Three goals equals 3 points as AC Milan eases past Hellas Verona

After a midweek victory in Prague in a Europa League match, AC Milan faced a delicate away match in Verona for Matchday 29.

Hellas Verona, despite a complicated winter transfer market, has demonstrated a brilliant form that has allowed the club to obtain important victories in the fight to avoid relegation.

Coach Stefano Pioli surprisingly decided to field as first striker neither Olivier Giroud, rested after Thursday's effort, nor Luka Jovic. Instead, Swiss striker Noah Okafor got the call instead.

A few minutes in, the Rossoneri showed they were particularly dangerous. In fact, the first great opportunity was created on a free kick taken by Theo Hernandez in which teammate Fikayo Tomori wasted a valid opportunity.

Milan's prolonged possession sequences caused the home team to struggle to stem the initiatives of the visiting team.

Another great opportunity for Milan was created for Noah Okafor whose powerful shot was saved magnificently by Lorenzo Montipò.

No moment of respite for the home team because shortly after it was the talented American Christian Pulisic who came close to scoring. First he hit the crossbar with a right-footed shot, then went wide with a left-footer.

Hellas Verona finally managed to make themselves present in the offensive area, boosted by the initiatives of Tijjani Noslin.

The Rossoneri continued to attack relentlessly. French fullback Theo Hernandez showed an overwhelming physical condition with his continuous incursions on the left flank and AC Milan's goal arrived from that side in the 40th minute.

Hernandez, served by a deep pass from Rafael Leao, was able to maintain possession through traffic and then found himself in front of the opposing goalkeeper who he passed with a close range touch.

The home team tried to be more careful in the second half, trying to avoid leaving large spaces behind their defensive line.

An error by Polish defender Pawel Dawidowicz helped AC Milan double its lead.

Noah Okafor stole the ball from Dawidowicz then quickly flew towards the goal. As soon as he entered the penalty area he fired a shot that the goalie blocked, the ball bouncing laterally. Pulisic arrived first and pushed the ball into the net.

Hellas Verona tried to react and were rewarded in the 64th minute, the goal coming from Tijjani Noslin who powered home a rebound.

In the 70th minute Rafael Leao wasted a great opportunity after finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper thanks to a long ball from Giroud who had subbed in to take advantage of his physical ability in protecting the ball.

Hellas Verona therefore tried to worry the opposing defense with crosses and long-range shots which did not worry Mike Maignan too much.

AC Milan's third arrived in the 79th minute and definitively endd the match. Substitute Samuel Chukwueze volleyed a ball into the net after Hellas Verona defenders failed to clear a corner kick.

Late in the game, Maignan blocked a close-range shot from Karol Swiderski with his left leg.

With the victory, Milan consolidated its hold on second place, moving to 62 points, while Hellas Verona, despite the loss, remained just above the relegation zone. The only negative for the Rossoneri is the yellow card received by Hernandez who'll now miss the next league match at Fiorentina.