The goal is second place, the obstacle to overcome is Chievo. On the Saturday before Easter, Milan found Corini's group on their way, always a tough opponent, especially in their Bentegodi den. Thanks to the difficult commitment of Napoli, which will have to unravel the away match in Turin, the Rossoneri hope to put the arrow on and settle in second place, which would guarantee participation in the next Champions League without going through the preliminaries. “Right now we are in third place, to keep it we need to aim for second – acknowledged Allegri. – If we have a different, too conservative approach, we risk having an excessively defensive attitude”. Which, given the characteristics of the opponent, could be a problem. “A very difficult match awaits us, Chievo are playing well and are in excellent condition. We will have to fight to the end, there will be suffering. I think between now and the end of the championship it will be difficult to see good games because points are starting to matter. Chievo have a solid rearguard, up front they have qualities to annoy. We will have to be good at keeping up with our opponents and we will have to show our technical qualities. It will be important not to concede the counterattack, which they develop very well." The three points will be fundamental, also because then the calendar will be all uphill. In order, the Rossoneri will face Fiorentina, Napoli and Juventus, not exactly a health walk. And it was precisely the Viola who, despite themselves, ended up at the center of an attack signed by Galliani. “We believe that the championship cannot be defined as regular from a sporting point of view – the AC Milan CEO said – someone will have to explain to us why Milan played against the Sardinians on 10 February in a full stadium and on 30 March this is no longer possible… It is an intolerable situation". Immediate reply from Fiorentina, today engaged in Is Arenas (behind closed doors), by Vincenzo Montella: “Playing behind closed doors will be an extra difficulty for us, we are not used to it. But I don't think we can speak of a distorted or irregular championship." In view of the season finale the climate is heating up, on the other hand the stakes are quite high. However, Milan will be able to count on Balotelli, who is going through an extraordinary moment of form and who is historically exalted in Verona. The Bentegodi public has never loved him and some fear the unpleasant episodes of racism of the Inter era could repeat themselves. “He will play serene and calm – Allegri's prediction. – Mario mustn't get nervous, also because we have to try to achieve a victory that would allow us to have a good Easter and keep third place with a 3-point lead". Balotelli will be joined by El Shaarawy and Robinho, who won the ballot with Niang, while Boateng and Pazzini have not been called up.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Chievo (5-3-2): Puggioni; Frey, Andreolli, Dainelli, Acerbi, Dramé; Guana, L. Rigoni, Cofie; Paloschi, Théréau.
On the bench: Ujkani, Squizzi, Sampirisi, Cesar, Seymour, Luciano, Hetemaj, Papp, Jokic, Stoian, Pellissier, Hauche.
Trainer: Eugene Corini.
Unavailable: Sardinian, Spyropoulos, Samassa.
Disqualified: nobody.
Beware: Guana, Dramé, Jokic, Cofie, Andreolli.
AC Milan (4-3-3): Have you; Abate, Bonera, Mexes, De Sciglio; Montolivo, Ambrosini, Muntari; Robinho, Balotelli, El Shaarawy.
On the bench: Amelia, Gabriel, Yepes, Constant, Antonini, Salamon, Traoré, Zaccardo, Ambrosini, Nocerino, Bojan, Niang.
Trainer: Massimiliano Allegri.
Unavailable: De Jong, Pazzini, Boateng, Zapata.
Disqualified: nobody.
Beware: De Jong, El Shaarawy, Zaccardo, Boateng, Yepes, Zapata.
Referee: Dominic Celi (Bari).
Line Assistants: Marrazzo - Nicoletti.
Port Assistants: Guide – Pinzani.
Fourth official: Crickets.
