1 week ago
49
AC Milan took the lead against AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night, but ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
In truth, ‘settle’ might be a tad disingenuous as Roma dominated large parts of the game, particularly in the first half. However, when Koni De Winter headed in a corner in the second half, it looked like another potential smash-and-grab in a big game.
The lead wasn’t to last for too long though as Davide Bartesaghi was penalised for a handball inside the box and Lorenzo Pellegrini converted from 12 yards. There no grand finale, as the two sides were forced to share the spoils.
The real winners this weekend are Inter, who have moved five points clear at the top of the table. Yet, the Rossoneri’s unbeaten run extends to 21 games and it is another six-pointer that the team emerged unscathed from.
Massimiliano Allegri chose to make three changes to the starting line-up from the team that beat Lecce last weekend. Luka Modric came back into the midfield, with Davide Bartesaghi returning at left wing-back and Christopher Nkunku chosen up front over Christian Pulisic.
It took Roma just 20 seconds to breach Milan’s defensive line, with Manu Kone threading a pass through to Malen inside the box, whose first touch was good but his attempt not quite as good as it rolled weakly into Mike Maignan’s arms.
At the other end, Milan had their first foray forward inside the opening minutes as Alexis Saelemaekers – whose every touch was being jeered – cut in onto his left foot before curling a shot well over the bar.
In the 14th minute the home side had another good chance to open the scoring, this time from a set-piece. Dybala whipped in a teasing ball from the right that Malen rose well to head, yet he couldn’t steer it goalwards.
Everything the Giallorossi did seemed to be going through Malen, and the Dutchman missed a massive chance to put his team 1-0 up after some excellent intricate built up on the edge of the box. A dinked pass from Dybala found the striker in behind, and he chested it down well yet dragged his shot wide.
With Roma still on top and the clock having just ticked past 30 minutes, Malen again found himself with a chance from close range inside the box. Soule’s surging run caused panic in Milan’s defence and the ball fell to the ex-Dortmund man, who fired at Maignan from a narrow angle and saw his shot saved.
Milan’s defending could politely be described as last-ditch, with Luka Modric making an excellent diving slide tackle to block a Celik shot from a few yards out, seconds before Soule thumped a shot over the bar from a good position.
Maignan was again called into action in the one added minute at the end of the first half, making a reaction stop to deny Celik that he probably didn’t know much about. The break came at the right time for Milan, who were on the ropes.
At half-time, Allegri chose to make a change having been left unsatisfied with what he saw in the first 45 minutes, with Zachary Athekame coming on for Saelemaekers who had struggled in truth.
Roma started the second half on top too, but Milan provided a reminder of the threat they could pose on the counter. Bartesaghi chipped a ball to Rabiot on the left side of the box, and he forced Svilar into a fingertip save with the low angled drive potentially going in. From the resulting corner, Rabiot went for a loose ball after Svilar dropped it, and almost caused serious damage to his face.
Despite how the balance of play had been, and the lack of chances at Roma’s end, Milan took the lead as they so often have under Allegri. A one-two from a short corner saw Modric curl in an absolutely perfect cross to the far stick, where De Winter was on hand to head into the back of the net for his first goal for the club.
Not long after Allegri had brought on Niclas Füllkrug and Christian Pulisic for Leao and Nkunku to freshen up the attack, Roma were given a penalty. A cross to the far side was hooked back across goal and struck the arm of Bartesaghi, who had no protests. Pellegrini took on the responsibility from the spot, and Maignan was finally beaten from 12 yards with a thunderbolt of an effort.
As the hosts went in search of a winner, Allegri made another alteration with 11 minutes left as an exhausted Ricci made way for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Roma had some late appeals for a penalty rejected as Wesley hammered a cross at Pulisic’s arm, but the remained of the game somewhat filtered out as both sides were forced to settle for a draw.
English (US) ·