Hellas Verona 0-1 AC Milan Player Ratings: Adrien Rabiot 8/10 Guides AC Milan to Narrow Win Over Hellas Verona

A gritty and hard-fought battle at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi saw AC Milan emerge with a crucial 1-0 victory over a resilient Hellas Verona. The match, part of the Serie A season, was a cagey affair from our perspective. It was ultimately decided by a single moment of quality. This encounter was far from a classic, but it was a fascinating tactical chess match.

The decisive goal came from the boot of Adrien Rabiot, whose first-half strike was enough to separate the two sides. From where we were sitting, AC Milan controlled large spells of the game through the masterful passing of Luka Modrić. However, they were constantly thwarted by a stubborn Hellas Verona defence. The home side had their moments, particularly through the creative endeavors of Antoine Bernede, but just couldn't find that final, killer touch in front of goal.

It felt like a match where one goal would always be enough. AC Milan's backline was immense, repelling wave after wave of late Verona pressure. For the home side, it's a story of what could have been. They registered numerous shots but a combination of heroic blocks and a lack of composure let them down in this match. A tough loss to swallow, but their performance deserved recognition. Here are Sportsdunia's Hellas Verona vs AC Milan player ratings.

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Hellas Verona

Check out the AC Milan player ratings vs Hellas Verona.

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 7.0: A relatively quiet day for the captain, but he did what was asked of him with confidence. He made a couple of key saves, including one from inside the box. His command of the area was noticeable, and securing the clean sheet was the primary objective. We noticed his distribution was a bit off, but defensively, he was solid.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 7.5: What stood out to us was his incredible calmness on the ball. An outstanding 95% pass accuracy shows his quality in playing out from the back. He was a rock, making crucial blocks and tackles. His positioning was near-perfect, never looking flustered by Verona's attackers.

Strahinja Pavlović - 7.5: A colossal performance from the Serbian defender. He was an absolute beast in the air, winning his duels and making a staggering ten clearances. From our perspective, he was the main reason Hellas Verona's forwards got so little joy. An old-school, no-nonsense defensive display that we loved to see.

Matteo Gabbia - 7.5: Gabbia completed a truly formidable backline for Milan. He was in the right place at the right time to make three crucial shot blocks. He read the game beautifully and complemented his partners perfectly. His distribution was solid and he was never really beaten one-on-one. A very mature performance.

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot - 8.0: The match-winner and our highest-rated player for the visitors. His goal was the difference, a clinical finish that showcased his attacking instincts. Beyond the goal, his work rate was immense, and he was a constant presence in both boxes. He drew fouls, made tackles, and proved why he is such a vital player for this team.

Luka Modrić - 7.5: The Croatian maestro was simply a joy to watch. He dictated the entire tempo of the game, completing 72 passes with 90% accuracy. He sprayed long balls around with effortless grace, finding teammates in space. While he didn't directly contribute to the goal, his control in midfield was the foundation for Milan's win.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.0: A mixed bag from Fofana, who seemed slightly off the pace. He was tidy enough in possession but an error leading to a shot was a notable black mark. He didn't impose himself on the game as we know he can, and it wasn't a surprise to see him substituted.

Zachary Athekame - 5.5: A difficult outing for the young midfielder. He struggled to get into the game and was wasteful in possession, losing the ball 11 times. He looked a bit overwhelmed by the occasion and was rightly substituted after the hour mark. A learning experience for him, for sure.

Davide Bartesaghi - 6.5: A tireless performance on the flank, but one that lacked quality in the final third. He lost possession an alarming 25 times which really hurt his rating. However, his eight clearances show a commendable defensive work rate. A frustrating but hard-working display.

Forwards

Rafael Leão - 7.0: Provided the crucial assist for the winning goal with a wonderful through ball. He was a constant threat with his dribbling but only played for 63 minutes. It felt like he had more to give, so his substitution was a bit of a head-scratcher from our perspective. He made the difference when it mattered most.

Christian Pulisic - 6.0: A quiet and somewhat disappointing performance from the American. He struggled to make an impact on the game, losing possession frequently and making an error that led to a chance for the opposition. He just couldn't seem to find his rhythm before being taken off.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.5: He set his team up to win a tough away game, and they delivered. The defensive structure was perfect, and they were clinical when their chance came. The substitutions helped see out the result. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective, a hallmark of an Allegri masterclass.

Hellas Verona Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Here are the Hellas Verona player ratings vs AC Milan.

Goalkeeper

Lorenzo Montipò - 6.5: Couldn't have done much to stop Rabiot's goal. He was otherwise solid, making a decent save and commanding his box well with some good claims and punches. A respectable performance despite the loss, he kept his team in the game.

Defenders

Andrias Edmundsson - 7.0: A very strong showing from the defender. He dominated his aerial duels and made a remarkable eight clearances. He was composed in possession and was a key part of why Milan found it so hard to create clear-cut openings. A shame he doesn't have a player page to link to.

Nicolás Valentini - 8.0: Without a doubt, Verona's best player on the pitch. This guy was everywhere. Five tackles, five clearances, and a heroic clearance off the line kept his team in the match. He was aggressive, intelligent, and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. An immense defensive display.

Victor Nelsson - 7.5: What a warrior. Nelsson won an incredible 12 out of 14 duels, including 8 aerial battles. He was a monster at the back, making 5 interceptions and 5 clearances. He completely shut down his side of the pitch, an absolutely dominant defensive performance.

Midfielders

Daniel Oyegoke - N/A: His game was cruelly cut short by an injury just 21 minutes in. It's impossible to give a fair rating in such a short amount of time. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro - 6.0: A combative and energetic display, but his aggression got the better of him with a yellow card and four fouls committed. He battled hard in midfield but struggled to contribute positively in an attacking sense. He was a nuisance, but not always in a good way.

Domagoj Bradarić - 6.0: A tidy but ineffective 45 minutes before being substituted at halftime. He kept the ball well with 94% pass accuracy but didn't take any risks to progress the play. A safe, but ultimately forgettable, performance.

Roberto Gagliardini - 7.0: A really solid and professional performance in the heart of midfield. He was excellent in possession, rarely giving it away. He kept things ticking over and provided a strong defensive screen for his backline. A composed and experienced head.

Forwards

Rafik Belghali - 6.0: He was active and got into some good positions but his finishing let him down. He missed a big chance and was generally wasteful in front of goal. From our view, he worked hard but lacked the composure needed to make a difference on the scoresheet.

Gift Orban - 6.5: A frustrating afternoon for the striker. He had five shots on goal, but every single one of them was blocked by a resolute Milan defence. He was constantly denied space and opportunity. You have to credit his persistence, but it just wasn't his day.

Antoine Bernede - 7.5: Verona's main creative force. He created four chances for his teammates, including one big chance, and was excellent on the ball with 95% passing accuracy. It was a surprise to us when he was substituted. He was the most likely player to unlock the Milan defence.

Manager

P. Sammarco - 6.5: He set his team up to be difficult to beat, and they were. The defensive organization was excellent, but they just lacked a cutting edge in the final third. His substitutions didn't quite have the desired impact to find an equalizer. A solid plan that almost worked.