AC Milan 1-1 Genoa Player Ratings: Rafael Leao's Last Minute Header Equalises for Hosts at San Siro

Genoa were denied a famous win as AC Milan held them to a dramatic 1–1 draw at San Siro. Nicolae Stanciu missed a stoppage-time penalty after Davide Bartesaghi fouled Mikael Ellertsson. The midfielder sent his effort over the bar. Moments earlier, Rafael Leão had equalised with a header, cancelling out Lorenzo Colombo’s first-half goal.

Milan pushed hard and struck the woodwork twice through Matteo Gabbia, while Niclas Füllkrug also went close. Despite dominating possession and chances, the Rossoneri settled for a draw. Genoa extended their strong recent record at San Siro. Here are Sportsdunia's AC Milan vs Genoa Player Ratings:

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Genoa

Check out AC Milan player ratings from Milan vs Genoa Serie A game:

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.5: From our perspective, he couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. He made one decent save from a Colombo header. Otherwise, it was a surprisingly quiet evening for the Milan captain, who mostly watched his team attack. He received a yellow card but was largely a spectator.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 7.0: A steady performance at the back. He was composed on the ball with a 93% pass accuracy, often starting attacks from deep. We noticed he was rarely troubled defensively but did his job when called upon. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Strahinja Pavlović - 7.0: A very mixed bag from the defender. He was a constant presence at both ends, attempting four shots but failing to hit the target with most. He was strong in the air, winning half his aerial duels, but also lost possession a few times. An all-action display that lacked a bit of polish.

Matteo Gabbia - 7.0: What stood out to us was his threat from set-pieces. He was incredibly unlucky to hit the post with a header. He was a physical presence before being subbed off, but his yellow card might have been a factor in the substitution. He almost got on the scoresheet twice.

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot - 8.0: A colossal performance in the middle of the park. He was an absolute machine, winning an astounding 12 out of 13 duels and making five successful tackles. He completely dominated his area of the pitch, breaking up play and driving his team forward. A truly commanding display.

Luka Modrić - 7.5: The conductor of the orchestra. He dictated the tempo with his crisp passing and created four key chances for his teammates. Everything positive for AC Milan flowed through him. His vision and control were a joy to watch throughout the game.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.0: A difficult first half for the midfielder. He struggled to make a significant impact on the game and was withdrawn at halftime. He created a couple of chances but looked a bit off the pace. An uncharacteristically quiet 45 minutes.

Davide Bartesaghi - 7.0: One of the most chaotic performances we've seen. He was a creative force, delivering a mind-boggling 21 crosses and creating eight chances, including the assist for the equalizer. However, he almost threw it all away by conceding a penalty in the final moments. His rating reflects both his brilliance and his blunder.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 6.0: We were disappointed with his contribution. He was largely anonymous before being substituted in the 65th minute. He struggled to get involved in the final third and lost possession too easily. A performance he'll want to forget.

Forwards

Rafael Leão - 8.5: The saviour for AC Milan. He was a livewire all game, constantly threatening the Genoa defence with his seven shots. After missing a big chance earlier, he showed immense character to pop up with the crucial equalizing header in stoppage time. Without him, Milan would have lost. Our man of the match.

Christian Pulisic - 8.0: He was relentless in his pursuit of a goal. He had eight shots, forced a couple of good saves, and was unlucky to have a goal disallowed by VAR. He was a constant danger and never stopped trying to make things happen. A top-tier attacking performance, despite not getting on the scoresheet officially.

Substitutes

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6.5: Came on at halftime and added more physical presence to the midfield but didn't provide the game-changing moment needed.

Niclas Füllkrug - 6.5: Added a different dimension up front but couldn't find the back of the net.

Zachary Athekame - 6.5: Had one decent shot from distance that was well saved.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.0: His team showed great character to fight back for a point. They dominated the match but lacked the clinical edge for much of it. His substitutions aimed to change the game, and eventually, the pressure paid off. He'll be relieved to have salvaged a draw from this difficult Serie A fixture.

Genoa Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Check out Genoa Player Ratings from the AC Milan vs Genoa game:

Goalkeeper

Nicola Leali - 8.0: What a performance! He was an absolute hero for Genoa, making a remarkable seven saves. Several of those stops, particularly in the second half, were world-class. He single-handedly kept his team in the game for long periods and was desperately unlucky to concede so late. A brilliant, defiant display.

Defenders

Leo Østigård - 7.5: A defensive titan. We counted 13 clearances and four blocked shots, which tells you everything about his commitment. He threw his body on the line time and time again to protect his goal. A warrior's performance at the heart of the defence.

Johan Vásquez - 7.0: The captain led by example with a composed and solid defensive shift. He made six crucial clearances and was positionally sound throughout. He organized his backline brilliantly against relentless pressure. A true captain's knock.

Alessandro Marcandalli - 7.0: Another standout in the Genoa backline. The young defender made 12 clearances and won an impressive seven duels. He was strong, aggressive, and showed maturity beyond his years. A very promising performance.

Midfielders

Morten Thorsby - 6.5: A battling display in midfield. He worked tirelessly but struggled to retain possession at times. He put in a real shift before being substituted after the hour mark. A solid, if unspectacular, contribution.

Aarón Martín - 6.5: Provided a good outlet on the flank, creating two chances and delivering some dangerous crosses. He almost scored with a shot from distance in the first half. He was a willing runner until he was replaced late on.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy - 6.0: From our perspective, he had a tough night. While he worked hard, he lost possession 17 times and made an error that led to a shot. He just seemed a little overwhelmed by the occasion at times.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 7.5: The creative spark for Genoa's goal. He delivered a perfect cross for the opener and was excellent on the ball, completing 94% of his passes. His quality was evident before he was substituted, likely to bring on fresh legs.

Morten Frendrup - 7.0: An incredibly tidy and efficient performance. He didn't misplace a single pass all game, which is remarkable under pressure. He was a calming presence in midfield, making key interceptions and clearances. An unsung hero.

Forwards

Vitinha - 6.5: A frustrating but energetic performance. He won a fantastic 12 duels and drew five fouls, making him a real handful. However, he also lost possession 17 times and struggled with his final product before being subbed off.

Lorenzo Colombo - 7.5: He took his goal brilliantly, showing great composure to give Genoa the lead. He was a constant physical presence, winning his share of aerial battles. He led the line well and gave his team an outlet until his substitution.

Substitutes

Patrizio Masini - 6.0: Came on to add energy but gave away a couple of fouls.

Mikael Ellertsson - 6.5: Won the late penalty that unfortunately wasn't converted.

Jeff Ekhator - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to rate.

Nicolae Stanciu - N/A: Brought on for the final few minutes.

Sebastian Otoa - N/A: A late defensive substitution.

Manager

D. De Rossi - 7.5: He set his team up perfectly to frustrate AC Milan. The defensive organization and counter-attacking threat were spot on. His side were moments away from a famous victory, and he deserves immense credit for his tactical approach in this match.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Rafael Leao.