AC Milan 1-0 Lazio Player Ratings: Leao Rated 8.5/10 as His Strike Secures Narrow 1-0 Win

AC Milan ultimately ground out a narrow 1-0 victory over a lazyLazio side. The difference, as is so often the case, was a single moment of brilliance. Rafael Leão provided that moment, striking decisively early in the second half. However, the victory was built on a formidable defensive foundation, with the backline looking almost impenetrable. From our perspective, Lazio certainly had their opportunities and will feel hard done by.

The visitors fought hard, and the creative influence of Toma Basic was evident throughout, but they lacked that crucial cutting edge in front of goal. This match served as a stark reminder that games at this level are won and lost in the penalty boxes. Milan were clinical when it mattered most, and that was enough to seal the three points.

Here are AC Milan Vs Lazio Player Ratings

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Lazio

Here are AC Milan Player Ratings vs Lazio

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 7.5: A commanding presence in goal. He made three crucial saves, including a fantastic stop from a Mario Gila header early on. His distribution was solid, keeping a well-deserved clean sheet. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure, he never looked flustered.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 8.0: A colossal performance and our man of the match. He provided the assist for the winning goal with a great cross. Defensively, he was a rock, winning four of his five tackles. He read the game beautifully, making several key interventions. This was a true leader's display from the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Matteo Gabbia - 7.0: A very solid partner for Tomori. He was comfortable on the ball with 90% pass accuracy and made five vital clearances. He won the majority of his duels and contributed to a dominant defensive effort. He almost looked like he was enjoying the physical battle.

Strahinja Pavlović - 6.5: A steady and reliable performance from the defender. He was tidy in possession, completing 94% of his passes. He held his position well and won his fair share of duels. It wasn't a spectacular outing, but he did his job effectively without any major errors.

Davide Bartesaghi - 7.0: A constant creative threat from the back. He was a machine down the flank, delivering eight crosses and creating four chances for his teammates. While his final product could still be refined, his energy and attacking intent were impressive. We noticed he was always looking to make something happen.

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot - 7.0: A typical industrious performance from the Frenchman. He controlled the middle of the park, worked tirelessly, and drew three fouls to relieve pressure. He was solid defensively and kept things ticking over. From our perspective, he provided the balance Milan needed.

Luka Modrić - 6.5: Dictated the pace of the game from deep. He had the most touches on the pitch and recovered the ball an incredible ten times. A rare error did lead to a shot, which slightly blemishes his performance. Otherwise, he was a class act, pulling the strings as expected.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.0: It was a mixed bag for Fofana. He worked hard and made some good ball recoveries. However, he was also quite wasteful in possession, losing the ball 13 times before being substituted. He struggled to impose himself on the game.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 6.5: He was busy and full of running, as always. He contributed defensively with six ball recoveries. However, he offered very little in the final third and his end product was lacking. We expected more of an impact from him going forward.

Forwards

Christopher Nkunku - 7.0: His quality was clear to see. He boasted a perfect 100% pass accuracy and created three key chances for his team. He was surprisingly dispossessed only once. While he drifted in and out of the game, his moments of quality were undeniable.

Rafael Leão - 8.5: The match-winner. He wasn't always in the thick of the action, but he was deadly when it counted. He took his goal with composure and was a constant menace with five shots in total. When Milan needed a hero, he stepped up.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.0: He set his team up perfectly for this kind of contest. The defensive structure was immaculate, and they were clinical enough to take one of their chances. It was a classic Allegri victory, built on pragmatism and discipline. Job done.

Lazio Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Here are Lazio Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Goalkeeper

Ivan Provedel - 6.5: He couldn't have done much about Leão's close-range finish. He made a couple of important saves to keep his team in the contest, including a strong stop to deny a Leão header. It was a respectable performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Alessio Romagnoli - 7.0: Lazio's standout defender against his former club. He read the game superbly, making three interceptions and recovering the ball eight times. He was composed and assured throughout. It felt like he was on a personal mission to keep his old team out.

Mario Gila - 7.0: A very strong showing. He was a major threat from set-pieces, and was unlucky not to score early on. Defensively, he was a beast, winning four of his five aerial duels and making some crucial tackles. He can hold his head high after that performance.

Luca Pellegrini - 5.5: A very difficult evening for the fullback. He received a yellow card and seemed to struggle with the pace of the game. What stood out to us was his tendency to lose the ball, giving it away a shocking 15 times. He never looked comfortable.

Adam Marusic - 6.0: A quiet and functional performance. He was solid enough in his defensive duties but offered very little going forward. He won a few duels but failed to make any significant impact on the game. An average day at the office.

Midfielders

Matías Vecino - 6.0: He was very neat and tidy in possession, completing 93% of his passes. He helped Lazio control the ball for spells. However, he provided little attacking thrust before he was substituted. A safe but uninspiring performance.

Toma Bašić - 7.5: Easily Lazio's best player on the night. He was the creative hub of the team, creating two big chances and constantly looking to unlock the Milan defence. It was a frustrating night for him as his forwards couldn't convert the chances he made. He deserved more from this game.

Mattéo Guendouzi - 6.0: Full of energy and effort as usual. He kept the ball moving and worked hard for the team. However, his influence in the final third was minimal. It was a performance that was more about industry than inspiration.

Forwards

Mattia Zaccagni - 6.0: From our perspective, this was a frustrating display. He showed great work rate, recovering the ball eight times. But he was incredibly wasteful, losing possession 16 times and missing a big chance. His final decision-making let him down repeatedly.

Gustav Isaksen - 5.5: He got into some dangerous areas but lacked the composure to make it count. He had a couple of wild shots off target and struggled to make an impact. A disappointing outing where he failed to trouble the scorers.

Boulaye Dia - 5.5: He was virtually anonymous for much of the match. He had very few touches and lost four of his five duels. He offered no threat before being taken off. I was really disappointed by his lack of involvement.

Manager

M. Sarri - 6.0: His tactical setup allowed Lazio to create several good opportunities. However, his team's profligacy in front of goal cost them dearly. He will be frustrated that his side couldn't find a way to score despite having their moments to do so.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Rafael Leao