demonstrated defensive solidity by keeping a clean sheet and allowing Verona minimal opportunities. They controlled 65% of possession but generated only 0.81 expected goals (xG), while limiting Verona to 0.68 xG. This marked only their second away win without conceding in Serie A this season, following a similar result at Monza in early November.

Fonseca acknowledged that while Milan dominated possession, they lacked aggression in attack. "It's true that we did not allow Verona much and dominated possession, but without being aggressive in the final third," he noted. The team made several poor decisions near the penalty area, which Fonseca attributed to a lack of confidence.

During the match, Rafael Leao suffered an injury scare but Fonseca reassured fans about its severity. "I spoke to Rafa, it doesn't seem to be anything particularly special. It's nothing major," Fonseca stated. The Portugal international limped off during the first half but is expected to recover soon.

The victory against Verona provided Milan with much-needed momentum as they aim to improve their form in Serie A. Despite missing key players and facing recent struggles, the team showed resilience and determination on the pitch.