AC Milan 1-0 Lazio: Leao strike sends Allegri's side to Serie A summit amid late drama
Rafael Leao was the hero at San Siro, where his second-half goal was enough to see AC Milan edge out Lazio and go top of Serie A.
Rafael Leao sent AC Milan top of Serie A, as they held on for a dramatic 1-0 victory over Lazio at San Siro.
Leao 's second-half strike proved to be the difference between the sides, but only after the visitors were denied a last-gasp penalty following a VAR review.
Lazio went close to breaking the deadlock inside two minutes, but Mike Maignan produced a magnificent reflex save to keep out Mario Gila's header.
Mattia Zaccagni also called Maignan into action at his near post later in the first half, but it was Milan who broke through six minutes after the break.
A lovely one-touch move sent Fikayo Tomori clear down the right, and his cross was bundled home by Leao from close range.
Leao was denied a second goal soon after, with his header turned away by Ivan Provedel. Yet, his earlier strike proved decisive, despite Lazio thinking they would have a chance to snatch a point right at the death.
Referee Giuseppe Collu was sent to his pitchside monitor in the 100th minute, after Strahinja Pavlovic appeared to handle in the box, with Massimiliano Allegri's frustrations leading to him being shown a red card.
However, the official opted to award Milan a free-kick, deeming Adam Marusic to have dragged the Rossoneri defender to the ground. The hosts breathed a huge sigh of relief as they held on for yet another 1-0 win.
Data Debrief: Leao matches Immobile and Lautaro
Milan have kept seven clean sheets in their opening 13 games of a Serie A season for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign.
Leao was the hero, courtesy of his 101st direct goal involvement for the Rossoneri in Serie A (60 goals, 41 assists).
He is the fourth player to surpass 100 with a single team since his debut in the 2019-20 season, after Domenico Berardi (115 with Sassuolo), Ciro Immobile (125 with Lazio) and Lautaro Martinez (139 with Inter).
The Rossoneri, who did muster 16 shots to Lazio's nine, have claimed the most points against current top-10 sides in Serie A this term, with 19 from seven games.
