Series A | Verona 0-1 Milan: Brilliant Reijnders revitalizes Rossoneri

Series A | Verona 0-1 Milan: Brilliant Reijnders revitalizes Rossoneri

VERONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 20: Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Verona and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on December 20, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)


Tijjani Reijnders on an inspired Youssouf Fofana assist allowed Milan to get back on track with victory away to Hellas Verona, but Rafael Leao added to the injury crisis.

The Rossoneri had one win from five Serie A matches and dropped Theo Hernandez again, despite an injury crisis that ruled out Alvaro Morata, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yunus Musah, Noah Okafor, Luka Jovic, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi. Filippo Terracciano was therefore tested in a new midfield role, with Reijnders as trequartista. Verona ended their run of four straight defeats with a 3-2 win at Parma, but lost Abdou Harroui for the season.

The players went out with seven rescue puppies who have been ‘adopted’ by Hellas Verona from a local shelter until they can find their forever homes.

See how it all developed on the Liveblog.

Early appeals for a penalty were turned down as Jackson Tchatchoua’s arm was almost completely across his chest when he was hit by the acrobatic Rafael Leao volley.

Samuel Chukwueze saw his long-range curler easily smothered, but it was Mike Maignan who had to make the first real save from Tomas Suslov’s solo strike, with Amin Sarr too slow to reach the rebound.

Rafael Leao went out with a muscle problem, replaced by Theo Hernandez, moving Alex Jimenez into a more advanced role down the left wing.

VERONA, ITALY - DECEMBER 20: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is injured during the Serie A match between Verona and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on December 20, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
VERONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 20: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is injured during the Serie A match between Verona and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on December 20, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Terracciano almost scored against his former club, unleashing a scorcher from outside the area which Lorenzo Montipò tipped over the bar.

After the restart, Darko Lazovic did just enough to prevent Chukwueze meeting Jimenez’s cross at the back post, although Milan broke the deadlock with a well-worked move.

Youssouf Fofana picked out an inspired through ball that freed Reijnders from the offside trap and he swept a first-time right-footed finish into the top corner. It was his fourth Serie A goal of the season, already equaling his career best.

Maignan smothered Suslov’s effort at the base of the near post moments later, while Jimenez saw his daisy-cutter pushed out of the bottom corner.

Verona 0-1 Milan

Reijnders 56 (M)

Verona

Milan

1

87

42

27

46′

8

73′

20

59′

33

6

80′

9

46′

38

31

16

20

22

88′

28

46

42

14

29

10

32′

21

70′

90

23

5

34

12

29

98

80

82

21

4

46′

14

46′

25

59′

35

73′

11

80′

57

31

18

73

25

30

19

32′

2

70′

23

88′