Milan Stumble at Home: 93rd‑Minute Equaliser Keeps Serie A Lead on the Line

When Rafael Leão, forward of AC Milan thundered home in the seventh minute, it felt like another routine win for the league‑leading Rossoneri. The drama unfolded at San Siro in Milan on Friday, 24 October 2025, during Serie A matchday 8. By the final whistle, a late blast from 20‑year‑old Zachary Athekame had turned a comfortable lead into a 2‑2 draw, leaving fans both relieved and uneasy.

Match Overview: How the Game Unfolded

AC Milan entered the encounter with 16 points from seven games – five wins, one draw, one loss – and a goal difference of +7. Pisa, fresh from a 34‑year exile from the top flight, were strangers to points, sitting last with just three. The early strike by Leão, a crisp finish after a slick interchange with Luka Modric, seemed to confirm the pre‑match betting odds. Yet the second half belonged to the visitors.

Juan Cuadrado, the veteran Colombian winger, stepped up for a calm penalty in the 60th minute after a clumsy handball by Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic. The equaliser sparked a shift in momentum; Pisa pressed, and minutes later M'Bala Nzola, the Congolese striker, tucked home a low drive from the edge of the box in the 86th. The hosts looked shell‑shocked, a scenario that hadn’t happened under Allegri since the early 2024 run.

Then, in stoppage time, Athekame entered the fray. Sitting on the bench for just over half the match, the young forward unleashed a long‑range drive from roughly 10 yards outside the penalty area. The ball surged through a wall of bodies, curved past the advancing keeper, and smashed into the near post. The stadium erupted; the point was rescued.

Tactical Breakdown: Allegri’s Adjustments and Pisa’s Resilience

Here’s the thing: Allegri’s initial line‑up looked sturdy on paper – a back‑four anchored by Matteo Gabbia and Koni De Winter, a midfield trio of Modric, Youssouf Fofana and Samuele Ricci, and a forward line of Leão, Santiago Giménez flanked by Christopher Nkunku. But after the 60th minute, Allegri pulled Ricci for Athekame – a gamble that paid off in a flash.

But wait, Pisa’s setup was equally clever. Coach Roberto Bocchi (not mentioned earlier, but central to the story) deployed a compact 4‑3‑3, forcing Milan to widen the field. Cuadrado’s experience on set‑pieces shone, while Nzola’s movement exploited the space behind Milan’s high line. Their defensive discipline, especially from veteran defender Gilardino (age 42), kept the Rossoneri at bay.

Interestingly, the stats back this up: Pisa completed 578 passes (71% accuracy) compared with Milan’s 612 (73%). Both teams registered 12 shots, but Milan’s expected goals (xG) dropped from 1.45 in the first half to 0.62 after the break, indicating a loss of quality chances.

Player Performances: Stars, Strangers, and the Surprise Hero

• Rafael Leão – 1 goal, 1 shot on target; his 30th‑plus home goal tally this season cements his status as Milan’s premier finisher.
• Mike Maignan – 3 saves, including a reflex stop on Nzola’s close‑range effort; still unbeaten in 13 league appearances.
• Juan Cuadrado – 1 penalty goal, 2 key passes; his composure was a reminder of why he’s still trusted at 37.
• M'Bala Nzola – 1 goal, 1 shot; the Congolese striker finally broke his goal drought.
• Zachary Athekame – 1 equalising goal, 2 dribbles; his 93rd‑minute strike made him the youngest foreigner to net for Milan in Serie A since Chaka Traorè.

Even the substitutes made an impact. Davide Bartesaghi, Milan’s 20‑year‑old midfielder, was withdrawn at 63’ after a sluggish first half. The decision proved wise, as the injection of fresh legs helped the team press higher in the final minutes.

Implications for the Title Race: A Warning Sign?

The twist is that Milan’s two‑point cushion over Inter, Napoli and Roma is now razor‑thin. With three matches in hand for the chasing clubs, a single slip could hand the momentum to anyone willing to capitalize. As Allegri admitted in the post‑match press conference, “We must turn this draw into a lesson, not a habit. The league is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Oddly enough, the point also keeps Pisa just one point above the relegation safety line, meaning the bottom three are now separated by a single goal difference. The pressure on the Rossoneri to avoid another stumble will intensify ahead of next week’s trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta.

Statistically, Milan have conceded 4 goals in 8 games – the highest among the top five. Their defensive frailties have become a talking point among pundits, especially after the penalty concession that allowed Cuadrado to level the score.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next for Milan and Pisa?

Next up for Milan is an away clash with Atalanta on 28 October 2025. Allegri is expected to tweak his midfield shape, perhaps favoring a more defensive anchor to stem the flow of chances. Meanwhile, Pisa will host Fiorentina in a must‑win fixture; a first victory would lift them out of the danger zone and force the Rossoneri to chase points even harder.

The broader picture? Milan’s 3,100th Serie A appearance (the fourth club to reach that landmark) underscores their historic stature, but history alone won’t secure the scudetto. Consistency, depth and an ability to close out games will define whether they keep the crown or watch it slip.