Verona 3 AC Milan 0: Gattuso's side slips to insipid defeat

Antonio Caracciolo, Moise Kean and Daniel Bessa were on target and Suso saw red as Verona recorded a famous win over a poor AC Milan side.

Verona's Antonio Caracciolo celebrates after scoring against AC Milan on Sunday.

AC Milan's disappointing season reached a new low on Sunday as struggling Verona cruised to a shock 3-0 home win in Serie A.

The Gennaro Gattuso coached side registered a comfortable victory by the same scoreline over its less illustrious opponent in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, but never came close to another victory in what was a desperately poor display.

Antonio Caracciolo gave the host a 24th-minute lead with a powerful header and only a number of smart stops from goalkeeper Nicolas ensured the host went into the interval ahead.

READ: Gattuso slams 'embarrassing' Milan after Verona defeat

Fabio Pecchia's side took full advantage of Milan's profligacy 10 minutes into the second period as substitute Moise Kean slotted home after storming into the penalty area unmarked.

AC Milan duo Suso and Leonardo Bonucci both squandered excellent opportunities to set up a tense finale before Daniel Bessa, who also came off the Verona bench, added gloss to the scoreline with another cool finish with 13 minutes left. 

And Milan's miserable day was compounded when, after a VAR review, Suso was shown a red card for a late challenge in stoppage time, as Verona secured only its third Serie A win of the season in spectacular style. 

Defeat for Milan, meanwhile, is its seventh in the league this season and leaves it a whopping 18 points behind leaders Napoli.

After its limp surrender earlier this week, Verona started with a point to prove and scarcely gave Milan a chance to settle with a series of robust challenges in the early stages. 

However, it was the visitor that carved out the first clear opening when Nikola Kalinic's curled effort from the edge of the penalty area was tipped around the post by Nicolas.

Verona got the reward its effervescent start deserved midway through the opening period as Caracciolo scored his first goal for the club. 

The defender rose highest to meet Romulo's outswinging corner to thump a header against the underside of the crossbar from six yards, which clipped the bewildered Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net.  

Milan almost levelled within a minute, but Nicolas was equal to Franck Kessie's powerful drive from just inside the area. 

The Verona keeper excelled again shortly before the interval, getting down smartly to repel Suso's effort before Thomas Heurtaux brilliantly blocked the Spain international's follow-up effort.

Kalinic saw a goal-bound effort deflected wide seconds after the restart as Milan looked to claw its way back into the game, but it was Verona who scored next to all-but kill off the visitor's comeback hopes.

Bessa found space down the left and pulled a cross back towards the penalty spot, where fellow substitute Kean was waiting to slot into Donnarumma's bottom right corner for just his second league goal of the season.

Nicolas tipped over Suso's powerful drive and Bonucci headed wide from close range as Milan tried in vain to set up a tense finish. 

But Bessa added Verona's third in the 77th minute with a neat finish from 12 yards, Romulo collecting his second assist of the match as part of a flowing counter-attack.

And it got worse for Milan in the first minute of added time when Suso received a straight red card for an ugly, late challenge on Daniele Verde. Key Opta Stats:

- Verona has won a Serie A game by three or more goals for the first time since April 2014 (4-0 vs Cagliari). - The side has now picked up seven points in its last four league matches after having gained six in the previous 13. - Milan has lost five of its last eight Serie A away games: it has conceded two or more goals in six outings in the process. - Milan has won only one of the last six league games against newly promoted teams (D3 L2). - The Rossoneri have been trailing in seven games in Serie A this season. They have gone on to lose every time. - Before his red card, Suso was directly involved in 15 of Milan's 30 attempts on goal, thanks to seven shots and eight chances created.