Milan-Verona Preview: Turning the Other Cheek

After the scoreless draw with Chievo Verona last week that felt more like being backhanded across the face, this week we turn the other cheek to welcome their rivals, Hellas Verona to the San Siro. Only this Verona club has a little more bite, even if their leading scorer is a bit long in the tooth. All I want from this match is for Milan to put up a fight instead of saying “Thank you, may I have another.” There’s a time to turn the other cheek, but not in a football match.

I'm already feeling pain

Last week, Verona took down Cagliari 2-1 with goals by Numero Uno and Juanito, conceding the Cagliari goal in stoppage time. For that match, Mandorlini lined up Benussi; Pisano, Mrquez, Moras, Agostini; Halfredsson, Ionita, Tachtisdis; Toni, Jankovic, and Sala. Toni now has 10 goals in 25 appearances, not too bad for a 37 year-old.

Mandorlini has some injuries, but it seems that they are all very close to coming back. Goalkeeper Rafael as well as striker Fernandinho are expected to be fit, while Moras, Ionita, Saviola, and Valoti could all possibly return for our match.

Hmm... one of these guys is 7 years older and has 10 goals this season, the other is injured

Meanwhile, Inzaghi has a lengthy list that got longer after last week’s game. In addition to Zapata, De Sciglio, El Shaarawy, Abate, Mastour, Armero, and Rami, Montolivo and de Jong were both added to the list after being subbed off injured on Saturday. Albertazzi, Agazzi, and Zaccardo are all reportedly on the mend, but whether they are fit and whether or not they get called up is an entirely different question.

Also in question is the system Inzaghi will use. After a couple of trials with the 4-3-1-2, some think he may switch back to the 4-3-3 with Menez on the wing and Destro in the center. If that happens, I am going to have to be more careful what I say around here, because it would be as if he actually read this blog. Oops.

If only we had our former Verona manboy healthy to boss his old team

It is really hard to even feign excitement when Milan is going to play anymore. Despite the fact that we beat this team 3-1 in their house in October, we are not the same team as we were then at all. Call me a pessimist or whatever you want, but I just want to see something resembling football again. I don’t care about the result. Although a result would be nice (that’s for you, Inzaghi, if you are in fact reading this blog.) Just please give me a performance that doesn’t make me feel like I got kicked in the pants. Because I’m not really into turning the other cheek.

This post inspired by the music of Garbage

AC Milan vs. Hellas Verona

Saturday, March 7 • 20:45 CET (2:45pm EST)

This match will be shown on RAI and BeIN Sports in the U.S.