Key Takeaways:
- Milan and Genoa played out a third consecutive draw at “Giuseppe Meazza” in the 19th round of Serie A last night
- Lorenzo Colombo scored for Genoa against his parent club before Rafael Leão equalised for Milan in stoppage time
- Nicolae Stanciu missed a penalty in the dying seconds, leaving Genoa without a win for a fifth straight match
Match Analysis
The 19th round of Serie A concluded last night with a gripping encounter at “Giuseppe Meazza”, where Milan and Genoa battled to a 1:1 stalemate. This marks the third match in succession at San Siro between these two sides to finish level. Despite Milan’s significant dominance on the attacking front, registering 32 shots, the hosts were once again denied victory. Genoa, meanwhile, squandered a late opportunity to secure all three points as substitute Nicolae Stanciu fired a last-gasp penalty over the crossbar.
A late point rescued 👌
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— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 8, 2026
The scoring opened in the 28th minute when Lorenzo Colombo – currently on loan from Milan to Genoa – finished from close range after being set up by Ruslan Malinovskyi. It was Colombo’s fourth goal of the campaign, leaving him just one away from activating a mandatory purchase clause for Genoa. Milan pressed relentlessly throughout, but it wasn’t until the second minute of added time that Rafael Leão finally found the net with a decisive header.
Team Line-Ups and Tactical Changes
On the occasion of his 200th game in charge, Massimiliano Allegri introduced three changes to his Milan starting XI. Matteo Gabbia returned in central defence alongside Strahinja Pavlović, replacing Koni De Winter. This adjustment saw Davide Bartesaghi revert to his traditional left-back role, relegating Pervis Estupiñán to the bench. In attack, Christian Pulisic joined Rafael Leão in the starting lineup for only the second time in Serie A this season, taking the place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Genoa’s 3-5-2 configuration featured Colombo and Vitinha leading the attack.
Early exchanges saw both sides threaten via set pieces, with Pavlović and Gabbia coming close for Milan. Vitinha produced Genoa’s initial reply with a long-range effort, while appeals from Genoa for a penalty in the 18th minute fell on deaf ears from referee Maurizio Mariani. Five minutes later, Colombo’s header was kept out by Mike Maignan.
Key Match Events and Turning Points
The decisive moment for Genoa arrived as Colombo converted from close range, courtesy of Malinovskyi’s delivery. Milan proceeded to carve out further chances, with Gabbia and Pulisic narrowly missing the target, before Nicola Leali produced a crucial save to deny Leão. Shortly before half time, Youssouf Fofana squandered a golden chance on the rebound.
Milan increased pressure in the second half, forcing a string of blocks from the Genoa backline. The hosts thought they had equalised on 58 minutes when Christian Pulisic tapped home after Gabbia’s header struck the post, but VAR ruled out the goal for handball. The Rossoneri continued to create openings, with further efforts from Pulisic and Bartesaghi going unrewarded.
It wasn’t until the 82nd minute that Genoa managed their first shot of the second period, another headed opportunity from Colombo. In stoppage time, with Milan pressing desperately, Leão finally notched the equaliser. The final moments brought more drama – Milan’s appeals for a penalty were ignored, but at the other end, Genoa were awarded a spot-kick after Bartesaghi fouled Mikael Ellertsson. Fikayo Tomori received a yellow card for his protests and is now suspended for the forthcoming trip to Fiorentina. Ultimately, Stanciu skied the penalty, consigning Genoa to yet another draw.
Statistical Overview and Standings
| Team | Score | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Milan | 1 | Leão (90+2′) |
| Genoa | 1 | Colombo (28′) |
With this result, second-placed Milan move to 39 points, now three behind league leaders Inter. Genoa remain 16th, just above the relegation places, and are now winless in their last five outings, continuing a challenging run of form.
