AC Milan seized the provisional lead in the Serie A title race on Saturday night. They edged Lazio 1-0 at the San Siro thanks to a second-half strike from Rafael Leao. Consequently, the victory propels the Rossoneri to the summit on 28 points. This result piles pressure on rivals AS Roma and Napoli ahead of their Sunday fixtures.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side found a way to win in a contest defined by tactical rigour and late drama. However, the victory came at a cost. The referee sent off the Milan manager in stoppage time amidst a furious VAR controversy. In fact, the incident threatened to derail the hosts’ hard-fought victory.
Leao Breaks the Deadlock
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan kept Milan alive during a goalless first half. Then, the breakthrough arrived just six minutes after the restart. Surprisingly, centre-back Fikayo Tomori surged down the right flank. He drove a low, pinpoint cross into the box.
Rafael Leao ghosted in from the left to meet the delivery. He applied a clinical sliding finish to register his fifth goal of the season.
“Lazio are a good team, they caused us problems, but we were united,” Tomori told reporters. “We are playing good football, and we want to continue like this. Dreaming costs nothing.”
Maignan’s Heroics and VAR Drama
Before the winner, Milan relied heavily on Mike Maignan’s brilliance. The French goalkeeper produced the game’s standout defensive moment inside the opening two minutes. Specifically, he reacted instinctively to claw away Mario Gila’s point-blank header with a fingertip save.
Lazio controlled large swathes of the first half but failed to beat Maignan. Unfortunately for them, they remain eighth on 18 points.
The tension reached a boiling point in the dying seconds of stoppage time. Lazio appealed furiously for a penalty. They claimed Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic handled the ball in the box.
The Red Card Incident
Referee Giuseppe Collu went to the VAR monitor. This sparked a touchline melee. Milan boss Allegri aggressively questioned the review. Consequently, the referee showed him a straight red card for dissent. Moments later, Lazio assistant manager Marco Ianni followed him down the tunnel.
To the relief of the San Siro faithful, Collu overturned the potential penalty. He ruled that Lazio’s Adam Marusic fouled Pavlovic before the handball occurred.
A calmer Allegri clarified the incident post-match. “On the penalty, I did not insult the referee at all. In fact, I later went to congratulate him because he handled that moment well.”
Title Race Implications
The win leaves Milan one point clear of AS Roma. Additionally, they sit three points ahead of champions Napoli. All eyes now turn to Sunday’s heavyweight clash between the two chasers.
“It’s early days,” Tomori added. “We are doing well, but we are not thinking two or three months ahead.”
Match Snapshot
|
Statistic |
AC Milan |
Lazio |
|
Score |
1 |
0 |
|
Possession |
48% |
52% |
|
Shots (On Target) |
11 (4) |
9 (3) |
|
Fouls |
14 |
12 |
|
Yellow Cards |
3 |
2 |
|
Red Cards |
1 (Allegri) |
1 (Ianni) |
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