The storied San Siro was alive with tension and drama on February 18, 2026, as AC Milan and Como played to a 1-1 draw in a rescheduled Serie A Matchday 24 fixture that left title ambitions hanging in the balance. With the league campaign entering its decisive phase and the city of Milan abuzz after the stadium’s recent hosting of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, the stakes for both sides could hardly have been higher.
For Milan, chasing city rivals Inter at the summit of Serie A, this was a golden opportunity to close the gap. Instead, a night of missed chances, tactical chess, and frayed tempers saw the Rossoneri drop two crucial points, leaving them seven adrift of the leaders and just four ahead of a resurgent Napoli. Como, managed by former World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas, seized their moment to snatch a share of the spoils, keeping their European hopes flickering and climbing to sixth, just five points shy of the Champions League places.
From the outset, the San Siro crowd sensed the magnitude of the occasion. Milan, unbeaten in 23 consecutive league games and boasting a dominant record at home, fielded a 3-5-2 formation with Maignan in goal; Tomori, De Winter, and Pavlović in defense; and a midfield anchored by Jashari, Modrić, and Ricci. Up front, Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku led the line, but the absence of American star Christian Pulisic from the starting XI was the talk of the terraces and press box alike.
Pulisic’s exclusion was not tactical but medical. As coach Massimiliano Allegri explained before kickoff, “Aside from Rabiot, who is suspended, the others feel quite well. Saelemaekers is available, and I hope the same goes for Pulisic, because he still feels discomfort. Let’s see if he’ll be there.” The 27-year-old winger, despite tallying 10 goals in all competitions this season, has struggled with recurring muscle problems, and Allegri opted to manage his workload carefully with the season’s most critical fixtures looming.
The opening exchanges were cagey, with both sides probing for weaknesses. Como, lining up in their own 3-5-2 under Fabregas, looked to weather Milan’s early pressure and strike on the break. The visitors thought they’d drawn first blood in the 25th minute when Vojvoda curled a right-footed shot past Maignan, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside after a VAR review. Milan, momentarily rattled, responded with a spell of sustained possession, but Butez in the Como goal proved equal to Tomori’s fierce volley, tipping it out for a corner.
Then, disaster struck for the hosts. In the 32nd minute, Milan’s usually reliable goalkeeper Maignan made a calamitous error, misplacing a pass straight into the path of Nico Paz. The Argentine youngster, alert and composed, coolly slotted home to put Como 1-0 up. It was Paz’s 10th goal of the season—a remarkable tally for the 21-year-old, and one that sent the Como bench into raptures. “It’s child’s play to put the ball in the net and score the 1-0 goal,” observed one commentator, capturing the sense of disbelief rippling through the stadium.
Milan, stung by the setback, pressed forward with renewed urgency. However, their efforts continued to be thwarted by Butez, and the first half ended with the Rossoneri trailing. Compounding their woes, Pavlović was forced off at halftime after battling through pain from a first-half challenge. Gabbia replaced him at the break, as Allegri sought to steady the ship.
After the interval, Milan’s intent was clear. Allegri, animated on the touchline, urged his side forward. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 64th minute with a counterattack of breathtaking precision. Fofana won the ball deep in Milan’s half and released Jashari, whose perfectly weighted long ball found Leao surging past Ramon. The Portuguese forward, in full flight, deftly chipped the onrushing Butez to level the score at 1-1. The San Siro erupted—hope was rekindled.
With momentum swinging their way, Milan pressed for a winner. Fofana nearly put the hosts ahead with a close-range header from a Saelemaekers cross, only for Butez to deny him again. Moments later, Gabbia’s flick-on found Leao, whose header struck the post—though the flag was up for offside. Como, not content to settle, responded through Douvikas, whose header forced Maignan into a vital save, but the forward too was ruled offside.
The match’s intensity boiled over in the 80th minute. A heated exchange between Saelemaekers and Fabregas on the touchline escalated, drawing both benches into the fray. Allegri, visibly frustrated, left his technical area to intervene and was promptly sent off by referee Mariani. “I literally did nothing,” Allegri protested as he trudged down the tunnel. Como’s team manager, Davide Cattaneo, was also dismissed amidst the chaos.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were left to rue what might have been. Milan’s draw, while extending their unbeaten run, felt more like a missed opportunity in the title chase. “Decisive for the Scudetto tonight? Absolutely not, it’s a three-point game,” said Igli Tare, speaking to DAZN before kickoff. “Leao has been much better physically over the last 10 days. The problem is still there but he’s much better.”
Como, meanwhile, celebrated a hard-earned point that keeps their European ambitions alive but will have to cope without their goalscorer in the next match. Nico Paz’s booking for a foul on Nkunku means he’ll miss the upcoming clash with Juventus—another blow for Fabregas as he juggles a thin squad and a relentless fixture list. “We’re a small squad, not built to play every 3 days,” Fabregas admitted pre-match. “Today is the most important, but we can’t forget that we play again in 65 hours.”
With Inter now seven points clear at the top, the pressure mounts on Milan to rediscover their cutting edge and on Allegri to navigate a squad beset by injuries and suspensions. For Como, the draw at San Siro is a statement of intent, a sign that under Fabregas, they are no longer mere spectators in Serie A’s upper echelons.
The Scudetto race remains wide open, but after a night of high drama and raw emotion at San Siro, both Milan and Como know that every point will count in the weeks ahead.