AC Milan moved top of the Serie A table at least for the time being as they beat Lazio 1-0 at San Siro on Saturday night.
Just like the derby win over Inter last weekend, Milan had to ride out a lot of first half pressure from the opposition and then they struck early in the second half. Rafael Leao was the one who got the match-winner this time, firing in a Fikayo Tomori cross from close range.
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Mike Maignan again produced a couple of outstanding saves again, and in the dying moments there was some controversy as a penalty appeal from Lazio for handball went to a VAR review, but the referee ended up giving a foul against the visiting side.
The win means that the Rossoneri go top of the league while waiting for the result of Roma versus Napoli on Sunday night in the Derby della Sole, and the unbeaten run in the league extends to 12 games.
Massimiliano Allegri opted to make just one change to the starting line-up that won the derby on Sunday night, and it was a forced one. Christian Pulisic missed out due to a bit of muscle fatigue, and his place in the front two was taken by Christopher Nkunku.
Mike Maignan had been in the headlines in the days after his brilliant display in the derby, and he was called into action after just a minute against Lazio. A free-kick was swung in from quite far out but was met by the head of Mario Gila, who thought he had scored until a remarkable leaping save kept it out.
Milan had a very shaky start to the game as they failed to string together any dangerous moves, with even Luka Modric having a couple of uncharacteristically cheap giveaways of possession.
Isaksen perhaps should have done better with a first-time shot on the spin from the edge of the box after a cross was not headed away convincingly, but the opening 20 minutes was bereft of any clear-cut chances barring Gila’s early header.
The only things that were whipping up the home crowd in the opening half an hour were negative incidents, such as when Fikayo Tomori harshly went into the book for his first foul (and it was arguably not even a foul), while Youssouf Fofana continued to be sloppy in possession, but he wasn’t the only one.
Just after the 30-minute mark, Maignan was called into action once again. Zaccagni did brilliantly to dance through Tomori, and his low curling shot was heading for the far corner but was thwarted by the Frenchman, though there wasn’t much power on the shot.
The only half-chance that Milan fashioned in the first half fell to Tomori. A cross from the left flank was flicked on to the Englishman who had crashed the far side of the box, though he thumped a volley a few yards wide of the target.
Somewhat against the run of play, Milan took the lead early in the second half. It was a lovely pass-and-move sequence down the right side, with Tomori and Fofana playing a one-two that saw the former cross for Leao. The Portuguese had made a striker’s run into a central area, and fired in from close range as the ball squirmed under Provedel.
The goal seemed to inspire a bit of confidence as Milan pressed higher up the field and started causing Lazio to cough up possession. Rabiot dragged a shot wide from the left edge of the box, then Fofana came closer with a similar angled drive from the opposite side.
The enigma that is Youssouf Fofana might just have been perfectly summarised in one stretch of play on the hour mark. He did brilliantly to win the ball back deep in the Milan half and he surged past several Lazio players to the edge of the box, then fell over as he attempted to finish it with a rocket of a shot.
Leao wasn’t far off doubling his tally for the night as he forced Provedel into a diving save. Saelemaekers did well to farm the ball wide to Davide Bartesaghi, whose cross was hung up for the former Lille man and headed towards the far post, but was parried away. Moments later, Fofana was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
There were a couple of very painful moments involving Milan players inside the final 20 minutes. Firstly, Bartesaghi got the full weight of a Lazio player’s studs into his shin after a sliding challenge, then Romagnoli chopped Saelemaekers down from the resulting break to earn a yellow card. The Belgian dusted himself down and fired a wicked volley towards goal that was blocked by Guendouzi.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Provedel was called into action again to deny Leao, who did very well to spin off his man and curl one towards the far corner, albeit with the save being comfortable. Not long after, Samuele Ricci replaced Nkunku, with Loftus-Cheek shifting to a more advanced role.
Lazio begun to take a few more risks via the method of shots from distance, and Basic’s effort from 20 yards was struck with venom but thankfully was straight into Maignan’s grateful arms. At the other end, Pavlovic hammered a Saelemaekers knock-down straight at Provedel, who just about stopped it.
Right at the end of the five added minutes, Lazio players were adamant they should have had a penalty as the ball struck Pavlovic’s elbow inside the box to block a shot. The referee was called over to the VAR monitor – after Allegri had been sent off in protest – but announced a foul by the Biancocelesti man, much to the jubilation of the Milan players and fans.
That drama was so unnecessary but we know Lazio players are dirty. They thought they could gaslight the referee.
Except they actually followed what was on video with Marusic committing the prior foul.
We should have scored more, but this was a difficult opponent! Great defensive display
taking down a decent Lazio team is a strong result. one more win over the ‘big’ teams.
I wonder what pulisic was thinking looking down from above
Also, in addition to the above comments, there’s red card for Lazio player on Bartesaghi’s Foot trampling
And the game should have been called at +5 ET. Somethings off with the refereeing this season. Just weird to let it go on for so long
Absolute farce at the end. Not a handball, not a foul, there was nothing wrong with the on field decision and yet the idiocy of VAR makes everyone wait ten minutes and causes two red cards. Once again, its mission to ruin football gets ever closer.
Max’s ban is on him being an idiot there, but already a second red of the season. He’s hardly going to see the touchline after January if this continues.
On the pitch, after Mike’s magnificent save at the start, we didn’t give up too many chances, which was the important bit. Leao actually played a proper no9 role very well and the goal was an excellent team move.
A lot of good performances in there with some moments of sloppiness. Modric misplaced a few more passes in dangerous positions than usual but I love his immediate fire to win the ball back, at least three he recovered himself. Fofana getting unlucky with that great run and a couple of other really good bits of forward progress but in front of goal he panics every time. Hopefully it’s like Reijnders’ first season and he clicks in because he’s playing very well otherwise.
Nkunku quiet again but he did find some good pockets of space.
Back 4 (Maignan, Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic) very stable, solid and well organised again, Alexis running all game long again, Bartesaghi being dependable for the most part again, Rabiot being Rabiot again… all positives.
Hope we are least rest the midfield in midweek and get as many changes as we can in.
agree about that VAR farce.
Pavolvic elbow is more tucked in by his side. He’s less than a metre from the moment the ball gets kicked towards him. He’s trying to tuck the arm in but also jostling with an opponent.
VAR has benefits (e.g. quick offside calls) but spending 10 mins of chaos to analyse such a subjective incident. Potentially changing the result an incident that did not deserve a shot at goal. In the 95th minute.
This is bad for football.
Well said on all of the above, should have been a quick check and clear by VAR and then surely the game still ends when it was about to end rather than restarting for 2 or 3 minutes?!
Lazio was very organized defensively and were difficult to break down. Milan showed great patience. We (both team and fans) will have to collectively suffer for most games unless we can get a 2nd goal.
I thought Modric has been sub par (for Modric) the last two games. Some poor decisions. Should he get a rest? They are only playing one day a week.