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CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 01: Rafael Leao of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AC Milan at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Milan needed an unorthodox last-minute Strahinja Pavlovic goal to break Cremonese down, then Rafael Leao made up for big misses with a stoppage-time tap-in.
The Rossoneri suffered only two Serie A defeats this season, the opening weekend with Cremonese and last week against Parma, both at San Siro. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was ruled out for a couple of months by a facial fracture, with Matteo Gabbia and Santiago Gimenez also injured. The hosts had just four draws and three goals scored in the last 12 rounds, missing Federico Baschirotto, Faris Moumbagna and Michele Collocolo.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Francesco Folino made a desperate interception to stop Rafael Leao tapping in the Adrien Rabiot cross from six yards, while Alexis Saelemaekers drilled wide from the edge of the area.
Cremonese came close when Federico Bonazzoli’s volley on a Giuseppe Pezzella cross was deflected inches wide, then on the resulting corner Jamie Vardy swung just off target too.
Rafael Leao looked as if he simply had to score on 34 minutes when sent through by Youssouf Fofana, had drawn out Emil Audero, only to incredibly drill wide of the empty net from nine yards.
Christian Pulisic also sprung the offside trap on another wonderful Fofana pass, but this time Audero came flying out and managed to get a fingertip to the American’s finish. On the resulting corner, Rabiot nodded just over the bar.
Vardy’s strike was charged down in the area by Fikayo Tomori and a Luperto effort deflected over, but Leao wasted another golden opportunity when prodding the Rabiot assist over from six yards as Audero rushed off his line to narrow the angle.
Jari Vandeputte ballooned over from the edge of the box on an Alessio Zerbin pull-back, while Niclas Fullkrug failed to get the tap-in on a Leao roll across, falling awkwardly in the process.
Filippo Terracciano felled former teammate Leao and was booked, so will be suspended for the relegation battle against Lecce, while Fullkrug had penalty appeals waved away for a tussle with Luperto.
Maignan made a tricky one-handed save on the Luperto header going under the bar from a free kick, and Fullkrug couldn’t keep his header down on a Modric cross from a corner.
Davide Bartesaghi went off clutching the back of his right thigh after earning a corner, but as the set play was taken short and Modric whipped in the cross, Koni De Winter glanced it with his head, it struck Pavlovic on the face and shoulder before going in at the back post. Milan rushed to celebrate with Bartesaghi, who was still being helped off the field by medical staff.
Cremonese were unbalanced seeking an equaliser and conceded another on the counter in stoppages. Fullkrug flicked on the ball for Christopher Nkunku to sprint from the centre-circle, rolling across for Leao to sweep in from eight yards with the inside of the right boot.
Cremonese 0-2 Milan
Pavlovic 90 (M), Leao 94 (M)
01-03-2026 11:30
MatchDay 27
Stadio Giovanni ZiniUSCMIL0 – 2
Player statistic
| Filippo Terracciano | 76' |
| Youssef Maleh | 85' |
| 89' | Strahinja Pavlovic(Assist: Koni De Winter) |
| 90+4' | Rafael Leão(Assist: Christopher Nkunku) |
Match statistic
47
Possession %
53
15
Total shots
20
3
Shots on target
6
7
Shots off target
9
5
Blocked shots
5
6
Corners
7
2
Offsides
3
14
Fouls
10
USC
MIL
Starting lineups
1
Emil Audero
Goalkeeper
55
Francesco Folino
Defender
3
Giuseppe Pezzella
Defender
15
Matteo Bianchetti
Defender
66′
5
Sebastiano Luperto
Defender
27
Jari Vandeputte
Midfielder
82′
2
Morten Thorsby
Midfielder
29
Youssef Maleh
Midfielder
7
Alessio Zerbin
Attacker
66′
90
Federico Bonazzoli
Attacker
10
Jamie Vardy
Attacker
66′
16
Mike Maignan
Goalkeeper
33
Davide Bartesaghi
Defender
89′
23
Fikayo Tomori
Defender
78′
5
Koni De Winter
Defender
31
Strahinja Pavlovic
Defender
12
Adrien Rabiot
Midfielder
56
Alexis Saelemaekers
Midfielder
62′
14
Luka Modric
Midfielder
19
Youssouf Fofana
Midfielder
62′
11
Christian Pulisic
Attacker
78′
10
Rafael Leão
Attacker
Substitutes
69
Lapo Nava
Goalkeeper
16
Marco Silvestri
Goalkeeper
99
Antonio Sanabria
Attacker
23
Federico Ceccherini
Defender
38
Warren Bondo
Midfielder
32
Martín Payero
Midfielder
22
Romano Floriani Mussolini
Defender
30
Mika Faye
Defender
24
Filippo Terracciano
Midfielder
66′
9
Milan Djuric
Attacker
66′
4
Tommaso Barbieri
Defender
66′
33
Alberto Grassi
Midfielder
82′
1
Pietro Terracciano
Goalkeeper
30
Ardon Jashari
Midfielder
37
Matteo Pittarella
Goalkeeper
27
David Odogu
Defender
4
Samuele Ricci
Midfielder
62′
9
Niclas Füllkrug
Attacker
62′
18
Christopher Nkunku
Attacker
78′
24
Zachary Athekame
Defender
78′
2
Pervis Estupiñán
Defender
89′
