Views: 31

The Sunday of the 10th Serie A matchday ended with the big match at San Siro between Milan and Roma. The Rossoneri win 1-0 thanks to Pavlovic.

The top clash between Milan and Roma closed out the Sunday of the 10th round of Serie A. The Rossoneri emerged victorious at San Siro, with Pavlovic scoring the only goal in the first half. A match of many turns, with Milan striking at the best moment of the Giallorossi, who were wasteful in the early part of the game.

The second half followed a different script from the first: Allegri’s team created many chances, including a clear one with Leao, but also gave the capital team a great opportunity for the 1-1 draw. Guida awarded a penalty to Gasperini’s team for a handball by Fofana, but Dybala missed from the spot, getting hypnotized by Maignan, who chose the right side. In the end, the hosts celebrated, returning to victory after two consecutive draws in the league.

The Rossoneri catch up with Roma and Inter behind Napoli, all at 21 points. The Giallorossi are left with the regret of many missed opportunities, especially in the beginning. A game similar to the one played against Inter, which also ended with the same scoreline. The first away defeat of the Gasperini team this season.

Milan-Roma, the commentary

The game proved to be very intense right from the kickoff. Roma posed a threat in less than a minute with Cristante, the Giallorossi’s number 4 trying to beat Maignan with a right-footed shot, but his effort went wide. The visitors continued to press and trouble the Rossoneri. In the 7th minute, El Aynaoui tried a long-range shot: a central effort that Maignan saved in two attempts.

The best opportunity in this phase for the Romans came from Ndicka: a fine cross from Soulè for the Ivorian who headed just wide. Roma continued to dominate the game, especially on the flanks. At the 19th minute, Celik outpaced Bartesaghi in speed and switched play to Dybala, the Argentine dribbled past De Winter and shot with his left foot from outside: the effort grazed the post.

The suffocating Giallorossi pressing made ball circulation difficult for the hosts, who struggled to find their two forwards. In the 33rd minute, referee Guida showed the first yellow card of the game to El Aynaui for a foul on Saelemaekers.

The Rossoneri gradually found their rhythm and scored on the counterattack, not forgiving the Giallorossi at the first useful opportunity. Saelemaekers found Leao in open space; the Portuguese speedster outpaced Ndicka and delivered the ball to the center of the area where Pavlovic was waiting: the Serbian defender didn’t miss in front of Svilar, putting Milan ahead.

The 1-0 goal stunned Roma and mentally unlocked the hosts, who started pressing: Nkunku tested Svilar with a shot from outside the box. Shortly after, Fofana came close to the 2-0: Milan created again from the left with Leao, who rewarded Bartesaghi’s overlap. The full-back crossed to Fofana: the Frenchman tried a first-time effort, narrowly missing the target. The first half ended like this: Roma excellent for the first half-hour but wasteful, Milan clinical in finding the goal at the first chance and then skillfully changing the momentum of the game.

2nd half

The second half started without changes from both coaches. Milan resumed with the same intensity as the end of the first half. After a few seconds, Ricci hit the post with a volley from outside the box. The Rossoneri continued to attack: Svilar closed the goal to Fofana with a good save; shortly after, the Serbian goalkeeper deflected a dangerous Leao shot, redirected by Mancini, into a corner. From the resulting corner, Nkunku hit the post from close range.

Galvanized by the assist, the Portuguese became unstoppable: Svilar denied him again. Gasperini sensed the danger and turned to the bench. Out went Soulè and El Aynaoui, in came Bailey and Pellegrini.

The substitutions initially struggled to make an impact, with Milan remaining in control of the game. The Giallorossi tried to get back into the match, especially through corners. First Cristante and then Hermoso attempted headers but couldn’t find the net. Dybala and Pellegrini tried to combine inside the penalty area: the action ended with a shot easily saved by Maignan. The game continued to provide sparks even towards the end.

In the 68th minute, Milan missed the chance for the 2-0 goal: Bartesaghi’s shot was poorly cleared by Hermoso, the ball first reached Ricci, saved by Svilar, and then Leao: the Portuguese forward hit the Spanish defender on the goal line. The sparks between Saelemaekers and Wesley were a sign of an increasingly tense game.

Allegri’s first move came in the 76th minute: Nkunku out, Loftus-Cheek in. Gasperini responded by bringing on Dovbyk for Celik.

A beautiful flick from the Ukrainian striker led to a free-kick on the edge of the box for Roma. Pellegrini took the set-piece, hitting the wall, but referee Guida detected a handball by Fofana in the wall. The referee had no doubts and awarded a penalty. Dybala stepped up but was hypnotized by Maignan, who chose the right corner, deflecting it into a corner.

Dybala requested a substitution immediately after the missed penalty: Baldanzi replaced him. Tsimikas also entered for Hermoso. Milan made their second change in the 87th minute: Athekhame in, Saelemaekers out. In stoppage time, an exhausted Leao was also replaced, suffering from cramps: Allegri chose Tomori to take his place. In the end, Roma pushed forward in search of an equalizer but failed to create any clear chances.

Milan-Roma ended with an important victory for the Rossoneri.