Rossoneri Ascend to Provisional Top Spot
AC Milan secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona at the San Siro stadium on Sunday, December 28, 2025, provisionally moving to the top of the Serie A standings. The win was highlighted by a brace from Christopher Nkunku, marking his first goals in the Italian top flight, and an opening strike from Christian Pulisic.
Nkunku's Serie A Breakthrough
French forward Christopher Nkunku, who joined AC Milan from Chelsea in August 2025 for approximately €37 million, ended his Serie A goal drought with a significant performance. His first goal came from the penalty spot just two minutes into the second half, after he was fouled in the box. Five minutes later, he capitalized on a rebound from a Luka Modric shot that hit the post, tapping in his second goal to complete his brace. These were Nkunku's inaugural Serie A goals for the club, with his only previous goal for Milan coming in the Coppa Italia in September. Nkunku celebrated his goals with his distinctive balloon inflation gesture, a tradition dedicated to his son.
Match Dynamics and Key Contributions
The match saw AC Milan break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Christian Pulisic scored, prodding home a flick-on from a corner. This marked Pulisic's eighth Serie A goal in 11 appearances this season, showcasing his consistent impact since his arrival in 2023. The Rossoneri's dominant second-half performance secured the 3-0 scoreline, demonstrating their ability to overcome lower-ranked opposition, an area where coach Massimiliano Allegri's side had reportedly struggled earlier in the season.
Implications for the Serie A Title Race
The victory propelled AC Milan to 35 points, giving them a two-point lead over local rivals Inter Milan, who were scheduled to play Atalanta later on Sunday. This result puts significant pressure on Inter Milan as the title race intensifies. Meanwhile, Hellas Verona remains in the relegation zone, two points from safety, despite having won their two previous matches.
5 Comments
Africa
Only two goals for Nkunku since August? That's a huge flop, even with this brace.
Bermudez
Pulisic continues to deliver, showing his value to the team. Yet, the overall team performance needs to be consistent, especially against top-tier opposition.
ZmeeLove
Great to see Milan win convincingly and go top, but it's only provisional and Verona is struggling. The real test is against stronger teams.
Coccinella
Allegri's tactics are paying off. Dominant win, exactly what we needed.
Bella Ciao
Provisional lead means nothing. Inter will probably win their game.