AC Milan climbed to the top of the Serie A table following a commanding 3-0 home victory against Hellas Verona at San Siro on Saturday evening. The Rossoneri were led by an impressive performance from Christopher Nkunku, who scored a brace to secure the three points, while Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in the first half to set Milan on the path to victory.
Milan made two adjustments from their Supercoppa Italiana semi-final loss to Napoli. Davide Bartesaghi replaced Pervis Estupiñán at left-back, while Luka Modrić returned to the starting lineup in place of Ardon Jashari, adding experience and control in midfield. Verona, on the other hand, opted to leave Gift Orban on the bench, deploying Daniel Mosquera and Giovane in their attacking line, hoping to exploit Milan’s high defensive line.
Milan dominated possession throughout the first half but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organized Verona side. The visitors were compact, making it difficult for the hosts to break through, and Milan largely relied on set-piece situations to test the goalkeeper. Despite this, the Rossoneri maintained control of the match and looked dangerous on the break and in wide positions.
Pulisic breaks the deadlock
The breakthrough came just before the interval during first-half stoppage time. Luka Modrić delivered a precise cross from the left, which was flicked on by Adrien Rabiot. Pulisic reacted quickest at the back post to slot the ball home from close range, giving Milan a well-deserved 1-0 lead. The goal took Pulisic to eight Serie A goals for the season, tying him with Lautaro Martínez atop the league’s scoring chart.
Nkunku delivers decisive double
After the break, Milan immediately increased their advantage. Nkunku was brought down inside the penalty area, and the French forward calmly converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-0, marking his first Serie A goal. Just four minutes later, Nkunku scored again. A long-range effort from Modrić struck the post, and Nkunku was quickest to react to the rebound, calmly finishing to extend Milan’s lead to 3-0 and effectively sealing the game.
The victory lifts AC Milan to the summit of the Serie A standings, two points ahead of Inter Milan, who have a chance to reclaim first place with their upcoming fixture against Atalanta on Sunday. Milan showcased tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and a strong team effort, with standout performances from Nkunku, Pulisic, and Modrić, highlighting their credentials as title contenders.
Verona, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone following another damaging defeat. Their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, and they struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities against a superior Milan side. The result leaves them needing to regroup quickly if they hope to improve their league standing in the coming fixtures.