AC Milan battled to a 2-1 win over Genoa in their Serie A clash on Sunday, as the Rossoneri continue to scrap for a Champions League qualification spot.
Ante Rebic gave us an early lead with a superb strike, but Mattia Destro grabbed an equaliser for the visitors before the break to put the pressure back on us.
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However, an own goal from Gianluca Scamacca was enough to seal all three points, as we now wait for results elsewhere this weekend to discover if we have extended our cushion over the chasing pack in the race for a top-four finish.
Crucial win in battle for top four
As was obvious before the game, Milan simply can’t afford to drop points between now and the end of the season with the likes of Juventus, Atalanta, Napoli and Lazio breathing down our necks still.
The most important thing this weekend, especially given the fixtures elsewhere pitting some of our rivals against each other, was to collect all three points.
We had some concerns along the way and it wasn’t entirely convincing, but the victory was ultimately secured and it’s another step closer to achieving our objective for this season.
Pioli changes influence result
Even at half-time it was arguably apparent that substitutions were going to be pivotal in this game and it was important Stefano Pioli got his decisions right.
With the game still evenly poised on the hour mark, on came Diogo Dalot, Mario Mandzukic and Brahim Diaz, and it added a bit more impetus and danger to Genoa.
Albeit it was an own goal that won the game, the presence of that trio and the subsequent changes thereafter were certainly influential in how the result went.
Kjaer-Tomori produce massive moment
In a brilliant, albeit frantic, passage of play, Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori produced what could turn out to be a decisive moment in our season.
With Genoa pressing for an equaliser, the defensive duo stepped up and blocked two efforts on the line to preserve our lead and guide us to the win.
It remains to be seen if we go on and hold out for a top-four finish, but if we do, we’ll look back on this moment as being critical in not only winning this particular game, but also a major moment in the bigger picture.
Rebic finds form at right time
Aside from the fact that Ante Rebic scored another stunning goal, that’s now seven Serie A goals this season for the Croatian international.
Further, six of those have come in 2021, and so he’s finding form at just the right time to fire us through this difficult period and grab key goals to help us qualify for the Champions League.
It was all the more important this weekend given Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absence, but his impact in recent weeks is becoming pivotal in our finish to the campaign.
Leao disappoints again
Given another chance to impress leading the line, it didn’t go to plan for Rafael Leao. Question marks will continue to be raised over his ability to spearhead the attack and perhaps even over his presence in the starting XI.
A lack of composure and no cutting edge was his downfall in the first half as he squandered two decent goalscoring opportunities.
As the game went on, the usual issues starting to add to the frustration with his lack of pressing and negative body language. Milan arguably have a big decision to make over his future this summer in terms of whether or not they still believe that he can be an important figure in our long-term future by fulfilling his potential.
The more that these chances pass him by, more doubt will creep in.
