GdS: ‘Milan stay top’ – how Rabiot and Pulisic inspired comeback against Torino

AC Milan produced a dramatic comeback away from home against Torino on Monday night, coming from two goals down to win 3-2.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall this morning, Milan found themselves in a very difficult position at 2-0 down after 17 minutes. However, Adrien Rabiot’s long-range effort quickly inspired hope, and then Christian Pulisic’s introduction off the bench proved to be decisive.

Beauty and mistakes

Every match is made up of good and bad moments, but what Torino lacks – suffering their third consecutive defeat – is a balance between these factors. Yet they had proven ruthless against the league leaders, beating Roma and Napoli when they were at the top.

On this consistently electric evening, they thrilled with their initial run, failing to slow the Rossoneri’s advance after Rabiot closed the gap almost immediately. When Milan pressed in the second half, their quality emerged.

For the third goal, however, the Granata were down to ten men and made some blunders, as Tameze was out injured and Torino failed to stop the game for a substitution. Baroni can take solace in Zapata’s return to scoring form, with a first half that fully matched the league-leaders.

The home side made a good start to the game, driving forward mostly through Pederson on the right. They got a penalty after a handball from Fikayo Tomori that was a strange one, and Nikola Vlasic converted from the spot past Mike Maignan.

Torino then retreated, but they launched a lethal counter in the 17th minute, which Duvan Zapata finished. The Colombian hadn’t scored since 5 October 2024, when he was stretchered off crying with a shattered knee.

The anger of 14 months of suffering flashes through his mind like a horror movie, and he transforms it into power, firing a diagonal shot past Strahinja Pavlovic and Maignan, who got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough to keep it out.

The comeback begins

Torino were two goals up after just over 15 minutes, and their problem became managing the remaining time. It started badly, because the freedom granted to Adrien Rabiot was punished by a shot from over 25 yards that found the top corner.

Massimiliano Allegri did not have time to celebrate in the stands before Rafael Leao put his hands on his adductor and asked to be substituted. Milan were already without Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez. Christopher Nkunku and Ruben Loftus-Cheek went up front, with Samuele Ricci coming on in midfield.

The second half began with Pulisic warming up intently. When he came on for Davide Bartesaghi, the American scored with his first touch, via a cross from Alexis Saelemaekers who had switched to the opposite flank.

The change of position stunned Torino, who attempted to react, finding the back of the net with Adams, but the referee had earlier blown a whistle for a push from Pedersen on Saelemaekers. Asllani also tried, but Torino went 3-2 down from the spot where Tameze should have been.

Torino concede too many goals, still having the worst defence in the league. Milan regained the top spot without any shortage of difficulties. Leao is out, but Pulisic returned: Allegri will continue to jostle with Napoli and Inter.