Rafael Leão’s Double Powers Milan Past Fiorentina as Rossoneri Eye Scudetto Ambitions
On a brisk Milanese evening at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, AC Milan’s ambitions roared to life. Trailing early in the second half to a stubborn Fiorentina, the Rossoneri leaned on the brilliance—and composure—of Rafael Leão, whose two goals lifted Milan to a 2-1 comeback victory that keeps their title aspirations moving briskly forward, and extends Fiorentina’s winless frustrations near the foot of Serie A.
The energy pulsed from the opening whistle, but true drama took a measured hour to arrive. Milan, having stumbled to a scoreless draw at Juventus in their last league outing, entered with points to prove and form to maintain, seeking to shake off the slight aftertaste of missed chances in Turin. Fiorentina, by contrast, arrived desperate—marooned in 18th place, still searching for a first Serie A victory amid a campaign already shaded with anxiety.
For much of the first half, Milan dictated the tempo. Their intent was evident as Christian Pulisic, the engine of their recent successes, repeatedly tested Fiorentina’s defensive shape; Youssouf Fofana patrolled the midfield, squeezing space and tempo alike. But chances, as so often when pressure meets nerves, fell to waste. Luka Modrić, Milan’s veteran orchestrator, clipped a clever ball towards Leão midway through the opening period, only to see the Portuguese winger’s header flash just wide.
Fiorentina, for all their struggles, showed flickers of resistance. Robin Gosens, newly returned from injury, provided a constant threat down the left. The visitors tightened after the break, and their persistence paid unexpected dividends. In the 55th minute, a sweeping counter found Gosens galloping into space, the German international latching onto a teasing cross before slotting expertly past Mike Maignan. The Viola bench erupted; for a moment, hope glimmered in their season of shadows.
But Milan have made a recent habit of responding to adversity. Just eight minutes later, their pressure brought reward. A weaving run from Pulisic drew defenders before releasing Alexis Saelemaekers wide on the right. His low cut-back found Leão at the top of the area, and, with the kind of assured touch that defines Milan’s best nights, Leão rifled a low shot beyond Pietro Terracciano to level the affair. The stadium exhaled, belief surging through red-and-black veins.
Still, the night required nerves. Fiorentina, stung by the equalizer yet eager to rewrite their season’s script, pressed forward. The match threatened to boil, and tempers simmered; cautions flashed, tackles sharpened, but ultimately the decisive moment awaited in the dying light.
As the 86th minute dawned, chaos bloomed in the Fiorentina box. Substitute Santiago Giménez, introduced for late energy, tangled with Luca Ranieri near the penalty spot. The referee hesitated—then pointed decisively to the spot. Fiorentina’s protests proved futile. Leão, already the architect of Milan’s revival, gathered the ball. His run-up was measured, his finish emphatic: a left-footed strike, driven high and unstoppable, ignited another eruption from the Curva Sud.
There would be no final twist. In stoppage time, Milan’s defense, marshaled by Simon Kjær, held fast as Fiorentina pushed for a miracle. The final whistle saw Milan’s bench erupt, a hard-fought three points secured—and with them, a vital message sent.
The broader story unfolds in the standings. Milan, now with 13 points from six matches and perched fourth, continue their campaign with a single defeat marring an otherwise robust start. The win builds on recent successes—a 2-1 triumph over Napoli, a controlled 3-0 against Udinese—and, perhaps most crucially, signals a team building momentum with the season’s middle third approaching.
For Fiorentina, the long night deepens. Their solitary win this autumn came in Europe against Sigma Olomouc; domestically, three points from three draws and three losses tell a starker tale. The ghosts of narrow defeats—such as the 1-2 home reverse to Roma, and an earlier 1-3 setback to Napoli—linger, and the pressure mounts with each passing week. Their defense, often too porous, again let slip what might have been a platform for much-needed relief.
If history between these sides bends toward Milan, tonight’s fixture only confirmed the recent pattern. The Rossoneri have now claimed crucial home wins in three of their last five head-to-head meetings at the Meazza, each time riding a wave of late drama to punish Fiorentina’s inconsistency.
Looking ahead, Milan’s resurgence in the league coincides with a fixture run that could define their autumn—momentum now on their side, the next challenge will test their depth and resilience. Fiorentina, meanwhile, must regroup swiftly; languishing near the relegation zone, wins must come soon if this storied club is to avoid a winter mired in crisis.
Saturday night at San Siro offered the latest proof: in Serie A, the margins are razor thin, but for Milan under the lights, the moments belong to Leão. And with them, so too might the ambitions of a city in search of another Scudetto.