MILAN – A late goal from Luka Modrić secured a 2-1 victory for AC Milan against Pisa at the San Siro on Saturday, extending Milan’s lead in the Serie A title race. The win, however, was marred by a late red card for Milan’s Rabiot, leaving the team facing potential disciplinary action.
Pisa, despite being bottom of the league, unsettled Milan early in the match. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was forced into a crucial save in the 29th minute, denying a scoring opportunity for Stojlkovic after a penetrating pass into the Milan area. Milan responded ten minutes later when Rafael Leão’s replacement, Loftus-Cheek, headed in a cross from Athekame, opening the scoring for the home side.
The second half began with controversy. Rabiot appeared to have doubled Milan’s advantage, but the goal was disallowed after a handball was called on Fulkrug, who had just entered the game as a substitute. Further frustration followed for Milan when Fulkrug’s penalty, earned by Pavlovic, struck the base of the post, remaining saved by Pisa’s goalkeeper, Nicolas.
Capitalizing on Milan’s misfortune, Pisa equalized in the 70th minute through Loyola, prompting Milan manager Allegri to make tactical changes, bringing on Ricci and Leao for Fofana and Loftus-Cheek and later Pulisic for Athekame. Despite these adjustments, Milan struggled to regain control until Modrić’s decisive intervention.
In the 82nd minute, Modrić skillfully navigated through the Pisa defense and slotted the ball into the net, restoring Milan’s lead. The goal, described as a “golden ball” moment, proved to be the match-winner. However, the victory was overshadowed by Rabiot’s dismissal in the final minutes of the game. He received a second yellow card after protesting a prior foul call, leaving Milan to finish the match with ten men.
The match also marked the debut of Nicolas in goal for Pisa, due to injuries to the team’s regular goalkeepers, and the team wore a limited-edition all-black fourth kit. According to ESPN, the final score was 6-2 in a previous encounter between the two teams on January 23, 2026, a stark contrast to the tightly contested match on Saturday.
Allegri now faces concerns regarding Rabiot’s suspension and the team’s performance as they prepare for upcoming matches against Como and Parma. The incident leaves the disciplinary fate of Rabiot unresolved, and the team’s ability to maintain its position at the top of Serie A remains to be seen.
