Rafael Leao left it late to pounce on a Pietro Terracciano error to give Milan victory over Fiorentina and take another step towards the Scudetto.
The Rossoneri were in charge of their destiny after Inter lost the game in hand with Bologna, giving them a two-point lead at the top of the table, plus the advantage in head-to-head records. Ismael Bennacer was only fit for the bench, with Simon Kjaer and Alessandro Florenzi out, while the Viola were missing Alvaro Odriozola and Gaetano Castrovilli, with Giacomo Bonaventura and Lucas Torreira only ready for the bench. They were shaken by a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Udinese midweek and needed to get back on track in order to continue their push for Europe.
Theo Hernandez had the ball in the net after seven minutes with a Theo Hernandez scorcher, but it was all for nothing as Junior Messias was offside in the build-up.
Serie A Liveblog: Juventus-Venezia, Milan-Fiorentina, Udinese-Inter, Roma-Bologna
Igor also threatened at the other end, controlling a corner to strike inches wide of the far post, while Olivier Giroud prodded wide one-on-one with Pietro Terracciano after springing the offside trap on Franck Kessie’s assist.
Youssef Maleh was booked in the opening 120 seconds and risked another yellow a couple of times in the opening 20 minutes.
Riccardo Saponara stung Mike Maignan’s gloves from a tricky angle and Terracciano intercepted the Theo Hernandez cross for Giroud.
Milan should’ve taken the lead straight after the restart, but Rafael Leao slipped at the crucial moment and ballooned over after great work from Brahim Diaz and Giroud.
Theo Hernandez also turned off target after an awkward bounce of the ball, as did Ante Rebic, while Fikayo Tomori intercepted the Saponara assist before Cabral could tap in.
Mike Maignan needed a simply spectacular save to rescue Milan on 76 minutes, showing remarkable reactions on Cabral’s header from point-blank range after the Cristiano Biraghi cross.
The deadlock was finally broken thanks to a gift from Terracciano, his awful pass out from the back straight to Leao, who took full advantage by finding the net from a tricky angle.
Leao nearly got a second on the counter, but was denied by a dubious Jonathan Ikone tackle.
Milan 1-0 Fiorentina
Leao 82 (M)
Another ‘gift’, but with such tough fixtures, everything counts. Milan really need a good CF, AMF/SS and RW next season. Well, at least I can sleep well for the next few days.
Let’s see how Inter reacts with their ‘easy’ opponent.
Gift or no gift we won…we were the better side just lacked that spark or clinical finish…..we got 3 points under bag so let’s watch simone who have a habit of getting choked in end drop points lol……forza milan
Lazio gave Milan a gift with really lousy marking in extra time and now Viola made another crucial mistake and gave another gift to Milan so they get all three points, this brings me back to Calciopoli era when certain clubs were paying opponent players to under perform, it seems odd that top defenders at the end when Milan needs points make crucial errors!
Hey Inter Per Sempre, don’t forget Radus gift to Milan, or was that too Calciopoli part two, eh?
@Inter right. Our high pressing bought us a ‘gift’ today. But let’s overlook the gifts that the refs have given Inter all season long. The title race would have been over by now if not for Inter’s match fixing
Yes @InterSempre reminds me of the time De Vrij gave away a stupid penalty allowing Inter to beat Lazio thus helping Inter qualify for the UCL. Oh forgot to mention that De Vrij had already signed a deal to join Inter a few weeks later.
Fair play to Milan if they win the title, but it doesn’t say a lot for the overall quality of Serie A.
Has there ever been a weaker squad win the league?
There was actually no evidence of anyone paying anyone else to underperform, and no players or refs were convicted or sacked. Fiorentina and Lazio have been architects of their own failures this year and Inter will be too. Milan are only taking advantage of a favourable situation and if that means they win the league, they are worthy champions.
@ferban my thoughts exactly. Happy to see them win but this is not a great squad at all and surely is the weakest to ever win the league.
@Inter per Sempre: It was not a gift. Lazio defense’s been always terrible this whole season. Just look at their latest game. Milan don’t have top strikers as Inter or Juve, so the only thing they can do is high pressing until the end and force opponent to make mistakes.
Speaking about gift, it was Inter (lord Radu) who gave Milan true gift last wednesday LOL
Inter paper scudetto squad of the 2000s was also poor
I will take the gifts thank you very much. Really this game should’ve been over by halftime…so many missed chances including a 1v 1 by Giroud and an open net by Leao as well. Theo sidenetting.
Milan should’ve got a penalty as well when Leao was tripped up by Ikone…Happy to take those 3 poionts. 1-0 really flatters Fiorentina..we do need a striker in the summer because so many chances aren’t being converted….3 Finals to go.
ForzaMilan
Those trying to say Milan is bribing Opponents..or have a weak squad are all just jealous of Milan being in this position while spending less $$$$.
Gift, my backside. Stonewall penalty to make it 2-0 not even reviewed by VAR. Game should’ve been done and dusted by 5th minute of second half if one of leao, Theo or giroud had shooting boots on. Milan need to do what inter did last season with var. Either quickly make a foul and go crazy remonstrating or put the ball out.
Scudetto decided by goalkeeper starting from meret error
@Ferban, respect the exploits of this team. They have gone through a lot of injuries as a matter of fact only 4 members of this team have played up to 2000 minutes and COVID-19, referees mistakes. And inter lost for not having their 1st keeper.