AC Milan salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Genoa at San Siro on Saturday, with Rafael Leão's 92nd-minute header preventing what would have been a shocking defeat for the second-placed Rossoneri. The Portuguese winger's late intervention came moments after Genoa had missed a penalty that could have sealed a famous victory for the visitors.
The match began with a stunning early blow for the hosts when Lorenzo Colombo, facing his former club, fired Genoa into a 28th-minute lead. The young striker, who emerged from Milan's youth system, showed no sentiment as he latched onto Ruslan Malinovskyi's perfectly weighted through ball and slotted a composed right-footed finish past Mike Maignan into the bottom left corner. The goal silenced the San Siro faithful and provided Patrick Vieira's side with the perfect platform to execute their defensive strategy.
Milan's response was immediate and relentless, with the Rossoneri launching wave after wave of attacks in search of an equalizer. The home side dominated possession, controlling 61.3% of the ball and pinning Genoa back for long stretches while creating a barrage of opportunities. However, their profligacy in front of goal proved costly, managing just eight shots on target from an incredible 32 attempts—a statistic that highlighted their ongoing struggles with clinical finishing.
At the heart of Genoa's defensive masterclass stood goalkeeper Nicola Leali, who delivered a heroic performance between the posts. The veteran shot-stopper was called into action seven times, making crucial saves to deny Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leão, and Adrien Rabiot as Milan's frustration grew with each passing minute. Leali's reflexes were particularly impressive in the 76th minute when he brilliantly saved Pulisic's header from close range, and again in the 86th minute when he somehow kept out Leão's effort from six yards.
The tactical battle saw Milan's 4-2-3-1 formation struggle against Genoa's compact 3-5-2 defensive structure. Stefano Pioli's side enjoyed overwhelming territorial dominance, winning 12 corners compared to Genoa's solitary set piece. Yet the visitors' disciplined defending and quick counter-attacking kept them firmly in the contest. Midfielders Morten Thorsby and Alessandro Marcandalli worked tirelessly to disrupt Milan's rhythm, while the defensive trio of Johan Vásquez, Leo Østigård, and Matteo Bani stood resolutely under constant pressure.
Dramatic moments unfolded in the match's closing stages. In the 95th minute, Genoa were awarded a penalty after Davide Bartesaghi fouled Mikael Ellertsson in the box. With victory within reach, Nicolae Stanciu stepped up but dramatically blazed his spot-kick over the crossbar, leaving the traveling supporters in disbelief. The miss proved immediately costly when Leão rose unmarked at the far post to power home a header from a corner kick, sending the San Siro into raptures.
The final whistle brought mixed emotions for both sides. Milan's players showed visible relief at avoiding defeat, but the dropped points represented a missed opportunity to apply pressure on the league leaders. For Genoa, languishing in 17th place with just 14 points from 16 games, the late equalizer felt like a defeat given how close they came to securing precious three points.
Match statistics painted a comprehensive picture of Milan's dominance and frustration. Beyond the shot count disparity, the Rossoneri's inability to convert their territorial advantage into goals will concern Pioli ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures. The yellow cards shown to Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlović, and Mike Maignan in the closing stages reflected the mounting tension and desperation as Milan pushed for an equalizer.
Looking ahead, AC Milan will host Fiorentina on January 11 in a crucial test of their title credentials, while Genoa will welcome Cagliari on January 12 in a vital relegation six-pointer that could define their season. The San Siro encounter served as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and drama that makes Italian football so captivating.