Serie A | Milan 3-0 Verona: London Buses for Nkunku as Rossoneri go top

Milan find themselves at the top of the Serie A standings thanks to a 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona in San Siro on Saturday afternoon: Christian Pulisic providing the first-half opener and Christopher Nkunku claiming his first league goals in Italy in the process.

Milan made two changes after their Supercoppa Italiana semi-final defeat against Napoli last week, with Davide Bartesaghi coming in for Pervis Estupinan and Luka Modric returning to the XI in place of Ardon Jashari. Verona started without Gift Orban in attack, instead naming a strike partnership of Daniel Mosquera and Giovane. 

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

The Rossoneri found it difficult to break down the visitors for most of the opening 45 minutes in San Siro. Verona were well set up, enjoyed plenty of possession themselves, and largely limited Milan to half-chances from set-pieces. 

That was until stoppage time when Modric delivered an outswinger from the left-hand side. His cross was flicked on by Adrien Rabiot in the middle of the area, and an unmarked Pulisic was able to stick his leg out and finish into the roof of the net from close distance at the back post. 

The USMNT star is now up to eight Serie A goals for the season, which brings him level with Lautaro Martinez at the top of the goalscorer charts. 

Milan were then gifted a glorious opportunity to double their advantage almost immediately after the interval. Rabiot sought to find Nkunku with a flick off his heel, but the former Chelsea man was unnecessarily hauled down in the corner of the penalty area less than a minute into the half. 

Nkunku dusted himself down and dispatched the spot-kick low and just to the left of centre, claiming his first Serie A goal in the process. Milan: 2-0 up without having created any clear-cut chances for themselves at this stage. 

Nkunku had not scored in 11 Serie A appearances before Sunday afternoon, but made it two within the space of four minutes against Verona. Modric struck the right-hand post with a shot that had Montipo beaten, and the Frenchman appeared to be the only player alert enough in the area to challenge for the rebound. 3-0 thanks to that tap-in. 

This afternoon’s result temporarily sends Milan up into first place in the Serie A standings. They currently sit two points above city rivals Inter, who will reclaim the lead if they beat Atalanta in Bergamo later on Sunday evening. This result condemns Verona to another week in the relegation zone.

Pulisic 45+1’, Nkunku 48’, 52’.