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.

Former Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto believes the Biancocelesti are showing clear signs of improvement under Maurizio Sarri, despite the difficulties that have shaped their current campaign.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Fanpage.it, the Spaniard admitted he was not surprised by Lazio’s struggles, suggesting internal issues were always likely to surface. However, he insisted performances have been more encouraging than results might suggest.

“I’m not surprised,” Luis Alberto said. “I knew something like this could happen. I speak often with Cataldi, with Patric, with Mario Gila, with Pedro. I’ve also spoken to Taty. But as I always say, they can’t do much, the situation is what it is.”

Luis Alberto: ‘Lazio have improved a lot’

Despite that context, the former playmaker pointed to Lazio’s resilience in recent matches as evidence of progress. He highlighted games where Sarri’s side remained competitive even in adversity, underlining a growing mental strength within the squad.

“I’m sure they could easily have won or drawn the match in Milan,” he continued. “Anything could have happened. I also watched them against Parma when they went down to nine men they stayed in the game and in the end they won. Overall, I think they’ve improved a lot.”

Luis Alberto’s comments reflect a broader belief that Lazio’s underlying performances are stronger than their league position suggests, with Sarri’s work beginning to show despite an uneven season and off-field complications.

Milan are exploring multiple defensive options ahead of the January transfer window as Massimiliano Allegri looks to add experience and depth at the back.

One of the names under consideration is Federico Gatti, a profile Allegri knows well from their time together at Juventus. The 27-year-old had already turned down a move to Napoli last summer, but his situation in Turin is complicated by injury and by Juventus’ current defensive shortage.

Juventus are operating in near-constant emergency at centre-back, with Daniele Rugani sidelined for several weeks and the club reluctant to weaken an already stretched department. As a result, a January move for Gatti, particularly to a direct rival in the race for the top four, appears highly unlikely.

Former Inter man Skriniar on Milan shopping list

Milan are therefore also monitoring more experienced alternatives.

According to Sky Sport Italia, via GOAL, one suggestion is Milan Skriniar, who spent seven years in Serie A with Sampdoria and Inter before leaving Italy in 2023. However, the Slovak is currently captain at Fenerbahce, making any potential deal difficult to unlock midway through the season.

Another option on Milan’s radar is Eric Dier, who joined Monaco from Bayern Munich last summer. The Englishman has recently returned from a muscle injury, and Milan are still assessing whether there is room to manoeuvre in talks with the Ligue 1 side.

With January approaching, Milan are weighing ambition against realism as they look to reinforce Allegri’s defensive unit without destabilising the market.

Samuel Chukwueze has reflected on his brief spell in Serie A with Milan, admitting he struggled to find space and continuity before moving on loan to Fulham.

Speaking to On Sport while away with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, via Milanista, the winger opened up about his experience in Italy, his current situation in the Premier League, and the possibility of a future return. Although now representing Fulham, Chukwueze remains under contract with AC Milan and insists his connection with the Rossoneri has not been severed.

“I miss Milan,” Chukwueze admitted. “It’s my second home. My family are still there, so of course I miss the city. They are doing well and I wish them all the best, I’m still a Milan player, after all, because I’m only on loan.”

Chukwueze picks Milan to finish top four in Serie A

The Nigerian international also spoke positively about Milan’s title challenge this season, backing his former side to remain firmly in the race. “You can see what Milan are doing, they’re playing very well,” he said. “If they keep pushing like this, I think they can win. I’m sure they’ll finish in the top four because their level has been really high.”

Looking back on his time in Italy, Chukwueze was candid about the difficulties he faced adapting to Serie A. “I don’t think I was given the time or the opportunities I needed,” he explained. “But that’s football. I just have to keep working. Maybe one day I’ll return to Serie A, or La Liga, or stay in the Premier League. English football probably suits my style better than Italian tactics.”

Chukwueze also reserved special praise for new teammate Luka Modrić, calling him “one of the best players I’ve ever played with,” and for Zlatan Ibrahimović, whose influence he described as motivational across the entire Milan dressing room.

Lorenzo Insigne is edging closer to a return to Serie A, with Lazio preparing a short-term contract to bring the former Napoli captain back to Italy.

After three seasons in Canada, the 34-year-old is set to become available following the lifting of Lazio’s transfer restrictions, allowing the Biancocelesti to finally move for a player they were unable to register last summer.

The proposed deal would run for six months, with an option to extend for a further season, as per TuttoMercatoWeb.

The move would reunite Insigne with Maurizio Sarri, the coach under whom he produced the most prolific spell of his career.

Sarri & Insigne reunion at Lazio has promise

During Sarri’s time at Napoli, Insigne consistently delivered double figures, peaking in the 2016-17 campaign when he scored 20 goals across all competitions.

That partnership remains a key factor behind Lazio’s interest, with Sarri convinced Insigne can still offer quality, intelligence and leadership over the second half of the season.

The winger’s best scoring return in Serie A came later, in 2020–21 under Gennaro Gattuso, when he struck 19 league goals, but his overall output under Sarri is widely seen as the benchmark of his prime years.

While questions remain over match sharpness after his MLS experience, Lazio view the deal as a low-risk opportunity to add experience and creativity without long-term financial commitment. If Insigne proves decisive, the option for an extended stay is already in place.

Napoli’s plans for the January transfer window have been complicated by fresh financial constraints, casting doubt over any ambitious moves in the coming weeks.

According to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb, a recent review of accounts submitted to the FIGC has shown that Napoli have exceeded the permitted threshold for labour costs relative to revenue.

Formal confirmation is still pending, but the club are already working on the assumption that January will effectively be a “zero-balance” window.

Napoli were prepared for the scenario and are expected to operate only through loan deals, with any incoming transfers dependent on player sales. As a result, negotiations for high-profile targets have been placed on hold, including a potential move for Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United, which has now been effectively frozen.

Napoli move for Mainoo on hold as club weigh departures

Attention is therefore shifting toward departures.

Several squad players are pushing for more regular football and could leave during the winter window, with defenders Luca Marianucci and Pasquale Mazzocchi, midfielder Antonio Vergara and forward Giuseppe Ambrosino all considered candidates to move on.

Napoli are also evaluating the future of Lorenzo Lucca.

The striker has attracted interest from multiple Italian clubs and is now being monitored by West Ham United, adding a Premier League dimension to his situation.

With Napoli fresh from lifting the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh, the focus now turns back to balancing the books. Any January business will hinge on outgoing deals, making it increasingly difficult for the club to pursue expensive young talents such as Mainoo this winter.

Mario Balotelli’s search for a new club continues, with interest from the Middle East emerging as a possible route back into professional football.

The former Italy international has been without a team since his brief and largely forgettable spell at Genoa, where he managed just a handful of minutes before drifting out of contention.

Despite that disappointment, Balotelli has continued to wait for another opportunity in Serie A, hoping for one last call from Italy’s top flight.

In the meantime, the 35-year-old has been keeping himself fit away from the spotlight, training with amateur side Carpenedolo while weighing up his next move.

Balotelli keeps up search for new club as offers arrive from Middle East

Balotelli has also drawn attention off the pitch in recent weeks, posting a cryptic message on social media following Genoa’s coaching change, a thinly veiled reference to his strained relationship with Patrick Vieira during his short stay at the club.

While a return to Italian football remains his preference, an overseas option is now taking shape.

According to calciomercato.com, via MilanNews24, UAE-based side Al Ittifaq have made contact and are prepared to offer Balotelli a long-term deal running until 2028.

The proposal would represent a clear change of direction for the Italian at this stage of his career, but also a chance to revive his fortunes after a frustrating year on the sidelines. Whether the striker opts to hold out for Serie A or accept an exotic move abroad remains to be seen.

Fiorentina have handed the captain’s armband to David De Gea, a symbolic decision aimed at restoring balance and confidence during a delicate phase of the season.

The change was confirmed ahead of Sunday’s match against Udinese, with De Gea taking over from Luca Ranieri, who had previously been named club captain.

The decision was taken by coach Paolo Vanoli in agreement with the club and communicated to the squad following Fiorentina’s recent trip to Lausanne.

Fiorentina reward De Gea with captaincy amid tricky season

According to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, the move was not intended as a punishment for Ranieri.

Instead, it reflects an effort to reset the atmosphere inside the dressing room and relieve pressure on a player who, as a product of the club’s academy, has felt the weight of a difficult campaign more than most.

Ranieri was informed directly and is understood to have accepted the decision without issue.

At the same time, giving the armband to De Gea represents a clear show of trust in the experienced goalkeeper, who has endured a challenging period of form. The club see the gesture as a statement of faith in the Spaniard’s leadership and character, as well as his importance within the squad.

The move follows recent comments from Daniele Pradè’s successor, Roberto Goretti, who had warned that “strong decisions” would be required to steer Fiorentina through their current struggles.

While the comfortable win over Udinese that followed may not be directly linked, the message sent by the captaincy change was unmistakable.