Serie A | Milan 1-1 Como: Leao magic rescues Maignan howler

Rafael Leao’s remarkable lob cancelled out a Mike Maignan howler on Nico Paz, as Milan were held 1-1 by Como in this rescheduled tie.

This Week 24 fixture was meant to be played on February 8, but with San Siro out of action for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony, they planned to move it to Perth, Australia. Months of negotiations broke down and it was instead rescheduled for 10 days later.

Adrien Rabiot was suspended, with Santiago Gimenez injured, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic not fully fit, but Rafael Leao and Ardon Jashari returned to the starting XI. Como knocked Napoli out of the Coppa Italia to reach the semi-finals, but in Serie A were held 0-0 by 10-man Atalanta and lost 2-1 at home to Fiorentina. Alvaro Morata sat out a ban, with Assane Diao and Edoardo Goldaniga sidelined, but Nico Paz was used as a False 9. These sides met on January 15, with Milan winning 3-1 amid Mike Maignan heroics.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Mergim Vojvoda had the ball in the net with a curler off the inside of the right boot after 25 minutes, but only after he had wandered offside.

Rafael Leao’s angled drive tested Jean Butez at the near post, but while Maignan was the hero last month, he was the villain here.

The goalkeeper was so busy looking to where he could play out from the back that he didn’t realise Nico Paz had ghosted into his path, intercepting the pass to score into an empty net.

Milan tried to fight back immediately, Butez flying to push the Fikayo Tomori bullet header over the bar, but Tomori also needed a decisive interception at the other end to prevent Jacobo Ramon tapping in the Nico Paz free kick. On the resulting corner, Maignan made a tricky save from point-blank range on Sergi Roberto.

Strahinja Pavlovic went off with a knock, replaced by Matteo Gabbia for the restart, while Nico Paz was booked and will be suspended for the showdown with Juventus this weekend.

Just as Como were pouring forward seeking a second, they were caught by a moment of Milan magic. A long Ardon Jashari ball over the top sent Rafael Leao running against two defenders and the on-rushing Butez, he let it bounce and placed a precise lob into the empty net from 25 metres out.

Milan nearly turned the game around completely moments later, but Youssouf Fofana couldn’t keep his header down from five yards on the Alexis Saelemaekers cross.

Rafael Leao also saw his header hit the underside of the bar, but he was offside on the Gabbia flick-on from a corner, while Douvikas fired his volley onto the side-netting at the back post.

Max Allegri was sent off following a furious touchline row with a member of the Como staff, which had started with Saelemaekers and the visiting team manager. Saelemaekers was involved in controversy again when Como wanted him to receive a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Martin Baturina.

Milan 1-1 Como

Nico Paz 32 (C), Rafael Leao 64 (M)