Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Sunday night fixture of Serie A’s seventh round. Everything happened in the second half, with Leao scoring twice to overturn Gosens’ lucky opener.
Milan-Fiorentina, first half
Milan’s squad looks like a war report. Allegri is without six players, including Rabiot and Pulisic, and fields Saelemaekers behind Leao, with Athekame on the right. Pioli also lines up in a 3-5-1-1, bringing back Kean from an ankle injury and pairing him with midfielder Fazzini.
The first chance goes to Milan: a free kick from the left by Bartesaghi leads to a scramble in the box, and the ball lands to Tomori, who fires high with his left foot. At the 20th minute, another big chance for Milan from a set piece. Modric sends in a perfect cross, a deflection brings the ball to Pavlovic, who from two yards out also fires over the bar.
Both teams are cautious, the tempo is low, and chances are few. At the 34th minute, Modric switches play to Athekame on the right, but the Swiss player’s cross is too strong for Leao. Three minutes before the break, Athekame cuts inside and shoots with his left, but the attempt goes well off target. After one minute of added time, the first half ends with Milan controlling play, though most of the action stays in midfield without major threats.
Milan-Fiorentina, second half:
No changes after the break. In the 50th minute, Athekame receives the first yellow card for stopping a Fiorentina counter with his hand. The visitors record their first shot in the 53rd minute as Nicolussi Caviglia tries from 25 meters, missing by about a meter.
Three minutes later, Fiorentina take the lead. A cross from the left finds Ranieri, whose header forces a rebound from Maignan. The ball bounces off Gabbia and falls to Gosens, who scores from close range.
Leao with the impact finally:
Allegri immediately reacts, replacing Athekame with Gimenez and moving Saelemaekers to the right wing. The presence of a true striker helps Leao find more freedom, and in the 63rd minute he equalizes. The Portuguese cuts inside and curls a precise shot from the edge of the box past De Gea into the far corner, as relayed via Milan Press.
Driven by 70,000 fans at San Siro, Milan push for the win. Gimenez and Fofana both try headers without success. After a shot from Dodò goes high, Milan come close again in the 76th minute. Bartesaghi crosses from the left, Gimenez gets a touch, but De Gea makes a stunning save.
In the 81st minute, Milan protest for a hand from Parisi on Gimenez inside the box. After a long VAR check, referee Marinelli awards a penalty. Leao steps up and sends De Gea the wrong way, scoring his second of the night and igniting San Siro.
In added time, Allegri brings on De Winter and Balentien for the exhausted Saelemaekers and Leao. With Fiorentina pushing forward, Milan look to counter, but Fofana’s shot is blocked by Pongracic. Fiorentina fail to threaten Maignan, and Milan secure a win that sends them to the top of Serie A for the first time in three years.
