Leao’s double roar: AC Milan retake Fiorentina and leap to the top of the standings
Milan Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Sunday evening match valid for the seventh round of Serie A, a success that came despite several defections (Pulisic and Rabiot above all), which allows Massimiliano Allegri’s men to leap to the top of the league standings with 16 points, ahead of the triptych of teams at 15 points composed of Inter, Napoli and Roma.
The home team and the purple team coached by Stefano Pioli (formerly applauded by San Siro) play a not too exciting first half, with the Rossoneri, in yellow jersey for the occasion, steadily in the opponent’s half of the field but never really stinging. The most interesting chance happens on Pavlovic’s head on 20′, but the Serbian defender does not frame the goal. At halftime it’s 0-0.
Decidedly more lively the resumption, not least because Fiorentina tries to come out of its shell and strikes at the first lunge: Ranieri’s bank into the box finds Maignan’s opposition, who, however, pushes back on Gabbia. The ball is about to roll into the net but Gosens goes for the personal marker by touching the ball with the tip of his foot right on the line.
Allegri ran for cover and, while maintaining the initial 3-5-2, inserted Gimenez in place of Athekame, moving Saelemaekers from the attack to the right flank. The result is a more proactive Milan, which on 63′ gets to the equalizer: great shot by Leao from the distance, De Gea doesn′ t get there and Milan gets the equalizer.
The Rossoneri sniffed the opportunity, continued to press and took advantage in the final the episode that would become the decisive one for the three points: naive handling of Parisi against Gimenez, referee Marinelli after the on-field review opted for the penalty. From the penalty spot goes Leao who kicks towards his left, while De Gea dives on the opposite side: it is 2-1 Milan.
The result will not change again until the triple whistle, with Fiorentina too tired to try a real assault. It therefore ends 2-1: the Rossoneri regain the top of Serie A, while what Pioli will celebrate on Monday will be a bitter 60th birthday from a sporting point of view, with Fiorentina still winless after seven days in the league, last along with Genoa and Pisa.
