“Rabiot secures a hard-fought victory for Milan in Verona.”

In a tense and uneventful clash, AC Milan managed to secure a hard-fought victory against the desperate Hellas Verona, who remain at the bottom of the table. The only goal of the match was scored by Adrien Rabiot, in a performance that leaves much to be desired and places the Rossoneri in second place in the Serie A, just two steps away from the top, but far from convincing the fans.

After two consecutive defeats against Napoli and Udinese, the Milan team abandoned the risky 4-3-3 tactical system, returning to the traditional 3-5-2. Up front, the young Rafael Leão, under pressure, once again disappointed, despite assisting Rabiot in the build-up to the goal. The defense saw the return of Matteo Gabbia, absent for two months due to surgery for a sports hernia.

The match had barely begun when Leão attempted to surprise with a run after a pass from Christian Pulisic, but Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipò was alert to stop the play. The game quickly took a complicated turn for the hosts, with Daniel Oyegoke suffering an ankle sprain after a collision with Leão and Víctor Nelsson, forcing an early substitution.

Adrien Rabiot was the most consistent figure for Milan in the first half. It was he who, in a play regained in midfield, quickly combined with Leão to fire a precise and powerful shot that left Montipò with no chance, securing the only goal of the game before halftime.

Verona nearly equalized in the dying moments of the first half, with Rafik Belghali escaping the offside trap and finding himself one-on-one with Mike Maignan, who made a spectacular one-handed save. At the start of the second half, the atmosphere soured with episodes of racial abuse directed at Maignan from Verona’s ultras, prompting the activation of the protocol to combat such deplorable situations.

Belghali continued to threaten with dangerous shots, but the visiting team held firm. However, Milan saw Youssouf Fofana forced to leave the pitch due to injury, while Leão also made way for substitutions, visibly exchanging words with coach Massimiliano Allegri, suggesting discontent.

Upon returning to the field, Gabbia nearly made it 2-0 with a precise header, which was ruled out for offside, and he proved crucial in defense with decisive clearances to preserve the lead. Verona continued to press until the end, with Modric blocking a dangerous attempt from Gift Orban, while Saelemaekers saw his powerful shot denied just before the goal line.

In the end, AC Milan left Verona with three essential points, but without convincing. Leão’s lackluster performance, Rabiot’s constant struggle, and a defense that had to sweat to secure the result reflect the weaknesses that still haunt Allegri’s team, which needs more if it truly wants to compete for the title.

Match details:

Verona 0-1 Milan

Goal: Rabiot (41’)

Stadium: Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona

Date: April 19, 2026

Round: 33

The AC Milan’s starting formation featured Gabbia at the center of defense, with Rabiot and Fofana in midfield, and Leão and Pulisic in attack. On the Verona side, Montipò was in goal, with Belghali and Oyegoke on the flanks, and Akpa Akpro and Orban trying to create danger.

This victory leaves Milan in second place in the Serie A, but the uninspired performance and injuries raise many doubts for the coming matches. The pressure is mounting, and the Milan team will have to raise their level if they want to truly challenge for the title. Meanwhile, Verona remains at the bottom of the table, fighting to avoid relegation, and their match against the Rossoneri showed that they are still far from showing signs of recovery.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.