One half each
Updated: Oct 12
Game 4, Serie A
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Milan 2-2
Lazio race into a 2-0 lead after a splendid first half, but Milan fight back after the break to salvage a draw.
The team
Rino Gattuso was forced to make a change in defence, as Danilho Doekhi had undergone minor surgery during the week. Josip Šutalo therefore made his first appearance. Tijjani Noslin was preferred to Andrea Pinamonti at centre-forward, while the rest of the team remained unchanged. New signing Diogo Leite started on the bench.
First half
Milan did not start badly and, in the third minute, Samuel Chukwueze tested Christos Mandas with a header from a Luka Modrić cross. Lazio responded two minutes later when Mattia Zaccagni, shooting from a difficult angle, forced Mike Maignan into a save.
In the seventh minute, Romano Floriani sent a superb ball in from the right, but Noslin failed to make the most of the opportunity. Three minutes later, Nuno Tavares played the ball centrally to Zaccagni on the left. The captain sent a low cross into the box, Matteo Cancellieri got ahead of a sluggish Pervis Estupiñán, and Lazio were 1-0 up.
Ten minutes later, Kenneth Taylor found Noslin on the left, inside the penalty area. The Dutchman passed to Zaccagni, who left the ball for Davide Frattesi. The midfielder cleverly returned it to his captain, but Maignan rushed off his line and managed to save Zaccagni's volley.
In the 29th minute, Frattesi tried his luck from inside the box, aiming for the far post, but his shot went wide.
And Milan? They were in considerable disarray and struggled to create anything worthy of note. Modrić was having a bad day at the office, and the Rossoneri midfield was being overwhelmed by Lazio’s.
In the 39th minute, the Biancocelesti struck again. Tavares found Taylor on the left, and the Dutchman delivered another low cross into the middle. Noslin attempted a volley that crashed against the crossbar. As Koni De Winter moved in to clear the rebound, Noslin got to the ball first and headed it into the net for his first goal of the season.
Milan were forced to respond and created a couple of half-chances towards the end of the half, including a deflected shot from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and an attempt by Mario Gila.
After 45 minutes, Lazio were dominant and in complete control. But everything would change after the interval.
Second half
Milan made three changes at half-time, withdrawing Modrić, Estupiñán and Loftus-Cheek for Yunus Musah, Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic.
The impact was immediate. Milan had fresh energy, and Lazio needed time to adjust. In the 57th minute, Strahinja Pavlović threatened with a header from a Chukwueze cross. It was a warning sign.
Gattuso responded by replacing Cancellieri and Noslin with Gustav Isaksen and Pinamonti.
But Milan continued to press, while the Biancocelesti appeared to be running out of steam.
In the 64th minute, the Rossoneri struck on the counter-attack. Pulisic crossed towards the far post, where Moreira got his shot away. The ball went through Mandas legs and into the net.
Two minutes later, Milan were level. The Belgian unleashed a superb strike from outside the box, making it 2-2 and completing a remarkable comeback in the space of just two minutes.
Lazio were on their knees, but Milan did not go for the kill. The Rossoneri continued to dominate possession and create opportunities, yet seemed content with the draw and unwilling to take unnecessary risks that might allow Lazio to snatch a winner.
Alphadjo Cissé, Moreira and Omari Hutchinson all had attempts, but they were either saved or off target. The match ended in a draw.
A half each, a point each.
Who played for Lazio
Mandas, Floriani (83' Lazzari), Sutalo (83' Diogo Leite), Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares, Frattesi, Belahyane, Taylor (74' Gudmundsson), Cancellieri (58' Isaksen), Noslin (58' Pinamonti), Zaccagni
Substitutes: Motta, Renzetti, Pedraza, Przyborek, Cataldi, R. Bordon, Serra, Farcomeni
Manager: Gattuso
Who played for Milan
Maignan, Gila, De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic, Chukwueze, Modric (45' Y. Musah), Rabiot, Estupiñán (45' Diego Moreira), Loftus-Cheek (45' Pulisic), Alphadjo Cissè (77' Hutchinson); Gonçalo Ramos (85' Camarda)
Substitutes: Terracciano, Torriano, Diawara, Tomori, Comotto, Jashari, Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Gabbia, Saelemaekers
Manager: Amorim
Referee: Marcenaro
Goals: 10' Cancellieri, 39' Noslin, 65', 67' Diego Moreira
Booked: Pulisic (M), Belahyane (L), Pavlovic (M), Zaccagni (L), Gila (M)
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