Honestly? Milan Just Barely Scraped By. Pulisic Rescues Rossoneri vs. Verona
It wasn't pretty. AC Milan headed into halftime with a narrow 1-0 lead thanks to Christian Pulisic, but they certainly made their fans sweat at San Siro.
Pulisic to the Rescue: Milan Grinds Out a Tough One at San Siro
Let’s be real—this was not the dominant Milan performance fans were hoping for. On Sunday, December 28, 2025, San Siro was packed and ready for a blowout, but Hellas Verona had other ideas. They didn't just show up to defend; they made life incredibly difficult for Allegri’s men.
The first half felt like a slog. Milan had the ball, sure, but they couldn't do anything with it. They were clunky, slow, and kept getting caught in midfield battles. But then, right before the halftime whistle, a moment of quality changed everything. Christian Pulisic—who else?—found himself in the right spot at the right time. A flick-on from a corner, a quick reaction, and suddenly it was 1-0 Rossoneri.
The Goal That Saved the Afternoon
It was Pulisic’s ninth goal of the campaign, putting him right in the mix for the Golden Boot. Luka Modric swung in a corner, Rabiot got a tiny touch at the near post, and Pulisic just hammered it home. That was it. One moment of brilliance in a half that was otherwise pretty disjointed.
Verona didn’t just roll over, though. Despite being in the relegation zone, they looked dangerous on the counter. Al-Musrati even picked up a yellow for a desperate tackle on Pulisic, which pretty much summed up their "stop him at all costs" strategy.
Match Stats: Round 17 Breakdown
| The Stats | AC Milan | Hellas Verona |
|---|---|---|
| Score (HT) | 1 | 0 |
| The Hero | Christian Pulisic (45') | None |
| Ball Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Ref's Choice | 0 Yellows | 1 Yellow (Al-Musrati) |
What This Means for the Table
This win is huge. It keeps Milan right on the heels of Inter and Juventus at the top of Serie A. They’re still unbeaten in 15 league games, which sounds great on paper, but the performance against lower-table teams is starting to worry the fans. If they want to win the Scudetto, they can't keep relying on single moments of magic to bail them out.
The Takeaway
A win is a win, right? Pulisic continues to be the most important player in this squad, and without him today, Milan might have dropped points they couldn't afford to lose. Verona should hold their heads high—they proved they can hang with the big boys, even if the scoreline didn't go their way.
Was Pulisic's goal enough to keep you happy, or are you worried about Milan's form? Tell us in the comments!
