Preview: Chievo vs. AC Milan

AC Chievo Verona host AC Milan in Serie A this weekend with both sides desperate for three points to satisfy very different expectations after a poor start to the season.

Chievo are rock bottom of Serie A after winning just one of their first 11 matches, piling the pressure on coach Giuseppe Sannino to improve results.

The Flying Donkeys did show signs of rebuilding confidence in a battling goalless draw at Bologna on Monday night, but have lost three successive home matches in recent weeks.

Sannino may choose to give Boadu Maxwell Acosty a rare start in attack after his positive impact from the bench against Bologna, but Claiton is still unavailable in central defence through injury.

Milan meanwhile are still reeling from a stuttering start to the campaign, losing five matches to leave the Rossoneri 16 points off the Champions League places in mid-table.

Forward talisman Mario Balotelli is suspended for the trip to Verona, which leaves Alessandro Matri as the likely starter in attack ahead of Kaka and Valter Birsa.

Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri will be desperate to avoid a hat-trick of defeats inside seven days, after conceding five goals in successive losses to Fiorentina and Barcelona across two competitions.

Recent form

Chievo: LLLLLD

Milan: WDLDLL

Possible starting lineups

Chievo: Puggioni; Frey, Dainelli, Cesar; Sardo, Radovanov, L.Rigoni, Pamic, Estigarribia; Paloschi, Thereau

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, de Jong, Muntari; Birsa, Kaka, Matri

Sports Mole says: 1-2