AC Milan edged out a resilient Hellas Verona side with a narrow 1-0 win at San Siro, thanks to Santiago Gimenez’s decisive goal in the 75th minute. The victory provided much-needed relief for Stefano Pioli’s team, who had struggled to break through their opponents’ stubborn defense.
A Tense Encounter
The deadlock was finally broken when Gimenez rose highest to head home a precise delivery into the box by Rafael Leao, lifting the spirits of both players and fans at San Siro. This moment of brilliance relieved the mounting pressure on Milan, who had dominated possession but lacked clinical finishing earlier in the match.
Milan created several opportunities in the first half, with Joao Felix and Tijjani Reijnders forcing impressive saves from Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo. Felix came particularly close with an attempt that nearly curled directly into the net before halftime. However, frustration grew as the Rossoneri failed to capitalize, compounded by the disallowance of an earlier Gimenez goal for offside.
Second-Half Struggles
The second half saw fewer clear-cut chances, with the game lacking rhythm until Gimenez’s intervention. Despite some promising moments, neither side managed to create significant threats until the late stages. Once ahead, AC Milan held firm, ensuring Verona couldn’t mount a comeback in the closing minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Sergio Conceicao’s Side Climbs the Table: With this win, AC Milan moves up to seventh place with 41 points, still five points behind Lazio in fourth—a position crucial for securing Champions League qualification next season.
- Gimenez’s Impressive Start: Since joining AC Milan from Feyenoord during the winter transfer window, Santiago Gimenez has made an immediate impact. Scoring in his first two Serie A appearances for the club, he joins an elite group of players to achieve this feat since the three-points-for-a-win rule was introduced—Andriy Shevchenko (1999) and Christian Pulisic (2023).
This hard-fought victory keeps AC Milan’s European ambitions alive, though they will need consistent performances moving forward to bridge the gap with teams in the top four. For now, Gimenez’s heroics have given the team a much-needed boost as they continue their pursuit of Champions League football.
