GdS: ‘Milan is Leao’ – how the comeback win against Fiorentina was inspired to claim top

AC Milan did what they had to do, beating Fiorentina at San Siro on Sunday night to go top of the league. However, they did it the hard way.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Milan’s win over Fiorentina moves them one point above Inter, Napoli and Roma. The Rossoneri are alone in first place, something they haven’t seen in two years, and it is thanks to Rafael Leao.

The victory over La Viola is worth double because it was achieved in extreme conditions. Milan were without Rabiot, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku, Estupinan and the long-term absentee Jashari. Allegri did a good job managing a bare-bones bench.

For example, he brought on Santi Gimenez at the perfect moment. The Mexican changed the team’s character, driving them forward in a way they hadn’t seen in the previous 55 minutes.

Saint Luka

The comeback would not have been possible without yet another dazzling performance from Luka Modric. If Milan have returned to the top, much of the credit goes to the commander on the pitch, the Ballon d’Or winner who – at 40 – still wants to orchestrate.

Just watching him is enough to learn something. The timeless Croatian was always there, even in the dark moments of the first half, when Milan weren’t pushing as they should have and Fiorentina were working to get themselves between the lines.

Modric wears the number 14, but he shed the usual task of creating like a No.10 and swapped it for the defensive tasks of an old school No.4. He opposed and interposed, he won balls and plugged gaps. With Modric, there’s a risk of becoming repetitive and rhetorical, but he is unbelievable.

Last night, Stefano Pioli sent 22-year-old Fazzini after him, and Modric – 18 years his junior – led him around on a merry dance. Before the youngster could leave the pitch, he beat him with a short sprint, which says so much about his energy levels even at this age.

Fiorentina protested the penalty awarded to Milan via VAR, but Pioli should blame himself a little in the eyes of the paper. They were too defensive both before and after taking the lead, and Edin Dzeko could have come on earlier.

Photo by AC Milan

Tactical stalemate

It was a 3-5-1-1 for both sides from the first minute, with the one behind the striker being a midfielder: Alexis Saelemaekers for Milan and Fazzini for Fiorentina. It was a manifestation of the mutual hope that the opponent would open up and give space for a run into space by Leao or Kean.

None of this happened in the first half, marked by a tactical and technical stalemate. Zero shots on target, few thrills. Milan can claim the two missed big chances because they fell to the feet of Tomori and Pavlovic, not known for their finishing.

Both came from free kicks that were curled in, and on both occasions the centre-backs fired over from yards out. With Milan’s attack depleted, two defenders attempted to break the deadlock, but the results were disastrous.

A dismal 45 minutes were enlivened by Maignan with a spectacular dribble past Kean from just outside the line. A gamble, but a successful one, and applauded by San Siro with a standing ovation. Fiorentina almost never made any moves forward, and Gabbia pocketed Kean well.

Falling behind, coming back

Fiorentina found themselves ahead at the start of the first half. Fagioli’s cross led to Ranieri rising above Saelemaekers and heading a ball back across goal that Maignan failed to master. His parry ricocheted off Gabbia, and the loose ball was knocked into the net by Gosens.

It is a goal that was both intentional and accidental, and Allegri was forced into action. The coach had already prepared for Gimenez to come on and the Mexican would have come on even with the score at 0-0.

The inexperienced Athekame came off, so Saelemaekers returned to his right wing-back role, with Gimenez and Leao forming the attacking pair. The tables were turned quickly: Leao made the score 1-1 with a powerful, angled right-footed shot from 25 yards.

It must be said that Fiorentina were down to 10 men at the time, and Ranieri was on the sidelines receiving treatment. La Viola complained because the fourth official delayed the defender’s return, but La Gazzetta believe Leao would have scored the 1-1 even with 11 men.

Then De Gea made a great save to deny a flick from Gimenez, before the penalty awarded for a tug by Parisi on Gimenez. Leao converted it, his first penalty in a Milan shirt – a surprising detail considering this is his seventh season with the Rossoneri.

It was a perfectly taken penalty, and we’re back to discussing Leao’s greatness, so far sporadic and intermittent. If Allegri can keep it consistent, the Scudetto won’t be a dream, and this time Saint Luka is on their side.