Early Substitution:

Milan’s coach Stefano Pioli was forced to make an early substitution in the 28th minute due to an injury to Loftus-Cheek. Bryan Musso was introduced as his replacement.

Milan’s Promising Attacks:

Milan’s first notable offensive moment arrived in the 32nd minute. Rafael Leao received a pass on his favored left flank, infiltrated the penalty area, and launched a ferocious left-footed effort. Lazio’s goalkeeper, Provedel, displayed superb reflexes to deflect the ball for a corner.

Lazio’s Resilience:

Lazio’s Zaccagni attempted a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but it comfortably found its way into Maynan’s safe grasp.

Closest Call:

The most significant opportunity of the first half unfolded in the 44th minute. A Musso cross was met by Giroud’s powerful shot. Lazio’s goalkeeper denied it, but Reginiars seized the rebound within the six-yard box. He maneuvered past the goalkeeper and directed a shot towards the left post, narrowly missing Lazio’s goal.

Pulisic Breaks the Deadlock:

Milan finally broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Christian Pulisic capitalized on an exquisite assist from Leao. Pulisic converted the opportunity with a direct shot that Provedel couldn’t keep out, resulting in the ball finding the back of the net.

Crucial Substitutions:

Pioli made his second crucial substitution, introducing Florenzi, Pobega, and Okafor for Calabria, Adli, and Giroud, respectively.

Musso’s Near Miss:

Substitute Musso came agonizingly close to opening his scoring account for Milan. He received the ball just outside the Lazio penalty area and unleashed a thunderbolt towards the goal. However, Provedel made an acrobatic save, turning it into a corner.

Tight Defending:

Milan pressed forward, with Pulisic delivering the corner into the penalty area, but Tomori’s header was within Provedel’s reach.

Lazio’s Attempted Comeback:

In the 75th minute, Lazio’s coach, Sarri, attempted to alter the course of the game by bringing in Immobile and Pedro for Anderson and Castellanos.

Provedel’s Heroics:

Provedel continued to shine, denying Pulisic a second goal with an exceptional save in the 77th minute. It mirrored the first goal, with Theo Hernandez providing the cross and Pulisic striking it directly at the goal. Yet again, the Lazio goalkeeper thwarted the attempt.

Okafor Seals the Win:

In the 88th minute, Milan sealed the victory with a second goal, courtesy of Okafor. Leao embarked on a brilliant solo run, penetrating the penalty area and slipping the ball past the onrushing Provedel, allowing Okafor to calmly slot it into the net.

Late Drama:

Pedro appeared to score a sensational goal in the 94th minute with a rocketing shot from outside the penalty area, finding the top corner between the post and the crossbar. However, the referee disallowed the goal due to Immobile being in an offside position.

The match concluded with a resounding 2-0 victory for AC Milan, catapulting them to the summit of the Serie A table.

In this thrilling encounter, AC Milan displayed their mettle and secured a crucial win against Lazio, ascending to the top of the Serie A standings with 18 points. Meanwhile, Lazio remained stagnant with 7 points, occupying the 14th position.