Serie A returns to San Siro on Sunday lunchtime as second-placed Milan welcome Verona, with kick-off scheduled for 11:30 GMT (12:30 local time).

The two sides come into the fixture with very different objectives. Milan are firmly in the title picture and will be looking to maintain pressure at the top of the table, while Verona arrive in Lombardy hovering just above the relegation zone and searching for a way to arrest a difficult run of results.

Recent meetings favour Milan

History offers little encouragement for Verona. Milan have won each of the last three league meetings between the sides at San Siro, and overall the Rossoneri have claimed victory in 12 of the last 17 encounters. Verona have rarely found success in this fixture, particularly away from home, and recent trends suggest another stern test awaits.

Milan approach the game in respectable form. From their last six league matches they have collected three wins, one draw and two defeats, scoring and conceding at a similar rate during that spell. At home, however, their numbers improve markedly.

The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last three league matches at San Siro, conceding fewer than a goal per game and generating a high volume of chances. Across the season, Milan have lost just once in 15 Serie A fixtures, conceding only 13 goals, and their long-term home record underlines their reliability in front of their own supporters.

Verona struggling for consistency

Verona arrive with ongoing concerns, particularly away from home. They have managed only two wins from their last six league matches and continue to struggle for control in games, averaging low possession and limited attacking output.

Their overall campaign has been shaped by those issues: just two wins from 15 matches, 13 goals scored, and a negative goal difference. Away from home, results have been especially scarce, with Verona failing to win the vast majority of their recent road fixtures.

Milan vs Verona – Probable line-ups

Milan: Mike Maignan; Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlović, Koni De Winter; Alexis Saelemaekers, Luka Modrić, Adrien Rabiot, Youssouf Fofana, Davide Bartesaghi; Christopher Nkunku, Rafael Leão

Unavailable: Matteo Gabbia, Santiago Gimenez

Verona: Lorenzo Montipò; Unai Núñez, Victor Nelsson, Armel Bella-Kotchap; Antoine Bernede, Cheikh Niasse, Mutassim Al-Musrati, Roberto Gagliardini; Amin Sarr, Daniel Mosquera

Unavailable: Tomas Suslov, Rafik Belghali, Domagoj Bradarić, Martin Frese

Juventus travel to Tuscany on Saturday evening to face Pisa at the Arena Garibaldi, with kick-off scheduled for 19:45 GMT/20:45 CET on December 27.

The fixture represents a daunting task for Pisa, who head into the weekend stuck in 19th place with just 11 points from their opening 16 matches. Juventus, by contrast, arrive in fifth position on 29 points and looking to maintain momentum in the race for Champions League qualification.

Pisa seeking spark amid relegation battle

Pisa’s season has been defined by narrow margins and missed opportunities. They have managed only one league win so far and remain winless in their last five Serie A outings, a run that has intensified pressure as the relegation fight takes shape.

Their most recent result, a 2-2 draw away at Cagliari, captured both sides of their campaign: moments of attacking promise undermined by defensive fragility. At home, results have offered little reassurance, with just one victory recorded at the Arena Garibaldi this season.

Head coach Alberto Gilardino continues to search for balance, with Pisa struggling to convert competitive performances into points. They have scored only 12 goals so far, one of the lowest tallies in the division, while conceding 22. A tendency to settle for draws rather than push for wins has proven costly as the gap to safety remains narrow.

Juventus building momentum under Spalletti

Juventus arrive in stronger condition, having won four of their last five matches across all competitions. Their latest Serie A outing saw them edge past Roma 2-1 in Turin, a result that underlined their growing resilience.

Luciano Spalletti’s side have shown increasing cohesion in recent weeks, combining controlled possession with improved defensive organisation. Juventus boast a positive goal difference and have conceded relatively few goals, reflecting a renewed emphasis on structure and discipline.

Away form has been less convincing, with mixed results on their travels, but this fixture offers an opportunity to address that inconsistency against an opponent fighting near the bottom of the table.