Milan-Roma 1-0
GOAL: 39′ pt Pavlovic.
MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan 8; De Winter 6, Gabbia 6, Pavlovic 7.5; Saelemaekers 7 (43′ st Athekame sv), Fofana 5.5, Modric 7, Ricci 6.5, Bartesaghi 5.5; Nkunku 6.5 (39′ st Loftus-Cheek sv), Leao 7.5 (49′ st Tomori sv). On the bench: Terracciano, Pittarella, Estupinan, Odogu, Jashari, Castiello. Coach: Allegri 6.5.
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar 7; Hermoso 6 (39′ st Tsimikas sv), Mancini 6.5, Ndicka 6; Celik 6 (32′ st Dovbyk sv), Koné 5, El Aynaoui 6 (6′ st Pellegrini 6), Wesley 6.5; Cristante 6, Soulé 6 (6′ st Bailey 6); Dybala 5 (39′ st Baldanzi sv). On the bench: Vasquez, Gollini, Rensch, Ziolkowski, Ghilardi, Pisilli, El Shaarawy. Coach: Gasperini 6.
REFEREE: Torre Annunziata Guide 6.
NOTES: peaceful evening; playing field in good condition. In the 36th minute St Maignan saved a penalty kicked by Dybala. Booked: El Aynaoui, Wesley, Celik, Fofana, Hermoso, Mancini. Corners: 8-7 for Roma. Recovery: 1′; 6′.
The direct clash goes to Milan: Roma loses the top spot and returns home with regrets. It ends 1-0 at San Siro but it was a match full of opportunities between the two students of Giovanni Galeone, remembered today by the Milan stadium on the day of his death. Gasperini’s team dominated the first half hour of play and missed a penalty with Dybala in the 81st minute. Allegri’s was lit up at the end of the first half with Pavlovic’s decisive goal and came close to doubling the lead several times, catching Roma and Inter, in second place in Serie A, one point behind leaders Napoli. On points the first rounds go to the Giallorossi. Ready, go and Cristante scares Maignan after a wrong clearance by the Rossoneri goalkeeper. In the 10th minute Ndicka came close to hitting the post with a header, while in the 17th minute it was Dybala who came close to making it 1-0: De Winter made a mistake, but the Argentinian’s wide shot was out of bounds. As soon as the dueling mechanism at Roma ends, Milan breaks the deadlock. Thanks to Rafa Leao who leads the transition and serves as a pick-up for Pavlovic who makes it 1-0 in the area in the 39th minute. Same script in the 45th minute: Bartesaghi receives from Leao and passes into the area for Fofana, who wastes a penalty on the move.
The second half restarts as the first ended. With an attacking Milan and a shaken Roma. Svilar says no from close range to Nkunku, then repeats himself on a shot from Leao deflected by Mancini. Among the Rossoneri’s occasions there was also a post hit in the melee by Nkunku following a corner kick. Gasperini understands the moment and makes two substitutions: El Aynaoui (warned) and Soulè out; inside Pellegrini and Bailey. But the shock isn’t there. And Milan came close to doubling their lead in the 68th minute: Hermoso first put a dangerous ball back into play in the area, then was decisive in the save on the line after Leao’s sure shot. Roma had the great opportunity to equalize in the 81st minute: Fofana deflected Pellegrini’s free kick into the area with his arm. Referee Guida points to the spot and from eleven meters Maignan hypnotizes Dybala, who misses his first penalty in the Giallorossi shirt and requests a substitution due to a suspected physical problem. It is the last image of a match that further crowds the upper floors: Napoli leaders at 22 points, followed at a distance by Inter, Milan and Roma.