AC Milan secured a vital three points at San Siro on Sunday night, edging Roma 1–0 in a hard-fought contest.
Given how solid both sides have been defensively this season, it was always going to take something special to break the deadlock — and that moment came from an unlikely source. Centre-back Strahinja Pavlović surged forward to support a counter-attack and was rewarded when he arrived in the box to convert a Rafael Leão cut-back.
The second half was filled with clashes and missed chances. Paulo Dybala had a golden opportunity to snatch a point for Roma from the penalty spot with ten minutes remaining, but he was denied by Mike Maignan.
The result lifts Milan above Roma in the standings and keeps them within touching distance of the summit — now just one point behind league-leaders Napoli.
Massimiliano Allegri made two changes to the starting lineup compared to the side that drew with Atalanta. Christopher Nkunku replaced the injured Santiago Giménez, while Koni De Winter came in for Fikayo Tomori, who passed a late fitness test to take a place on the bench.
Roma nearly struck inside the first minute when former Milan man Bryan Cristante pounced on a poor pass from Maignan. Playing in a slightly advanced role behind the two strikers, he dragged his shot just wide of the right post.
The visitors’ bright start continued, and they came inches away from taking the lead in the 10th minute. A free-kick from the left was recycled and delivered again from the right, with N’Dicka rising highest only to glance his header narrowly past the far post.
Milan struggled to find their rhythm early on, repeatedly losing possession in their own half under Roma’s aggressive press. Wesley tested Maignan with a low effort from a tight angle, but the Milan keeper was equal to it — though the warning signs were already flashing for the hosts.
It was an utterly frantic beginning to the second half in which Milan had multiple chances to make it 2-0. The first one fell to Samuele Ricci, who was looking to score with yet another first-time hit from outside the box like against Atalanta, though this time it fell just a yard wide.
Then, Svilar was forced to make a sharp save to thwart Leao, who had found space on the left edge of the box. From the resulting corner, Nkunku was found completely unmarked in a central area about six yards out, yet he somehow hit the post as the ball cannoned off his midriff.
Midway through the second half, Milan simply had to get their second goal of the night as Leao spurned a golden opportunity. Some nice play down the right side resulting in a cross to the far stick and the volley back across goal was spilled to the Portuguese. From yards out and with a mostly empty goal to aim at, he inexplicably hit Hermoso on the line.
Out of nowhere, a flashpoint developed between Saelemaekers and Wesley on Milan’s right side. It started when the Belgian jockeyed the Brazilian out and gave him a stare-down, then a couple of minutes later the latter kicked the former up into the air, earning a yellow card.
Inside the final 15 minutes, the drama just kept on coming. Fofana gave away a free-kick right on the edge of Milan’s box after a rash challenge, and then he blocked the resulting set-piece with his arm to give the away side a penalty.
However, at a time when his record against spot kicks had been put under scrutiny by the media, Maignan rose to the occasion. Dybala went bottom right but didn’t get enough power on it, with the Frenchman parrying it around the corner.
A substitution followed for Milan, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming on to replace Nkunku to try and give a bit more size and presence up front.
Moments after Bartesaghi had hip-checked Baldanzi in response to Roma not kicking the ball out for the injured Saelemaekers, Zachary Athekame came on for the man who was previously down on the floor.
The final change came in the final minute of four added at the end of the 90 as Leao made way for Fikayo Tomori, having just gone down with cramp.
