AC Milan 1-1 Como: Five things we learned

AC Milan’s faint title hopes are hanging by a thread after they had been compelled to return from behind to earn a 1-1 draw towards Como.

Milan’s recreation at San Siro on Wednesday night time was their first at house in precisely one month, and it was a hotly anticipated rematch after the 3-1 victory in Como final month. Like within the earlier three conferences the Lariani took the lead, as Nico Paz seized a stray Mike Maignan cross and slotted in.

Within the second half the Rossoneri acquired degree as Rafael Leao lobbed the onrushing Jean Butez following a protracted ball excessive from Ardon Jashari. Because the full-time whistle went amid some jeers, although, there was an simple feeling that the Scudetto push is likely to be on the rocks.

The draw implies that the Rossoneri at the moment are seven factors behind their metropolis rivals Inter. With simply 12 video games to go it’s a huge hill to climb. Under are 5 speaking factors from what was an entertaining spectacle once more at San Siro.

1. Third time’s a allure

There was a whole lot of consideration on Ardon Jashari heading onto Wednesday’s recreation, as quickly because the sources beginning unanimously agreeing that he wouldn’t solely get his third Serie A star however could be enjoying within the mezzala position, so subsequent to Luka Modric.

After a begin to the sport spent principally watching Como in possession, Jashari actually grew into the sport and seemed to enhance Modric quite than overlap him an excessive amount of. He seemed each bit the all-action midfielder Milan invested €35m on by the second half, when the Rossoneri acquired on high.

He accomplished a ridiculous 58 out of 60 passes tried (97%) and had 3 possibilities created, 70 touches, 6/6 correct lengthy balls, 1/1 profitable dribbles, 10 passes into the ultimate third, 4 recoveries, 2 tackles and an interception.

Such is the fashionable method: You’re solely pretty much as good because the highlights you’ve acquired to indicate for it. That second got here in minute 64 when the Swiss popped an ideal 50+ yard ball excessive that was weighted within the hall of uncertainty, permitting Rafael Leao to lob Butez. Bravo, Ardon.

Ardon Jashari’s numbers from his third Serie A begin of the season.

[via @acmilan] pic.twitter.com/jTMreJcN87

— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 19, 2026

2. Toothless up high

Rafael Leao’s night time was one which we have now change into accustomed to thus far this season: he did little or no in open play, appeared to forgo alternatives in transition due to his perilous bodily situation, and but offered a second from nothing that finally saved Milan’s unbeaten run going.

In reality, the Leao-Nkunku ahead pairing simply didn’t actually work. The Portuguese is enjoying at 50% at the easiest, so we can’t decide past that, whereas the Frenchman did his normal act of enjoying on the periphery with out actually impacting the sport a lot.

The hope was that contemporary legs might change issues, and the introduction of Niclas Füllkrug ought to have offered a extra direct possibility. But, Allegri selected to take off Zachary Athekame – who’s displaying himself to be the perfect crosser on the staff – which barely hamstrung these makes an attempt.

Christian Pulisic was undoubtedly essentially the most full of life when he got here on, darting about into pockets of house and drawing defenders. Nothing actually fell for him both, although for varied causes. At current, the Rossoneri’s in-form ahead is the now-injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek. That claims every part.

3. Starting of a good looking rivalry?

The eagerly anticipated rematch between Massimiliano Allegri and Cesc Fabregas started with a cordial handshake on the sidelines at San Siro, and it ended with the Italian firing expletives at his reverse quantity exterior the press convention room.

There’s something fairly stunning about being within the second the place it appears like a possible rivalry is brewing, fastidiously watching one another’s subsequent transfer like a chess match. There is no such thing as a doubt in regards to the aggressor this time, although: Fabregas was a shame for immediately impacting the sport the best way he did.

Nevertheless, what was intriguing was the tactical set-up from the previous Barcelona man. Many anticipated him to double down on the strategy seen in Como out of stubbornness, to show he can beat Allegri that method. The end result? He matched Milan’s 3-5-2, and performed with out a striker (Douvikas, who was their joint-top scorer).

It was a daring tweak from Fabregas, who remains to be very a lot in his infancy as a coach. Milan, in the meantime, performed very a lot the identical method as they’d by the lake: stable, compact, ready for a second to spring into life.

Como took the lead (as they’ve completed of their final 4 conferences with the Diavolo now) by a goalkeeping error (Maignan was MOTM on the Sinigaglia) and Leao answered again with a superb particular person second. Fascinating parallels and divergences. May we be seeing a fantastic teaching duel being created?

4. Adjustments change

Allegri selected to make 4 substitutions by the hour mark (or simply after), which mentioned lots about how he felt the sport was going. Matteo Gabbia got here on for the injured Strahinja Pavlovic at half-time. Youssouf Fofana changed Samuele Ricci on 55 minutes, Saelemaekers got here on for Athekame on the similar time, then Füllkug took Nkunku’s spot in minute 62.

It might be argued that every change made a constructive affect and led to an improved second-half efficiency. Gabbia’s introduction was compelled, however Milan defended rather more solidly with him within the center and Koni De Winter on the precise.

Fofana introduced some much-needed physicality and guile within the midfield, changing a passive Ricci. He helped the territorial domination shift upfield in the direction of Como’s aim, displaying why Allegri often begins him.

Whereas we talked about Athekame’s crossing skill was misplaced, Saelemaekers was his normal busy self on the precise facet. He moved centrally to pull markers round, whereas he mixed nicely with Tomori, Fofana and Pulisic. All that was lacking was the ultimate determination, which is a working theme.

Even Füllkrug appeared to ask extra questions than Nkunku, and he performed a hand within the aim: him dropping deep to obtain the ball, dragged a person, permitting Leao to have a 1v1 within the entirety of Como’s half of the sphere.

Followers can criticise Allegri’s picks from minute one, however there are few coaches in world soccer which are as astute in relation to studying a recreation and making the requisite adjustments. Contemplating the small squad at his disposal, he has the identical buttons to press every time, however he picks the proper moments.

5. The dream is (in all probability) over

Sadly, the explanation that this appears like a glass-half-empty quite than half-full sort of recreation is due to what it means for the desk. It can’t be mentioned that the Scudetto race is finished, not whereas there are 36 factors to play for and solely a seven-point hole, but it appears like a near-vertical climb.

Milan have solely misplaced as soon as this season, however they’ve drawn 9 instances out of 25 video games. The talk of dropping going for the win versus sustaining the usual of being just about inconceivable to beat will rage on, although the actual fact stays regardless of which method you narrow it: Inter are on a tempo their metropolis rivals can’t match.

Allegri was proper to level out in a constructive tone that Juventus at the moment are eight factors away in fifth, as a result of the chasing pack of groups under is larger and nearer than the staff in first place who’ve gained 20 of 25 video games.

Certain, there’s nonetheless some hope that Champions League soccer will trigger an power crash from Inter (particularly based mostly on the proof in Bodo/Glimt), and that the run of going through Milan, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Roma and Como all in a row might see Chivu’s males disintegrate on the seams.

But, it appears like blind hope at this level, as a result of Milan stay simply as prone to drop extra factors within the video games to return. The highest 4 is the perfect this staff can hope for, and getting second place could be a superb achievement contemplating the assorted elements.

It simply stings a bit extra – as could be very pure – when the primary level of comparability from throughout the Navigli are having an excellent higher season domestically. With a little bit assist from their mates, after all.