AC Milan 1-0 Roma Player Ratings: Maignan Rated 9/10 as His Heroics Secure Narrow 1-0 Win

In a tense and dramatic Serie A encounter, Milan eked out a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Roma. The match, played at the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, was a classic Italian tactical battle. It was ultimately decided by fine margins and moments of individual brilliance and error.

The decisive moment came late in the first half. Strahinja Pavlovic found the back of the net to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. However, the story of the match was one of two goalkeepers and a missed penalty. Roma were handed a golden opportunity to equalize late in the game, but Paulo Dybala saw his spot-kick heroically saved by the outstanding Mike Maignan.

What stood out to us was Roma's inability to capitalize on their chances. They created several clear openings but lacked the composure to convert. Milan, on the other hand, were clinical when it mattered most. They absorbed pressure and struck at the perfect time, a hallmark of an Allegri side. This match will be remembered for Maignan's stunning save, which proved just as valuable as the winning goal.

Here are AC Milan Vs Roma Player Ratings

Roma Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Here are Roma Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Goalkeeper

Mile Svilar - 7.5: He was a busy man and really kept Roma in the contest for large periods. Pulled off an impressive six saves, several of which were top-drawer. What stood out was his save from Nkunku in the first half. He couldn't do anything about the goal, left completely exposed by his defense. A strong performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Evan Ndicka - 6.5: A solid and physically imposing display from the defender. He won the majority of his duels (9 out of 12) and made six crucial clearances. However, he'll be disappointed he couldn't convert one of his two headed chances from set-pieces. A decent outing, but lacked that decisive touch in the opposition box.

Mario Hermoso - 6.0: A mixed performance from Hermoso. He made a vital clearance off the line which was a huge moment. However, he struggled at times with Milan's movement and picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking. Not his best day.

Gianluca Mancini - 7.0: A typically combative performance from the Italian. He was everywhere at the back, winning all four of his tackles and making four interceptions. We noticed his leadership and aggression were key in organizing the backline. He even created a chance, showing his range, but his efforts weren't enough to secure a clean sheet.

Midfielders

Bryan Cristante - 7.0: The captain led by example in the middle of the park. His passing was almost flawless, with a 94% accuracy rate. He was the creative spark for Roma, creating three key chances for his teammates. What stood out was his composure on the ball under pressure. A very reliable performance.

Neil El Aynaoui - 6.0: He was lively during his 51 minutes on the pitch, showing some nice touches and creating two chances. However, he picked up a needless yellow card and was a little erratic. From our perspective, his substitution was justified as he seemed to be walking a tightrope. A flash of potential without the final product.

Manu Koné - 6.0: Incredibly tidy in possession, completing 98% of his passes which is just phenomenal. Despite this, his overall impact on the game was minimal. We expected more drive and forward thrust from him. He kept the ball moving but rarely penetrated the Milan defense, making for a quiet afternoon.

Zeki Çelik - 5.5: A difficult day for Çelik. He was loose in possession, losing the ball 11 times, and his crossing was wayward. He struggled to contain Milan's left side and eventually received a yellow card for a frustrated foul. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Wesley - 6.0: A very energetic but ultimately frustrating performance. He got into some great positions on the left flank but his final ball was consistently poor, completing only one of five crosses. The winger also lost possession 13 times and was booked. He needs to add more quality to his game.

Forwards

Matías Soulé - 6.5: Looked like Roma's most dangerous attacker before he was surprisingly subbed off after 51 minutes. He was direct, created two chances, and had a good shot saved by Maignan. We were a bit confused by his withdrawal as he seemed to be causing problems.

Paulo Dybala - 4.5: An absolute shocker of a game from a player of his quality. The missed penalty was the obvious, devastating lowlight. But beyond that, he missed another big chance and lost the ball 13 times. He just never looked confident, and his body language screamed frustration. A day he will want to forget immediately.

Substitutes

Lorenzo Pellegrini - 6.0: Came on and tried to inject some creativity. Had a long-range shot saved but couldn't unlock the stubborn Milan defense.

Leon Bailey - 5.5: Replaced Soulé but failed to have the same impact. He was caught offside and couldn't provide the spark Roma needed.

Artem Dovbyk - N/A: Brought on with very little time remaining and had no opportunity to influence the proceedings.

Manager

G. Gasperini - 5.5: His game plan created enough chances to get at least a point, if not all three. He can't be blamed for Dybala's penalty miss. However, the decision to take off Soulé was a questionable one from our perspective. Ultimately, his team lacked the killer instinct in front of goal.

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Roma

Here are AC Milan Player Ratings vs Roma

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. An absolutely colossal performance. The penalty save from Dybala was the match-winning moment, pure and simple. On top of that, he made seven saves in total, commanded his box with authority, and his distribution was solid. He won the game for Milan today.

Defenders

Koni De Winter - 6.5: A quiet but effective performance from the defender. He didn't do anything flashy, but he didn't make any mistakes either. He was positionally sound and made four clearances. A solid, professional job done.

Strahinja Pavlović - 8.0: The match-winner at one end and a rock at the other. He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned striker on a quick counterattack. Defensively, he was strong, winning a majority of his aerial duels and making five clearances. A truly fantastic, all-action display.

Matteo Gabbia - 7.0: A no-nonsense, old-school defensive performance. He was a beast in the air, winning three aerial duels and making six clearances. He kept things simple and did the dirty work effectively. Roma's forwards got very little change out of him all game.

Midfielders

Samuele Ricci - 6.5: A bundle of energy in the Milan midfield. He won an impressive seven duels and made three tackles, breaking up play effectively. He'll be disappointed to have missed a big chance, but his defensive contribution was invaluable. A real team player.

Luka Modrić - 7.0: Class is permanent. The veteran midfielder dictated the tempo of the game for Milan. His range of passing was superb, and he created two chances, including a big one. He controlled the game with his intelligence and experience. A joy to watch.

Youssouf Fofana - 4.0: A disastrous performance and the clear weak link for Milan. He was clumsy, committed four fouls, and his game culminated in conceding a penalty for a blatant handball. He looked completely off the pace and was lucky not to cost his team the win. The worst performer on the pitch by a distance.

Davide Bartesaghi - 6.0: A game of two halves for the midfielder. He worked tirelessly and got into good areas, but his final product was extremely poor. We counted 16 lost possessions, which is far too many. His work rate was commendable, but he needs to show more quality on the ball.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 7.5: A constant thorn in Roma's side. He was a dribbling machine, winning 10 of his 15 duels and drawing three fouls. His direct running and trickery created chaos for the opposition defense. He brought energy and unpredictability to Milan's attack.

Forwards

Rafael Leão - 7.0: While he didn't score, he was instrumental in the victory, providing the assist for the winning goal. He was a constant threat with his pace and power, though he was guilty of missing a big chance himself. He lost possession a lot, but that's the risk you take with such a direct player. A decisive contribution.

Christopher Nkunku - 6.5: He linked the play intelligently and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. He created two chances and also hit the woodwork. He was always moving, looking for pockets of space, but it just wasn't his day in front of goal. A good performance that deserved a goal.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.5: A classic Allegri masterclass in securing a 1-0 win. His team was set up to be defensively sound and ruthless on the counter. They absorbed pressure, took their one big chance, and relied on their goalkeeper to be the hero. The plan worked to perfection. He'll be delighted with the grit his team showed.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Maignan