In the postponed match of the 24th round of Serie A, played on Wednesday, February 18, AC Milan only managed a 1-1 draw at home against Como. Massimiliano Allegri's team dropped points after a glaring error by goalkeeper Mike Maignan, which was capitalized on by Nico Paz. Although Rafael Leão equalized in the second half, the gap to league leaders Inter increased to seven points. The match ended in a tense atmosphere, resulting in a red card for the home team's coach.

Maignan's disastrous error

The French national team goalkeeper passed the ball straight to Nico Paz in the 32nd minute, resulting in a conceded goal.

Coaches' tunnel conflict

Massimiliano Allegri engaged in a furious argument with Cesc Fàbregas, insulting him after the match ended.

Serie A table situation

After this draw, AC Milan has 54 points and now trails leaders Inter by 7 points.

The match at San Siro was supposed to be a formality for AC Milan and a step towards closing the gap on leaders Inter Milan. Instead, the fans gathered at the stadium witnessed one of the most frustrating evenings of the season. The match, which was originally postponed due to the Winter Olympics, did not go according to plan for the hosts from the start. The key moment came in the 32nd minute, when Mike Maignan made an inexplicable error while trying to play out from the back. The ball was intercepted by Nico Paz, who calmly slotted it into the net, silencing the Milan stands. In the second half, Milan desperately pushed for an equalizer, which only came in the 64th minute. Rafael Leão scored with a spectacular lob, netting his first goal in over a month. Despite late pressure, the hosts failed to turn the game in their favor. Como, led by Cesc Fàbregas, showed great maturity, effectively neutralizing the favorites' attacks. This result drastically reduces the chances of the Rossoneri for the scudetto, especially given the stable form of their local rivals. The rivalry between Milan and smaller clubs from Lombardy, such as Como, has a long tradition, although Como spent decades in lower divisions. The club's return to Serie A in 2024 revived forgotten regional derbies.The real drama, however, unfolded after the final whistle. Massimiliano Allegri, who had already received a red card during the match for arguing with the visitors' bench, clashed with Fàbregas near the conference room. Eyewitnesses report loud insults and a heated exchange. Allegri reportedly called the Spaniard a "kid who just started coaching." This outburst of aggression from the Milan coach is seen as an expression of helplessness in the face of a slipping title and increasing pressure from the club's board. „When you are on the pitch, you must show respect to the referee and opponents. There was an exchange of words, but the most important thing is the result, which does not satisfy us.” — Massimiliano Allegri[{"side1": "AC Milan", "side2": "Como 1907", "score1": 1, "score2": 1}]7 points — is now the gap between Milan and leaders Inter

Mentioned People

  • Massimiliano Allegri — AC Milan coach, who received a red card and started an altercation.
  • Cesc Fàbregas — Como coach, verbally attacked by Allegri.
  • Mike Maignan — Milan goalkeeper, responsible for the error leading to Como's goal.
  • Nico Paz — Scorer of the goal for the visitors after the goalkeeper's error.
  • Rafael Leão — Scorer of the equalizing goal for AC Milan.