Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku fuel AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Verona — punters can back Milan as match-winner with Pulisic or Nkunku as anytime scorers; Milan look like good value for -1 handicap or over 1.5 Milan goals against lower-table opponents after this display.
AC Milan climb to Serie A summit with 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona
AC Milan moved top of the Serie A table after a strong second-half surge sealed a 3-0 win against Hellas Verona at San Siro on December 28, 2025. Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time and Christopher Nkunku added two quick goals after the break, including a penalty, to wrap up the three points.
Match narrative: tight first half, decisive second
The opening 45 minutes were largely even, with Verona well organised and denying Milan clear chances. The deadlock was broken deep into first-half stoppage when Luka Modric’s outswinging cross was flicked on by Adrien Rabiot, leaving an unmarked Christian Pulisic to divert the ball into the roof of the net. That strike took Pulisic to eight league goals for the season.
Almost immediately after the interval Milan earned a penalty when Christopher Nkunku was brought down at the corner of the box. Nkunku coolly converted from the spot to make it 2-0, then completed his brace moments later with a sharp follow-up finish after Luka Modric’s shot came back off the post.
Key performers
Christian Pulisic: decisive in the final moments of the first half, now level with the league lead in goals. Christopher Nkunku: ended a long Serie A drought with two clinical finishes, including a composed penalty. Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric: influential in the build-up to the goals, supplying the decisive deliveries.
Match statistics
Possession: Milan 52% - Verona 48% Total shots: Milan 11 - Verona 9 Shots on target: Milan 5 - Verona 1 Corners: Milan 7 - Verona 3 Fouls: Milan 5 - Verona 15
Lineups and substitutions
Milan starting XI: Mike Maignan; Davide Bartesaghi, Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic; Adrien Rabiot, Luka Modric, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Alexis Saelemaekers; Christian Pulisic, Christopher Nkunku. Verona starting XI: Lorenzo Montipò; Armel Bella-Kotchap, Daniel Oyegoke, Domagoj Bradaric, Unai Núñez, Victor Nelsson; Antoine Bernède, Moatasem Al-Musrati, Cheikh Niasse; Daniel Mosquera, Giovane.
Table and relegation implications
The win temporarily propels Milan to the top of Serie A, two points ahead of city rivals Inter (who could reclaim first if they win later on). For Verona, the defeat leaves them entrenched in the relegation zone, increasing pressure as the campaign approaches the midway point.
Betting angle and tactical takeaways
Milan’s ability to break down a stubborn defensive setup via set-piece delivery and moments of individual class makes them a reliable pick for match-winner markets, while Pulisic and Nkunku offer attractive anytime-scorer options. Punters might also consider Milan to cover a -1 handicap or markets backing over 1.5 Milan goals when they face lower-table opponents, given their clinical finish in the second half.
What to watch next
Milan will look to maintain momentum in their next fixtures and keep pressure on the title contenders, while Verona need to find attacking solutions quickly to escape the relegation scrap.
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