AC Milan returned to winning ways at the weekend, beating Fiorentina by two goals to one. There was certainly plenty to take from the game.
Whilst it was not a pretty game, Milan were effective in Sunday’s late kick-off, managing to overturn a 1-0 scoreline in around 30 minutes, to return to winning ways after the international break. A huge result for several reasons.
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A sloppy goal gave the visitors an advantage 10 minutes after the restart. However, an inspired performance from Rafael Leao saw him score from outside the box and from 12 yards, as the Rossoneri completed a comeback.
Here are the key stats from the game.
Match stats
We’ll start with the most important one, the match stats. Of course, it is best to get clichés out of the way. So, the scoreline is the one that matters most; of course, it would be better if the Diavolo had kept a clean sheet.
However, scoring two from just more than 2.5 xG is a solid return, showing that the chances Milan took were decent. It is not really a case of underperforming or underperforming here, though it is worth mentioning that the star of the show only contributed 0.81 xG, and that includes a penalty. In other words, highlights the quality of his first goal further.
📊 The stats from the win against Fiorentina pic.twitter.com/MBxDSFVp6l
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) October 19, 2025
The Rossoneri only had one additional big chance, which they should have scored, but barring that, there is little to point out from these statistics. A solid performance, indeed that takes them back to the top of the table.
Leao’s moment
We have to discuss Rafa. During the international break, the media were very critical of the Portuguese star, and this was probably always going to be the case after his performance against Juventus.
However, it was clear that the ideas were there, but without game time, the execution was always going to be off. Anyway, he changed that around at the weekend, scoring a vital brace that returns the Diavolo to the top of the league.
His first goals at San Siro since May 24, 2024, something which has also weighed upon him. After all, the counter reached 512 days, as Opta Paolo reports. However, it also shows that when Milan needs him, he can still provide big moments. Perhaps some have forgotten that in recent months and beyond.
Pavlovic’s potential recognised
Finally, a mention has to go to Strahinja Pavlovic, who is really growing this season. Since arriving, the Serbian defender has had questions about him. But he is certainly looking stronger under Massimiliano Allegri.
In a wider role, which mixes the best of both elements of his game, he is really shining in the defence, and Sunday was further proof of that. He had 79 touches of the ball, winning five duels and making three clearances. Importantly, he also provided the assist to Leao’s first.
Of course, he missed that chance too, but given the result, this can be overlooked slightly. Yes, he is still raw. However, he is certainly improving. It can be seen and felt.
Personally, I have never thought Pavlović lacks ability. On the contrary, since the very first day he joined Milan, I’ve believed in the potential of this tall left-footed defender. Critics often focus on his reckless fouls and his aggressive but sometimes inaccurate defending, yet they overlook the fact that he is a young center-back who has only just arrived in Serie A — inconsistency is normal. Very few defenders can immediately deliver stable performances after joining Serie A; it’s a difficult league to adapt to.
Moreover, his strength, aggressiveness, imposing physique, and left-footedness clearly make him the kind of defender Milan’s back line has been missing. That’s why I have never truly doubted his future at the club. In fact, this season, all those traits have shown positive results on the pitch. If Milan manage to finish in the top four this season, his market value will likely reach at least €30 million — and that would only be the starting point.
How many goals were his direct fault since he came to Milan? Doesn’t matter if you are strong, aggressive or whatever when you literally cost your team goals. He was one of the worst defenders in Serie A last season. This year he has improved by a lot, but if we played a 4 man defense and he was one of the CB it wouldn’t be like that. Way better to play him at LB or in a 3 man defense because of his obvious deficiencies.
As I mentioned in my previous and following replies, what he lacked was time to adapt and a stable, effective tactical system. He himself doesn’t lack ability or qualities—on the contrary, he possesses many excellent traits. This season’s tactical setup has clearly brought out his strengths, and he still has the potential to become more consistent. So my assessment of him wasn’t wrong—in fact, it was quite accurate.
Critics tend to dwell on the past instead of looking ahead. This isn’t to say that criticism is unwarranted, but it’s unreasonable to completely dismiss a young defender’s potential based on specific circumstances. It’s much more meaningful to recognize the decisive influence of the team’s overall tactical system on a player’s performance, rather than focusing solely on his weaknesses or past mistakes to draw a final conclusion.
The facts clearly show that he is an excellent defender and has performed very well this season—that’s simply the truth.
Pavlovic did good but an assist, it is a bit of a stretch. He just technically had the assist, in reality Leao made and scored that goal. Pavlovic looks much better since Milan switched to 5 man defending. 4 at the back, he was horrible, he’d still be. With Gabbia behind his back it looks way better.
I’m likewise not surprised by the defensive stability that Milan have shown so far this season. The defenders in this team are clearly full of potential — even the “veteran” Fikayo Tomori is a distinctive and excellent centre-back. What they had been lacking was confidence and a disciplined tactical structure. The arrival of Massimiliano Allegri is clearly aimed at reinforcing the defense. Everyone knows he brings with him a rigorously organized defensive system.
That’s why, at the start of the season, the critics focused their doubts on the three main centre-backs, questioning whether they were truly capable and expressing pessimism about the new campaign’s back line — some even claimed the club had made serious mistakes in the transfer market. But in fact, the reality is quite the opposite. As I said before, these players have the quality; what they lacked was clarity of purpose and tactical direction. We already have three excellent central defenders, and with the addition of the new Belgian player, the group may be small in number but is perfectly adequate for competing on a single front.
Football is a sport where an effective system is the key. Only within a well-structured system can players complement and elevate one another; without it, their weaknesses are magnified and their strengths suppressed. Therefore, when evaluating a team, we can be demanding toward individual players, but we must also correctly understand the crucial importance of the system.
We don’t need chatgpt crap here. You didn’t type this, I can see by multiple things. I don’t think anyone wants to read extra AI slop….
I am a foreigner, and I openly admit that my English is poor, so I use AI to help me with translation — but the content is 100% my own writing. So what’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with using a tool to communicate my own thoughts and opinions with others?
Obviously, you’re wrong again. Every single word was written by me personally — I only used AI to help with the English translation because I’m not a native speaker. I’m Chinese, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let your bias make you judge whether someone’s opinion is valid or not. Thank you.
” I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let your bias make you judge whether someone’s opinion is valid or not. Thank you.”
You’re talking to the wrong guy. He’s only here to bash others. He attacks everyone who say something he doesn’t agree to. Get used to it.
I would not give the assist to Pavlovic for a goal from a shot from outside the box. All the credits of that goal should go to Leao. Leao received the ball and did the most important piece of work to get himself in a good position for a shot. He basically assisted himself.
The assist aside, Pavlovic has improved his mental game a lot. Usually for younger players, mentality acts as a bottleneck, a block to their real potential/talent. Once the block is cleared, we immediately see improvements. Pavlovic is a good example.
Same thing can be said about Gabbia. The four months in Spain completely transformed his mentality. How it happened will forever be a myth to everybody, only he knows it best.
Tomori is the weakest link in the back line but at least he is predictable and consistent with his mistakes. Like you know he repeats such and such mistakes so you are well prepared for them.
Pavlovic doesn’t have to be Theo’s neighbor anymore. How many times did Theo’s BS cause a breakdown in defence and who’s there to try and pick up the pieces. Pavlovic is tall and intimidating and I always liked him. The fact that he jumps into the offence is great. It’s like seeing a galloping giraffe in a town square.
It was also nice to see Leao adapt to his new role more enthusiastically. He was pressing and chasing back in defense. Of course Fiorentina tried to stay compact but they wound up sitting too far back and opened themselves up to long shots. Bravo Leao!
Great win under somewhat challenging circumstances.
P.S. — I felt for Pioli, you could almost see him holding back the emotion after the loss. He didn’t deserve to be tossed away like he was. He was, after all, the coach of our last Scudetto.