Chievo host AC Milan at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on Saturday night at 20:45 CET in Serie A needing to end their terrible run of form against their opponents to help stop the slide towards relegation.
The Gialloblu have beaten Milan just twice in 25 attempts, with the latest coming in December 2005 before a run of 15 Rossoneri victories in the last 16 encounters between the sides.
Coach Rolando Maran knows that his side will have to end this hoodoo with just four points separating them from the relegation zone after recent defeats to the likes of Fiorentina, Juventus, Napoli and last week’s 3-0 reverse at Empoli.
The Flying Donkeys are the lowest scorers in Italy’s top flight with just 18 this season, and have only won twice at home all campaign.
Saturday’s opponents though have also had problems this season as Filippo Inzaghi’s men have themselves only won two away games all season, and of late have only beaten struggling Parma and Cesena in any of their last nine matches.
The Diavolo though will take heart from the fact that despite their poor form they are just six points off the European places and have top scorer Jeremy Menez ready to start alongside Mattia Destro this weekend.
Goals from Sulley Muntari and Keisuke Honda gave the Rossoneri a 2-0 victory in the first meeting between the sides at the San Siro in October, but neither are expected to start on Saturday.
Diego Lopez should return from suspension to replace Christian Abbiati in goal in Verona while Philippe Mexes and Gabriel Paletta are expected to return in place of Salvatore Bocchetti and the injured Adil Rami in central defence.
Chievo are expected to make three changes from last Sunday’s defeat in Tuscany, with Ruben Botta suspended Alberto Paloschi will return to face the club where he started his career and Bostjan Cesar and Federico Mattiello look set to replace Alessandro Gamberini and Milan loanee Valter Birsa.
Form Guide: Chievo (L-L-L-W-W-L) AC Milan (L-L-W-L-D-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Chievo: Bizzarri, Mattiello, Cesar, Dainelli, Zukanovic, Schelotto, Izco, Radovanovic, Hetemaj, Meggiorini, Paloschi
AC Milan: Diego Lopez, Bonera, Mexes, Paletta, Antonelli, Montolivo, De Jong, Poli, Bonaventura, Menez, Destro
