Tonali veers around Verona hoodoo to keep Milan’s title dream on track

Stefano Pioli did not need a history lesson before Milan’s visit to Verona. The tales of how these opponents twice derailed Rossoneri title runs at the Stadio Bentegodi, earning the moniker “Fatal Verona” by beating them on the final day of the 1972-73 season, then the penultimate round of 1989-90, are retold almost every time they meet.

Still, this weekend was different. Eleven years on from their last Serie A title, Milan had finally clambered back to the top of the pile, only to quickly find themselves back at the scene of two of their most infamous defeats. Omens could be found even in the fine details. This time there were three games left in the season, as if Milan had climbed one more rung down the ladder that forms part of Verona’s club crest.

Pioli, who played for the Scaligeri between 1987 and 1989, had no time for any of it. “We are starting to write our own history,” said Milan’s manager. “And that is written in the present.”

For the longest time, Pioli had sought to deflect talk of a title, reminding journalists his side was never a pre-season favourite, insisting the objective was simply to improve on the 79 points earned last year. There is no more hiding, though, when you occupy first place after 35 games. Ever since Internazionale lost to Bologna at the end of last month, Milan have held their fate in their hands.

To use that expression makes it sound straightforward. For the teams battling atop of Serie A, fate has felt forever fluid, slipping between fingers every time they try to squeeze it in their grasp. Milan, Inter and Napoli have taken turns throwing away opportunities: a defeat by Spezia here, a goalkeeping calamity there. From 10 January until the end of April there was not a single weekend