AC Milan caught Roma in joint second place to maneuver inside a degree of leaders Napoli due to Strahinja Pavlovic’s counter-attack and Mike Maignan parrying the Paulo Dybala penalty.
This was a showdown on the high of the desk, as a win would put the Rossoneri degree with Gian Piero Gasperini’s aspect, whereas the Giallorossi may change into sole leaders with a victory after Napoli’s 0-0 draw with Como. Santiago Gimenez, Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot had been nonetheless out of motion, with Pervis Estupinan and Ardon Jashari solely , so Rafael Leao shaped an all-new partnership with Christopher Nkunku. Angelino and Evan Ferguson didn’t make the journey, however Artem Dovbyk was benched in favour of a False 9 strategy.
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There was a minute’s silence earlier than kick-off , the previous coach who died in the present day at age 84, who was a mentor to each Max Allegri and Gasperini.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan runs with the ball while beneath stress from Neil El Aynaoui of AS Roma throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Bryan Cristante was once more in a barely extra superior position and virtually scored inside two minutes, firing huge after a poor Mike Maignan clearance.
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Neil El Aynaoui examined Maignan from exterior the realm following a Samuele Ricci stumble, whereas Evan Ndicka turned a glancing header huge from Matias Soulé’s help, then Paulo Dybala fired huge from a really promising place when Koni De Winter missed the Zeki Celik cross.
Wesley additionally examined Maignan with an angled drive, whereas Dybala ballooned over from the sting of the realm on the Brazilian’s cross.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Rafael Leao of AC Milan runs with the ball while beneath stress from Manu Kone of AS Roma throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
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Roma dominated, however paid for losing so many scoring alternatives, as they had been caught out on the counter sparked by Alexis Saelemaekers. Zeki Celik and Gianluca Mancini had been out of place when Rafael Leao sprinted down the left and pulled again from the by-line for Strahinja Pavlovic to faucet in from six yards.
Nkunku stung Mile Svilar’s gloves from a difficult angle, however Milan actually ought to’ve doubled their lead moments later when Davide Bartesaghi intercepted a wayward cross to begin the counter, then rolled throughout just for Youssouf Fofana to extremely sweep huge undisturbed from 12 yards.
Samuele Ricci got here shut on the daybreak of the second half, his volley skimming the upright from exterior the realm as a Manu Koné header fell kindly for him.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Christopher Nkunku of AC Milan runs with the ball while beneath stress from Wesley Franca of AS Roma throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
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Svilar then needed to twice rush off his line in fast succession to disclaim Fofana and Leao, however his hardest save was one-on-one with Leao, one way or the other pushing the ferocious end over the bar from point-blank vary.
Nkunku cushioned the ensuing nook onto the upright from six yards utilizing his abdomen, because the Modric set play virtually ricocheted off him.
Milan almost added one other on 68 minutes with a chaotic transfer, which culminated in Mario Hermoso making a goal-line clearance on Leao from six yards after the Svilar save on Bartesaghi.
Roma had been awarded a penalty when the Lorenzo Pellegrini free kick was charged down by Fofana’s raised arm within the wall. Maignan took a really very long time to get on the road whereas Dybala waited on the spot, and it did sufficient to place La Joya off, as a result of the goalkeeper guessed the suitable angle and palmed his spot-kick out of the underside nook.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma takes a penalty kick which is saved by Mike Maignan of AC Milan (not pictured) throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
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To make issues worse for Roma, Dybala tweaked a thigh muscle throughout that penalty incident and instantly informed the bench he wanted to return off.
Milan 1-0 Roma
Pavlovic 39 (M)
Saved penalty: Dybala 82 (R)