AC Milan secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, with Rafael Leao emerging as the hero for the Rossoneri. Leao came on as a substitute and scored two goals within two minutes of his introduction, rescuing a point for his team after Lazio had overturned an early Milan lead.
Milan started the game brightly, taking the lead in the eighth minute through a powerful header from Strahinja Pavlovic, who rose highest to meet Christian Pulisic’s corner. The lead held until the second half, when Lazio turned the tide with a quickfire double. In the 62nd minute, Valentin Castellanos volleyed home from close range after a well-worked move involving Nuno Tavares. Just two minutes later, Boulaye Dia put Lazio in front with a simple tap-in, capitalizing on a precise pass from Tavares.
The introduction of Leao, along with other substitutes, breathed new life into Milan’s attack. He combined effectively with Tammy Abraham, who had come on earlier, to create a chance that he expertly finished. Lazio had a late chance to win the game through Abraham but his shot was saved by the Milan goalkeeper. The draw leaves Milan in 14th place with two points from three games, while Lazio remain winless and sit in eighth place with four points.
Prior to the match, there was an emotional tribute to former Lazio manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who sadly passed away earlier in the week. Lazio fans displayed a banner with the message, “You brought us to the top of the world… Have a good trip Mr. Sven.” The Stadio Olimpico fell silent as a jersey with Eriksson’s name on the back was displayed on the home bench.
Lazio manager Paulo Fonseca made four changes to his starting lineup from their previous defeat to Parma, dropping Leao and Theo Hernandez from the starting XI. Despite a promising start, the changes ultimately failed to deliver the desired result. Fonseca will be hoping that the impact of Leao’s late performance will provide a much-needed boost for his side heading into their next fixture.
