Roma 1-1 AC Milan
A draw is an acceptable result for a team competing against a fellow top-of-the-table club. However, it’s not what Roma needed right now after a chaotic week that saw them get humiliated in the worst way possible.
Coming off a 7-1 embarrassment in the Coppa Italia against Fiorentina, the Giallorossi could have used a bounce-back win against top-four AC Milan. Nevertheless, what they got is merely a point in a Serie A match that would have propelled them into the Champions League places.
Sure enough, after conceding seven, this outcome isn’t that bad at all. But a win is all that matters, and Eusebio Di Francesco’s men failed to get once again.
Highlights of the game
ROMA WERE WASTEFUL! And that’s the main talking point that made the headlines this time.
Indeed, looking at their numbers in the game, the Rome-based club could have easily won the fixture. Nonetheless, they never led and were left to regret their missed chances.
AC Milan struck early, and that was the only lead they needed. Gennaro Gattuso’s charges defended well and held their ground, thanks in large part to a spectacular performance from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Former Genoa hitman Krzysztof Piatek, who completed his January transfer to Milan a couple of weeks ago, scored on 26 minutes to put the visitors ahead.
Lucas Paqueta—another winter signing—played a massive role in the opening goal, beating the Roma defenders and sending the ball to Piatek from a tight angle. The Pole striker beat Federico Fazio for the ball and converted from close range with a first-touch finish.
Roma remained composed and piled the pressure on the visitors. However, Donnarumma was in fine form and proved to be difficult to overcome, as the 19-year-old Milan goalie denied both Patrik Schick and Edin Dzeko with a spectacular double save heading to halftime.
Donnarumma, though, couldn’t do anything against fellow teenager Nicolo Zaniolo who cancelled out Piatek’s opener right after the restart.
From the right flank, Rick Karsdorp played the ball to Schick at the middle of the box. The 23-year-old Czech then caught the Milan defence off guard by redirecting the ball towards the back post—intentionally or not.
Milan’s Mateo Musacchio, clearly rattled by the sequence of events, inadvertently sent the ball towards Donnarumma. The Italy international was only able to parry the goal-bound deflection in front, so there was little he could do as the ball bounced towards Zaniolo who then fired hard into an open net.
Roma could have gone up in the 71st minute to complete their turnaround, but Dzeko was left frustrated again after Donnarumma saved his headed effort from point-blank range.
It didn’t help that Lorenzo Pellegrini’s header hit the post, to the disappointment of the San Siro crowd.
Milan can consider themselves unlucky too, as they should have had a penalty after Paqueta was tackled inside the box by Aleksandar Kolarov. Interestingly, no call was given and Paqueta was handed a yellow for arguing. Ouch!
Diego Laxalt, an 87th-minute substitute, had a chance to make a play worthy to be featured in the Serie A 2019 highlights. But his late attack from the left wing didn’t materialise, with Robin Olsen denying the Uruguayan.
Key statistics
The pre-match Serie A 2019 odds at SBOBET gave Roma the advantage, and while it could be argued they deserved all three points, they have no one to blame but themselves.
According to the post-match statistics, Roma had a total of 11 shots, nine of which were on target. In fact, in the opening frame alone, they had six clear-cut chances to score.
On the other hand, AC Milan had made only six shots, with only five on target. It’s important to note, though, that they made seven saves—two of which were considered crucial.
If there’s any positive to take from this game for Roma, it’s the development of Zaniolo. The 19-year-old midfielder now has three goals for the club, making him the youngest player to score such tally for the team since Francesco Totti in 1995.
What’s next?
Milan, who also drew with Napoli in their previous Italian top-flight game, head home to play Cagliari next week. They have two more games after that (away against Atalanta and at home against Empoli) before resuming their Coppa Italia campaign versus Lazio.
Meanwhile, Roma will hope to end their three-game skid when they visit Chievo. They could really use a win in that game, especially with a tough task against Porto in the Champions League knockout stage waiting for them a few days later.
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