Udinese 0 - 4 Inter Milan: Misfiring Milan held by basement boys

Posted Monday, December 14, 2015 by PA

Misfiring AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by basement boys Hellas Verona at San Siro on Sunday.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has watched his Rossoneri drop points to the likes of Atalanta and Carpi in recent weeks and the club's mission to return to the Champions League places is looking increasingly frangible.

The seventh-placed side took the lead through Carlos Bacca shortly after half-time, but paid a heavy price for Nigel de Jong's decision to commit a professional foul. The midfielder was sent off and Luca Toni levelled from the spot.

Verona, meanwhile, remain winless this season yet show clear signs of improvement under new boss Luigi Delneri.

Milan were held to a goalless draw by struggling Carpi last weekend and therefore appeared suitably wary - at least in the first half - when faced with another relegation-threatened team.

They dominated the first half with M'Baye Niang, Alessandro Romagnoli and Giacomo Bonaventura all going close.

Bacca grabbed the opener on 53 minutes, the Colombian gathering Luiz Adriano's through-ball and coolly beating Pierluigi Gollini.

Verona were level three minutes later, though. De Jong's foul on Leandro Greco earned him a red card and Hellas a penalty, which Toni gladly rattled under the crossbar.

Luiz Adriano just missed the mark as Milan pushed hard to regain the lead, with substitute Andrea Bertolacci steering his left-footed drive just off target from a corner in the 84th minute.

Moments later Bonaventura wriggled into a good position only for Gollini to make a smart stop.