Olivier Giroud’s penalty and a spectacular Rafael Leao volley continues Milan’s perfect start, as Roma on Romelu Lukaku’s debut fail to make the most of Fikayo Tomori’s red card.
New signing Lukaku was presented to the fans before kick-off and Jose Mourinho made his season debut on the touchline after a two-match ban, but Paulo Dybala, Sardar Azmoun, Renato Sanches, Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla were injured. Lukaku and Lorenzo Pellegrini were only fit for the bench. The Rossoneri used the same XI for the third game in a row, with Ismael Bennacer the only absentee.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek combined with Theo Hernandez to burst into the box, forcing a save from Rui Patricio and desperate Zeki Celik block from six yards. However, after a VAR on-field review, it became clear that the goalkeeper had caught Loftus-Cheek on the shin with his studs and Olivier Giroud converted the penalty with the inside of the left boot.
Rafael Leao pulled back from the by-line for Tijjani Reijnders, who couldn’t finish it off, then Rui Patricio made up for the penalty with a sensational reaction save on Christian Pulisic’s volley that was flying under the bar.
There was more bad news for Roma when Houssem Aouar limped off with a left flexor issue, making way for the not fully fit Pellegrini.
Straight after the restart, Milan doubled their lead in spectacular fashion, as Leao held off Zeki Celik for an acrobatic right-foot volley with his back to goal, steering in the Davide Calabria cross from 10 yards.
Moments later, Loftus-Cheek saw his finish deflected just wide, but just as Milan seemed to be in complete control, they went down to 10 men. Fikayo Tomori received his second yellow card, both of them for challenges on Andrea Belotti. It also means the Englishman will be suspended for the Derby della Madonnina against Inter.
Mike Maignan had his gloves stung by Stephan El Shaarawy and Roma threw new signing Lukaku on for his debut in the final 20 minutes, the Belgian curling just over from the edge of the area with his first touch.
Leonardo Spinazzola also blasted off target, but Roma struggled to create any genuine chances against the 10 men.
It was only in stoppages when Spinazzola cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that took a huge deflection to wrong-foot Maignan that the Giallorossi got on the scoresheet.
That gave them hope and Nicola Zalewski’s deflected effort hit the side-netting, then on the resulting corner nobody could reach Zalewski’s cross at the back post.
Roma 1-2 Milan
Giroud pen 9 (M), Leao 48 (M), Spinazzola 92 (R)
Sent off: Tomori 61 (M)
Player statistic
| 9' |  |
Olivier Giroud | ||
| 19' |  |
Fikayo Tomori | ||
| 34' | |
Ruben Loftus-Cheek |
| 48' |  |
Rafael Leão (Assist: Davide Calabria) | ||
| 61' |  |
Fikayo Tomori | ||
| Leandro Paredes | |
70' | ||
| Romelu Lukaku | |
85' | ||
| Leonardo Spinazzola (Assist: Edoardo Bove) |
|
90+3' | ||
| 90+7' | |
Noah Okafor |
Match statistic
Pulisic and Leao will be a great combo Chelsea missed used boys will hit form again.