Milan beat Lazio 1-0 amid final controversies and give themselves at least one night as a leader waiting for tomorrow night’s big match between Roma and Naples. A goal brought Massimiliano Allegri’s men to 28 points Rafa Leao who thus joins the group of top scorers in the championship with five goals.
In the success at San Siro – characterized by protests from Lazio following a penalty not conceded by Collu in injury time due to a touch with Pavlovic’s arm – there is also a lot of Mike Maignan who after two minutes closes the shutter and prolongs Lazio’s abstinence from scoring away goals (the last goal on 29 September against Genoa): following a set piece, Gila emerges into the area and hits a sure shot with his head, finding the timely intervention of the French goalkeeper. Milan ended the first half without any shots on target. As soon as he fixed his aim, however, Allegri’s team broke the deadlock. In the 51st minute it was a collective action that led to Leao scoring: a perfect triangle between Saelemaekers, Fofana and the introduction of Tomori. The Englishman crosses and the Portuguese just has to tap it into the net a few steps from Provedel. Leao tries again in the 63rd minute: cross from the left by Bartesaghi, the attacker heads over and forces Provedel to make a diving save.
Lazio changes: out Vecino and Dia, in Dele-Bashiru (reinserted to the list) and Castellanos, recovering from an injury to the rectus femoris of the right thigh. Allegri’s first move was instead forced due to Fofana’s injury, which left room for Loftus-Cheek. In the 71st minute Lazio are dangerous: Pellegrini draws a bell in the Rossoneri area, Castellanos gets rid of Pavlovic’s marking but is unable to give strength to the conclusion in the split. In the recovery an episode that will cause discussion. A touch with Pavlovic’s arm leads the VAR to call referee Collu to the monitor, who sends Max Allegri off for protests. The race director analyzes the episode and decides to confirm the decision do not award the penalty: wide arm, but preceded by an attacking foul is his explanation. At that point it was Lazio who protested. A trail of controversy that will move to the Olimpico: on 4 December the 21st official meeting between Allegri and Sarri will be during the round of 16 of the Italian Cup.