Gianluca Caprari and Antonin Barak handed a two goal lead for Verona before Olivier Giroud, Franck Kessie equalised and an own goal from Koray Gunter completed AC Milan's comeback.
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AC Milan came back from two goal deficit to beat Hellas Verona 3-2 at San Siro on Saturday and claim the top spot in the Serie A table. AC Milan looked unsettled at the start of the match and the visitors took an early lead through Gianluca Caprari before Antonin Barak extended the lead from the penalty spot. However, after the break, Milan came out with a bit more intent and Olivier Giroud pulled one back just before the hour-mark. Milan leveled the score through Franck Kessie from the penalty spot before an own goal from Koray Gunter completed the home side’s comeback.
AC Milan goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu was straight away called into action as he had to make a save from Ivan Ilicic’s drive at the near post. A few minutes later, Miguel Veloso’s header fell into the path of Caprari inside the area, and the 28-year-old Italian smashed the ball past Tatarusanu with a first-time volley to take the lead for Verona.
The hosts immediately responded, with Rebic sending a cross to Maldini but the latter’s header went over the bar. Meanwhile, Verona continued to attack and won a penalty after Nikola Kalinic was fouled by Ramagnoli inside the penalty area. Caprari stepped up and converted the spot kick in the 24th minute to double the lead.
It got worse for Milan as Rebic had to be substituted in the 36th minute with an injury and Rafael Leao came in. Not much changed after Leao’s arrival and Milan went into the break trailing by two goals.
The Rossoneri boss Stefano Pioli tried to change things a little bit after the break, as he brought in Samu Castillejo in the place of Saelemaekers and Rade Krunic instead of Daniel Maldini. As the game went on, Milan started to take control and they pressed harder, and eventually, the reward arrived. Leao delivered a brilliant cross from the left flank and Giroud headed home to reduce the deficit.
After the goal, the momentum of the match completely shifted towards Milan and Giroud nearly got his second of the night, but his header from Ismael Bennacer’s cross went just over the bar. A few moments later, Leao’s strike went slightly over the bar and touched the upper side of the net from outside.
In the 73rd minute, the referee pointed to the spot after Castillejo was brought down inside the area. Kessie stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to level the score at 2-2.
12 minutes from time, the comeback was completed as Verona defender Gunter scored an own goal while trying to clear an in-swinging cross from Castillejo. Milan did well to hold on to the slender lead for the rest of the match and earned their seventh win of the campaign. The win helped AC Milan to the top of the table with 22 points from eight games. Meanwhile, Verona are placed 12th with eight points from as many games.
“It was a struggle, that’s true, it was complicated from the get-go, but the lads showed great character,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“Verona were stronger in the first half, better in the duels, intensity, in getting on the second ball, so they created more dangerous situations. Clearly, we needed to step up a gear and improve, but I saw belief in the team at the break. It was a real show of maturity.
“What we need is maturity and consistency. If you want to aim big, you have to focus on the small things first, take every detail one at a time.
“This is the proof that the club has built a strong squad because even with so many absentees, I still have a competitive side and many choices to make with different characteristics.”
