Cremonese 0-2 AC Milan: Five things we learned

AC Milan toiled for nearly all the 90 minutes in opposition to Cremonese, however struck twice on the finish to assert an essential three factors.

It regarded like being one other irritating case of dropped factors in opposition to a bottom-half aspect when Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic every missed huge possibilities within the first half, and with the clock ticking right down to the ultimate seconds.

Nonetheless, Strahinja Pavlovic was readily available to flick in a nook taken quick within the remaining minute of regular time to place the Rossoneri a objective up. Then, in the previous couple of seconds of added time, Leao completed off a counter-attack to ensure of the 2-0 victory.

Milan wanted the win having taken only one level out of the final six obtainable within the dwelling video games in opposition to Como and Parma. Ivan Stoev has 5 speaking factors from this afternoon’s recreation in Lombardy.

1. An instantaneous impression

Prior to now couple of days we’ve seen loads of headlines suggesting that Massimiliano Allegri has seemingly misplaced confidence in Youssouf Fofana and that the Frenchman may even be put in the marketplace forward of the summer time window.

This has been additional fuelled with the Rossoneri’s pursuit of André, a younger midfield expertise at the moment starring at Corinthians. He’s seemingly near becoming a member of Milan in the summertime as confirmed by the Brazilian aspect’s director.

But, Fofana managed to mute all the noise and arguably had his finest efficiency of the season. He offered two pretty by way of balls for Leao and Pulisic and so they each ought to’ve resulted in assists, however the end was missing.

On prime of these second he did properly in each phases of the sport, serving to his staff regain possession and driving the ball ahead. An ideal instance of what a box-to-box midfielder ought to do, actually. Now, let’s see if he has earned a derby begin and what that brings, in that case.

Youssouf Fofana vs CremoneseOne of his finest video games in Milan shirt pic.twitter.com/m7VqaaTa6X

— Giancito Rexefani (@AnalystGiancito) March 1, 2026

2. Pulisic MIA

Soccer is a humorous sport. Pulisic was flying within the first half of the season having amassed eight objectives and two assists within the league, with about half of them off the bench. He was (and to many rightly stays) Milan’s talisman.

Now, he retains lacking 1v1s which three months in the past he was changing for enjoyable. This was the season that many hoped the American may take one other step upwards and be talked about within the ‘world class’ conversations, although it isn’t going to plan up to now.

As an alternative of enhancing in 2026, Pulisic has utterly crumbled, with no objective or help to his title. Ues he has been battling accidents however a few of his misses have been so poor and in spots the place you possibly can’t actually blame his health ranges.

The actual fact of the matter is that Pulisic was a constant participant that managed to get on this harmful positions within the field. He can get again to that indubitably, however till he does there may very well be a continued wrestle for output.

3. Browsing uneven waters

Rafael Leao’s story is an analogous one in some ways, given the lengthy battle with bodily issues and Milan’s prior reliance. Simply as Pulisic did, Leao missed a 1v1 within the first half and he then had a few superb possibilities within the second half that he once more didn’t reap the benefits of.

Within the dying minutes he did properly to time his run alongside Nkunku and keep onside to get a objective, but that was the naked minimal in a recreation the place he ought to’ve scored a hat-trick actually, by his personal admission too.

The positives we are able to draw from this recreation are that he was really fairly energetic in comparison with latest video games, and he did handle to get in these harmful positions the place he can do probably the most harm. Above all, he regarded bodily sharper, and had a few trademark darts down the left.

Clearly it appears like we can’t confidently speak about Rafa being again at 100%, however maybe the indicators are lastly rising that he’s getting higher with the passage of time.

4. Scarecrow Issues

Pavlovic got here to the rescue but once more: as talked about above, he scored the opener within the dying minutes to seal the three factors for his aspect, albeit expectantly as he barely made contact with the ball and didn’t appear to be too conscious.

The actual fact of the matter is that he once more showcased how essential he might be going ahead. His forays into the opposition field appear to yield chaos as a naked minimal, and along with his objective at the moment he surpassed final season’s tally.

No matter how the season ends for Milan one factor is definite: Allegri has actually managed to assist the Serbian enhance his recreation as he has been very steady on the again while additionally being a risk going ahead.

Let’s not neglect that Pavlovic was near leaving Milan in the summertime as he had an underwhelming debut marketing campaign. It seems now that he will probably be staying for some time longer but, and it’s typically forgotten that he’s solely 24, so can nonetheless enhance an important deal.

5. Bend don’t break

Milan have struggled in an attacking sense prior to now few weeks, whereas the midfield has chopped and altered quite a bit, and the wing-backs are all the time inspired to get ahead. That plus Allegri’s pragmatic non-possession-based type means the defence has come beneath a number of strain.

In opposition to Cremonese, the Diavolo had been once more struggling to interrupt issues opn up prime and it was essential to not permit the hosts to go forward as that will have most actually meant factors dropped for Milan.

That was achieved brilliantly by a compact again line with Koni De Winter and Pavlovic impressing of their marshalling of the rearguard. We noticed Luka Modric alongside Adrien Rabiot shielding the defenders properly by dominating the midfield and dropping in when wanted too, whereas Fofana coated a number of floor.

The subsequent check will probably be a bit more durable with the derby in opposition to Inter on the eighth of March however this was undoubtedly a superb warm-up for the Rossoneri as they search to cut back the hole on the prime.