Milan’s Scudetto dream crumbled as soon as it had opened up, as Gustav Isaksen gave Lazio the 1-0 victory, and Rafael Leao reacted angrily to a substitution.
The Rossoneri blew the Scudetto race open with their victory in the Derby della Madonnina and were handed another big opportunity to close the gap after Inter drew 1-1 with Atalanta yesterday. Adrien Rabiot sat out a ban, with Matteo Gabbia, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Santiago Gimenez injured, so Ardon Jashari stepped into midfield. The Aquile ended their negative streak by beating Sassuolo 2-1, but more importantly the ultras suspended their boycott and returned to the Stadio Olimpico. Danilo Cataldi joined Alessio Romagnoli, Ivan Provedel, Toma Basic, Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot on the treatment table, so Gil Patric took on a new midfield role.
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See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: SS Lazio fans prior to the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Pervis Estupinan saw his diving header flash wide from an Alexis Saelemaekers cross, but moments later Kenneth Taylor smacked a shot against the crossbar from a tricky angle after good work from Daniel Maldini.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Kenneth Taylor of SS Lazio kicks the ball during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
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Lazio had been repeatedly attacking Estupinan down the right flank and it paid off, as he stumbled when Gustav Isaksen got onto a long Adam Marusic ball, beating Mike Maignan one-on-one at the near post.
Maldini also held off Koni De Winter to test Maignan on another counter-attack, but after the restart Edoardo Motta flew for a one-handed save on Christian Pulisic’s strike, with Youssouf Fofana’s weak follow-up header.
At the other end, Dele-Bashiru flashed a ball across the face of goal, then as the move concluded, Maignan had to be alert to prevent Estupinan nodding into his own net.
Mario Gila crucially prevented Leao from going clear on the Fofana through ball, then Motta punched a dangerous Pulisic cross off Leao’s head before the American blasted the rebound over.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio battles for possession with Luka Modric and Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
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Rafael Leao was substituted and clearly unhappy with the decision, as Maignan had to rush over to push him off the field while he reacted with irritation when hugged by Max Allegri.
Zachary Athekame’s volley was charged down by Taylor just inside the area, then on 75 minutes Athekame fired in a splendid strike from a corner, but it was disallowed because it struck his arm as he tried to control and turn. If the ball makes contact with the arm just before scoring a goal, then intentionality is irrelevant.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Nuno Tavares of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Fikayo Tomori of AC MIlan during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
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Milan poured forward with a series of corners, Motta punching one off the head of Pavlovic, then Luka Modric fired over from the edge of the area after the referee got in his way.
Nuno Tavares flashed a ball across the six-yard box just beyond Boulaye Dia, while Ardon Jashari blasted wide. Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri saw red for dissent deep into stoppages.
Lazio 1-0 Milan
Isaksen 26 (L)
