“Christopher Nkunku steps up and converts the penalty to give AC Milan the lead, capitalising on Justin Bijlow's yellow-card foul just minutes earlier to break the deadlock.”
Pivotal“Zachary Athekame doubles Milan's advantage with a composed finish, effectively appearing to seal the three points with less than ten minutes remaining.”
Pivotal“Johan Vásquez pulls one back for Genoa with a late goal, giving the home side a lifeline and injecting late tension into what had looked like a comfortable Milan victory.”
Genoa
AC Milan
AC Milan arrived at the Marassi with a clear plan: absorb Genoa's possession and punish them on the counter, and that is precisely what they executed. Genoa dominated the ball — 62% possession, 477 passes — but were undone by Milan's ruthless efficiency, managing six of their eight shots on target compared to Genoa's two. The match turned in the early stages of the second half when Bijlow was booked and Nkunku stepped up to convert from the spot, settling any nerves in the Milan camp. Zachary Athekame's goal on 81 minutes appeared to put the game to bed, though Johan Vásquez's header four minutes later gave Genoa something to cheer and raised brief eyebrows in a frantic closing passage that saw bookings, substitutions and raw emotion pile up simultaneously. For Milan, the three points represent a statement of form heading into the final stretch of the season; for Genoa, a dominant statistical performance that yielded nothing but a consolation will make for uncomfortable viewing.
How entertaining was this match?
Adrien Rabiot's left-footed shot is saved.
Aaron Caricol replaces Alexsandro Amorim.
Johan Felipe Vasquez Ibarra takes a left-footed shot and scores.
Samuele RicciYellow CardYellow card shown to Samuele Ricci.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is substituted for Ardon Jashari.
Caleb Ekuban comes on for Lorenzo Colombo.
Jeff Ekhator takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Jeff Ekhator takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Zachary AthekameZachary Athekame scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Christian Pulisic
Goal! Zachary Athekame scores, making it 0-2.
Vitor Oliveira takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Christian Pulisic is on, and Christopher Nkunku is off.
Koni De Winter replaces Fikayo Tomori.
Alessandro Marcandalli's header is blocked.
Fikayo TomoriYellow CardFikayo Tomori receives a yellow card.
Samuele Ricci comes on for Youssouf Fofana.
Niclas Fullkrug comes on for Santiago Gimenez.
Ruslan Malinovskyi takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Christopher Nkunku's right-footed shot is blocked.
Jeff Ekhator is on, and Baldanzi Tommaso is off.
Vitor Oliveira receives a yellow card.
Matteo GabbiaYellow CardMatteo Gabbia receives a yellow card.
Ruslan Malinovskyi takes a left-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Christopher NkunkuShot from Christopher Nkunku with his right foot results in a goal.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Christopher Nkunku scores, making it 1-0.
Justin BijlowYellow CardJustin Bijlow receives a yellow card.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Youssouf Fofana's shot with another body part is saved.
Santiago Gimenez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Ruslan Malinovskyi takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Baldanzi Tommaso takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Ruslan Malinovskyi takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Vitor Oliveira takes a left-footed shot but misses.
