Rafael Leao was the hero of the night as AC Milan clinched a vital 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the early hours of Monday, sending the Rossoneri to the top of the Serie A table.
What made the performance even more special was the fact that it marked Leao first start of the season in Serie A following his recovery from injury.
Deployed in an unfamiliar role as a central striker, the Portuguese star rose to the occasion, delivering when Milan needed him most. He broke through Fiorentina’s stubborn defense with two crucial goals, proving to be the difference-maker in a tightly contested match.
The win puts Milan at the summit of the league with 16 points, taking full advantage of slip-ups by key rivals including Napoli, Roma, and Juventus.
It wasn’t an easy night at San Siro. In fact, Stefano Pioli’s side fell behind early when Robin Gosens found the back of the net for the visitors, putting Fiorentina in control and silencing the home crowd.
Milan struggled to generate clear chances for much of the match. Leao himself admitted that it was a tough battle.
“We knew it would be a difficult game, even though Fiorentina have been going through a rough patch,” he told DAZN Italia post-match.
But when his team needed a spark, Leao stepped up with a moment of brilliance. He leveled the score with a perfectly placed strike from outside the box, curling the ball into the far corner past the Fiorentina goalkeeper.
Then came the decisive moment. After Santiago Gimenez was brought down by Fabiano Parisi in the box, Milan were awarded a penalty. Leao took on the responsibility and calmly converted.
It was a milestone for the 26 year old his first-ever penalty for AC Milan.
