Serie A | Milan 1-2 Lazio: Pedro plunges Rossoneri into crisis

Milan’s Crisis Deepens with Third Consecutive Defeat

Milan’s recent form has taken a sharp nosedive, landing them in a full-blown crisis following a third consecutive defeat. The latest setback came against Lazio, a match that saw the Rossoneri reduced to 10 men and eventually succumbing to a last-gasp Pedro penalty. This loss further compounds their struggles, especially after their Champions League exit and back-to-back defeats to Torino and Bologna. Christian Pulisic returned to the lineup despite a knock, pushing Joao Felix to the bench, while Kyle Walker was only fit enough for a substitute role. Lazio, on the other hand, had their own set of issues, with Taty Castellanos, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Elseid Hysaj, Alessio Romagnoli, and Matias Vecino nursing injuries after their Coppa Italia quarter-final loss to Inter on Tuesday.

Fan Protest and Early Opportunities

Milan fans made a powerful statement at the start of the match, keeping the Curva Sud empty for the first 15 minutes to protest the club’s performance. A solitary banner warned that they were "only there for the shirt." Early in the game, Boulaye Dia almost capitalized on an offside trap set by Niccolò Rovella, but Mike Maignan made a crucial save to deny him. Nuno Tavares also showed some promising dribbling skills, but his effort was deflected by Strahinja Pavlovic, who narrowly avoided an own goal. Yunus Musah’s mistake in losing possession cheaply was quickly remedied by his own desperate tackle on Dia. Despite these close calls, Milan struggled to make a significant impact on the game, with Tijjani Reijnders failing to capitalize on a well-placed Rafael Leao pass and Alex Jimenez curling a shot just wide of the far post.

Lazio’s First Goal and Tactical Adjustments

The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Pavlovic was dispossessed, sparking a swift Lazio attack down the right flank with Loum Tchaouna. The ball was rolled across the box, and although Maignan managed to save Adam Marusic’s initial effort, Mattia Zaccagni was quick to follow up and score at the back post. Sergio Conceicao, Milan’s coach, made a tactical substitution after just 37 minutes, replacing the errant Musah with Joao Felix. However, Felix’s impact was limited as he slipped while attempting a finish, and Zaccagni narrowly missed another chance on the counter-attack from a Milan corner. Pavlovic attempted to redeem himself with a powerful long-range shot that tested Ivan Provedel, but the half ended with Milan facing intense criticism from their own fans.

Second Half Struggles and Red Card

The second half saw some tactical reshuffling, with Kyle Walker and Manuel Lazzari replacing Marusic, who had suffered an ankle sprain in an accidental collision with Theo Hernandez. Despite the changes, Milan’s performance remained lackluster. Samuel Gigot, on the counter, aimed a shot straight at Maignan from a Nuno Tavares assist, and Joao Felix and Zaccagni both had chances that went wide. The match took a dramatic turn in the 67th minute when Pavlovic, already under pressure, lunged at Isaksen in a desperate tackle during a Lazio counter-attack, earning a straight red card. Milan, now down to 10 men, found themselves in an even more precarious position.

Milan’s Resilience and Late Equalizer

Despite being a man down, Milan displayed remarkable resilience and managed to equalize in the 86th minute. Rafael Leao, who had been a constant threat, stood up a cross from the left flank that Nuno Tavares failed to track. Chukwueze, left unmarked, leaped to head the ball in off the underside of the crossbar at the back post. The momentum shifted, and the game became wide open. Both sides had their chances, with Isaksen and Nuno Tavares testing Maignan’s reactions. Luka Jovic even had to act as a makeshift defender, blocking a crucial shot from Pedro inside the penalty area. Milan’s counter-attacks also posed a threat, with Leao nearly setting up Santiago Gimenez.

Last-Gasp Drama and Final Blow

The drama reached its peak in the final moments of the match. In the 94th minute, Isaksen went down in the penalty area as Maignan lunged off his line, prompting a VAR review. The referee confirmed the penalty, and Pedro, the former Chelsea man, kept his cool to send Maignan the wrong way and secure the last-gasp winner for Lazio. This victory places Lazio in fourth place in the Serie A standings, adding to Milan’s woes. Currently, Milan sits in ninth place, having been overtaken by Roma. The match ended with Milan’s fans expressing their deep dissatisfaction, and the team’s future remains uncertain amid these mounting challenges.