Ten-man AC Milan well beaten by struggling Hellas Verona

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:36 am

AC Milan's imploding season took another turn for the worse as Gennaro Gattuso's 10 men were thrashed 3-0 at Hellas Verona.

Earlier this month the team stacked with €230 million worth of new players could only draw with bottom side Benevento and this week UEFA said it was monitoring the club's financial activities.

One bright point has been their progression past Verona in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday but in a twist of fate Verona, who have now escaped the relegation zone, subjected Milan to defeat by the same scoreline thanks to goals from Antonio Caracciolo, Moise Kean and Daniel Bessa.

Nikola Kalinic, picked ahead of fellow summer signing Andre Silva up front, forced Nicolas into the first of many saves but the tide soon turned against Milan.

In the 24th minute Caracciolo leaped to power Romulo's corner beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Franck Kessie almost equalised immediately, only for Nicolas to parry, and the Verona goalkeeper also denied Suso shortly before half-time.

Jonathan Moscrop/CSM/Zuma Press/AP Photo

There was further woe for Milan 10 minutes after the break. Bessa controlled the ball on the left wing before supplying fellow substitute Kean, 17, for a precise finish into the bottom corner.

Captain Leonardo Bonucci headed wide as the visitors desperately sought a way back into the game, an avenue which would be cut off in the 77th minute.

A rapid counter-attack ended with Romulo sliding the ball into Bessa's path for a coolly taken third.

To add insult to injury, Milan lost Suso to a red card, following a video assistant referee review of his foul on Daniele Verde, at the end.