Milan-Verona Preview: No Tomorrow

This match falls on Groundhog Day. If you have seen the classic movie, you’ll know that the main character gets stuck in a never-ending loop where it is Groundhog Day over and over again, every day. This match also sees Borini return to the San Siro, but this time wearing the Verona crest instead of Milan’s. So it may seem a bit like there is no tomorrow.

Stuck in a never-ending loop of Borini

Verona actually sit just below us on the table, 2 points behind us. They are also coming off of a big 3-0 win last weekend against Lecce. For that win, Juric lined up Silvestri; Rrahmani, Kumbulla, Dawidowicz; Faraoni, Amrabat, Veloso, Lazovic; Pessina, Verre; and Di Carmine. His subs in that match included ex-Milan players Pazzini and Borini, with Pazzini getting on the scoresheet in that match. Juric will be without Salcedo again to injury, and his starting 11 will likely also see changes due to the end of the transfer window this week.

This week, he's been brought to his knees with the flu

Speaking of the end of the mercato, Milan obviously did well to bring Ibrahimovic back this month, that has already been proven with a five-match winning streak in all competitions. Another striker, Piatek, was then sold to Hertha Berlin. Likewise, backup goalkeeper Reina went on loan to Aston Villa, while Begovic came in on loan from Bournemouth to replace him. Caldara went to Atalanta, while Kjaer came from Atalanta at the center back spot. Rodriguez went on loan to PSV Eindhoven, and Laxalt returned from his loan at Torino early to provide backup at the left back position. Borini was sold to Verona, and Suso went on loan to Sevilla, both technically wingers, but only one other player came in, which was Saelemakers from Anderlecht. Saelemakers has played in both defense and midfield, but most recently was playing as a CAM, although he can play anywhere on the right wing. So six players out, five players in.

Saelemaekers is official

No wonder, then, that we are already being punished for dropping a player. Ibrahimovic has the flu, which not only punctuates that we dropped a man up front, but could drastically impact our mentality and skill level at that position for this match. Kjaer is also out with the flu, and Krunic is out with muscular problems. Bennacer is suspended for this match, and Biglia and Duarte are both still out with longterm injuries. Calabria returns from injury, and both Friday signings Saelemakers and Laxalt will be available. However, with a squad this depleted, this match may truly feel like there is no tomorrow.

Hello old friend

Milan fans are probably blissfully confident after such a great run of results. But the injuries for this match are terrifying, especially facing an opponent that is only two points behind us, and with a full-strength squad, too. That Borini was technically the player who wasn’t replaced in the mercato makes this match even more like a never-ending loop. Let’s just hope that the mentality is strong enough to withstand our missing pieces and that the guys truly play like there’s no tomorrow.

This post inspired by the music of Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe”

Serie A Week 22

Milan vs. Verona

Sunday, February 2 • 15:00 CET (9am EST)

This match can be streamed LIVE on ESPN+ in the U.S.