Roma and Milan share the spoils in the Sunday night clash of Serie A Matchday 22. At the Olimpico it finishes 1–1, with both goals coming after the break: first De Winter, then Pellegrini from the penalty spot.
Roma-Milan, first half:
Allegri makes three changes compared to the starting eleven that faced Lecce. Modrić returns to the base of midfield in place of Jashari, Bartesaghi regains his spot on the left instead of Estupiñán, and up front Nkunku is preferred to Pulisic to partner Leão. In his 3-4-2-1, Gasperini selects Ghilardi in defence to replace Hermoso, while Dybala and Soulé play behind Malen.
Roma start strongly and, after just fifteen seconds, break into the box with Malen getting a shot away, fortunately scuffed and easily gathered by Maignan. Milan respond a minute and a half later: a back-heel flick from Nkunku finds Rabiot, who spreads the play to Saelemaekers, but his left-footed effort misses the target.
In the eighth minute Ghilardi anticipates Nkunku and launches a Roma counter, which ends with a placed right-footed shot from Koné, comfortably smothered by Maignan. It is almost exclusively the home side creating danger. On the quarter-hour, Dybala curls a pinpoint free kick to the far post, Malen rises above Bartesaghi but heads wide. Five minutes later the Dutchman goes close again, controlling the ball but opening up his left foot too much and miscuing from a great position.
Two minutes after the half-hour mark, another chance for the Giallorossi: Soulé weaves through on a slalom run, then lays it off for Malen, who shoots from a tight angle, forcing a foot save from Maignan. In the first of two minutes of stoppage time, the French goalkeeper produces a sensational reflex save, getting a strong hand to Çelik’s effort. The teams go into the break goalless, with Roma arguably deserving a little more on the balance of play.
Roma-Milan, second half
There is a new face after the interval: Athekame replaces Saelemaekers, who is clearly not at his best after the injury suffered against Lecce. In the fourth minute comes Milan’s first real chance of the evening. Bartesaghi slips a through ball to Rabiot, who drives a left-footed shot across goal, forcing Svilar to stretch and tip it out for a corner.
On the hour, Roma are forced to replace Koné through injury, with Pisilli coming on, and the loss of height soon tells. In the 67th minute Milan take the lead from a set piece: from a corner, Modrić plays it short with Bartesaghi, then whips in a first-time cross, where Koni De Winter gets in front of everyone and heads in from close range, leaving Svilar no chance.
In the 70th minute both managers make simultaneous changes in attack. Allegri sends on Pulisic and Füllkrug for Leão and Nkunku, while Gasperini responds with Pellegrini and Vaz in place of Dybala and Malen. In the 73rd minute Roma are awarded a penalty. A cross to the far post is knocked back across goal first time by Pellegrini and the ball strikes Bartesaghi’s arm. Colombo has no doubts and points to the spot. Pellegrini steps up and drives it across goal: Maignan guesses the right way but is inches short of getting there, as pointed out by Milan Press.
Eleven minutes from the end Allegri adds height and physical presence by introducing Loftus-Cheek, with Ricci making way. Both sides are tiring and seem almost content with the draw. In the first of four minutes of stoppage time, Rabiot swings in a cross from the left, Füllkrug meets it with a header but sends it over. It is the final chance of the match, which ends 1–1 and allows Inter to try to pull clear in the Scudetto race, moving five points ahead.
