Serie A | Genoa 1-2 Milan – Leao impact for another Rossoneri comeback – Football Italia

GENOA, ITALY – MAY 5: Rafael Leao of Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 5, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Another second-half comeback earned Milan three points away against Genoa in Serie A on Monday evening after goals from substitutes Vitinha, Rafael Leao and an own goal from Grifone skipper Morten Frendrup.

In a surprise call from Sergio Conceicao, there was no Leao included in the starting line-up at the Marassi. He was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the only Milan change. Patrick Vieira, meanwhile, brought back Stefano Sabelli, Junior Messias and Andrea Pinamonti into his starting XI. 

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Milan started brightly with a pair of corners in the opening minutes, but were unable to threaten Nicola Leali in the Genoa net. 

Brooke Norton-Cuffy provided the first shot on target, attempting to bend one into the far corner after cutting in from the right flank, but his effort was not far away enough from Maignan, who got down low to save well. 

Theo Hernandez tried to make headlines with a speculative shot from well over 70 yards out, midway through his own half in an attempt to catch out Leali, but his effort didn’t have enough bend on it and went out for a goal-kick. 

Maignan provided the most impressive action of the first half with an incredible double save to deny Genoa from a corner, first diving all the way across his line to stop the ball on the goalline, before preventing the follow-up with the underside of his boot. 

Leali also had to be called into action to deny Christian Pulisic before the interval when the American broke into the area after being slipped in by substitute Leao, who was introduced after 28 minutes in place of the injured Youssouf Fofana. Pulisic is expected to score from those sorts of positions these days. 

A pair of stoppages for Patrizio Masini and Tijjani Reijnders to receive treatment one after the other made for a rather disjointed opening period after the interval. 

That was until Vitinha was introduced on the hour mark for the hosts. The 25-year-old had not scored in any competition all season, but emerged off the bench and scored with his first touch of the game, converting with a side-footed volley after an Aaron Martin delivery from the left flank. 

Milan, however, went on to get themselves ahead with two goals in rapid succession. 

Two substitutes combined for the equaliser: Santiago Gimenez latching onto a long ball over the top before providing a cut-back from the right byline for Leao to convert, via a large Brooke Norton-Cuffy deflection. 

Leao now has three goals and two assists from his eight appearances off the bench in Serie A this season. 

Two minutes later. Tijjani Reijnders played in a low ball from the opposite flank, which was about to fall perfectly for Joao Felix to tap home, but Morten Frendrup intervened and inadvertently put the ball into the back of his own net for 1-2. 

There has been no change to the Serie A standings as a result of tonight’s game: Milan still sit in ninth, while Genoa stay in 13th. 

Genoa 1-2 Milan

Vitinha 61′ Leao 76′, Frendrup (OG) 78′.