Key Highlights
Milan won by two goals to one at Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, taking control with a decisive first-half burst and hanging on despite late pressure. Christian Pulisic was named Player of the Match after his early contribution broke the deadlock and set the tone for a disciplined away performance.
First Half
Milan set the tempo from the start, controlling the ball and territory while Genoa set up in a three four two one with Johan Vásquez as captain and Vítinha and Milutin Osmajić leading the line. Milan produced their clearest spell between the tenth and the sixteenth minute and were rewarded when Alphadjo Cissè finished a well worked move in the 13th minute from an Adrien Rabiot pass. That burst was compounded by Christian Pulisic in the 19th minute, who converted a Gonçalo Ramos assist to give Milan two clear goals. Statistically the visitors carried the ball more and completed roughly twice as many accurate passes in the first half, yet Genoa matched them closely for expected goals and also threatened at times with early attempts such as Milutin Osmajić in the opening minute and Vítinha forcing a save later. Milan led by two goals to nil at the interval.
Second Half
The second half belonged largely to Genoa in terms of threat rather than possession, with the home side registering more shots and a higher expected goals figure while Milan offered almost no sustained attacking outlet. Genoa manufactured a sustained period of pressure from the 71st to the 81st minute that produced a string of attempts but no breakthrough, and a high quality Vítinha effort was saved in the 73rd minute. Milan made only sporadic forays forward and their second-half expected goals was minimal. Genoa substitutes, introduced around the hour mark, made an impact when Tommaso Baldanzi supplied the set piece that Mikael Egill Ellertsson turned home in the 88th minute to make the finish tense. Milan held firm in the closing stages and won by two goals to one.
Closing Thoughts
The result gives Milan a second consecutive league win and keeps them in the top five, sitting fifth with twenty one points, as they prepare to host Frosinone next. Genoa remain in the middle of the table in twelfth with thirteen points and head to Sassuolo for their next fixture. The match underlined an uncomfortable truth for Milan and a reassuring one for Genoa: Milan required clinical early strikes to compensate for a second half in which they were outshot and carried less expected goals, while Genoa showed the attacking resilience to create a late opening that they will hope to convert earlier in future games.
