AC Milan surged to the summit of Serie A on Sunday, powered by a long-awaited brace from French forward Christopher Nkunku in a commanding 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona at the iconic San Siro.
Pulisic Breaks Deadlock Before Nkunku Takes Over
The Rossoneri were frustrated for much of the first half by a determined Verona side. However, the deadlock was broken in dramatic fashion on the stroke of half-time. In the first minute of stoppage time, Christian Pulisic continued his sensational personal form by prodding home from a corner to score his eighth goal in just 11 Serie A appearances this season.
This crucial opener paved the way for a second-half masterclass from Christopher Nkunku. Just two minutes after the restart, the Frenchman won and then converted a penalty, ending his league goal drought that stretched back to February. He wasn't finished there. Five minutes later, Nkunku was perfectly positioned to tap home Milan's third goal, sealing a comprehensive win and announcing his arrival in Italy's top flight.
Nkunku Seizes His Opportunity
This performance was a significant moment for the 28-year-old, who joined Milan from Chelsea in August for an initial fee of 37 million euros ($43.6 million). His only previous goal for the club had come in the Italian Cup against Lecce back in September. With key striker Santiago Gimenez injured until February and Niclas Fullkrug's arrival from West Ham pending, Nkunku's double makes a compelling case for him to lead Milan's attacking line in the crucial weeks ahead.
The victory was particularly satisfying for manager Massimiliano Allegri, as his team confidently dispatched a lower-ranked opponent—a task they have sometimes struggled with this season despite remaining unbeaten in the league since the opening day.
Serie A Landscape Shifts
The three points temporarily give Milan a two-point lead over local rivals Inter Milan, who had a chance to reclaim top spot later on Sunday with a trip to face a resurgent Atalanta under new manager Raffaele Palladino.
For Verona, the defeat is a major setback. Despite coming into the match on the back of impressive wins against Atalanta and Fiorentina, they remain stuck in the relegation zone, two points behind Genoa, who sit just outside the bottom three.
In other Serie A action on Sunday, reigning champions Napoli aimed to close the gap at the top with a match at Cremonese, while Bologna hosted Sassuolo in a mid-table clash.
