The San Siro was alive with tension, drama, and a flurry of attacking football as AC Milan and Genoa played out a heart-stopping 1-1 draw on January 8, 2026, in Serie A’s midweek matchday 19. The Rossoneri, hungry to keep pace in the Scudetto race, welcomed a Genoa side desperate for points to stave off relegation fears. What unfolded was a contest that left both teams with a bittersweet taste, and the rest of the league with plenty to talk about.
For Milan, this clash was more than just another fixture. Massimiliano Allegri’s men, still chasing Inter at the top of the table, were riding a remarkable 16-match unbeaten streak in Serie A—their only defeat coming way back on the opening day against Cremonese. The stakes were high, with Milan eager to reduce the gap to their city rivals, and Genoa fighting to avoid being sucked into the bottom three. The visitors, coached by Daniele De Rossi, hadn’t tasted victory in four league outings and arrived at San Siro sitting 17th, a mere two points above the drop zone.
Team news brought a buzz of anticipation: for only the second time this Serie A season, Milan could start both Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao together. The Rossoneri lined up in a 3-5-2, featuring Maignan in goal, a back three of Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlović, with Bartesaghi and Saelemaekers providing the width. Fofana, Modrić, and Rabiot anchored the midfield, while Pulisic and Leao spearheaded the attack. Genoa mirrored the formation, with Leali between the posts, Marcandalli, Østigård, and Vásquez in defense, and Colombo and Vitinha leading their line.
The action was frenetic from the start. Genoa, perhaps emboldened by their underdog status, struck first. In the 28th minute, Lorenzo Colombo seized his moment, firing home to give the visitors a shock lead. The goal rattled Milan, but they responded with wave after wave of attacks. By the end of the night, the Rossoneri had racked up an astonishing 32 shots—their highest tally in a Serie A match since April 2022. Yet, Genoa’s defense, marshaled by Leali and his backline, held firm for long stretches, frustrating the home side’s creative efforts.
As the clock ticked down, it looked as though Milan’s unbeaten run might finally be under threat. But Rafael Leao, in red-hot form at San Siro, had other ideas. With the match deep into stoppage time—92 minutes played—Leao rose to meet a corner, planting a powerful header past Leali to send the home fans into raptures. That goal marked his fifth in as many home Serie A appearances, matching Moise Kean’s league-best run since October 2025. The equalizer also meant Milan had now avoided defeat in 17 consecutive league games, their best such run in a single season since May 2004.
The drama, though, was far from over. With virtually the last kick of the game, Genoa were handed a golden opportunity to snatch all three points. Milan defender Davide Bartesaghi, who had been relentless on the flank—making at least 20 crosses, a feat for Milan last matched by David Beckham in 2010—was adjudged to have fouled Ellertsson in the area. Referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot, and after a tense VAR review, the penalty stood. Genoa’s Nicolae Stanciu stepped up, but the pressure proved too much; his effort sailed high over the bar, sparking disbelief among the Genoa bench and relief for Milan. Milan keeper Maignan, booked for his protests during the melee, could only watch as the point was secured.
Both managers were candid after the final whistle. Daniele De Rossi, whose side remain winless in five but showed real fight, reflected, “It was a fair draw. They (Milan) didn’t deserve to lose in the second half, but we deserved to win. We had a great first half against a very strong team, but there’s a lot of bitterness when a game ends like that.” De Rossi also explained his decision to let Stanciu take the penalty: “Before the game, we had two penalty takers: Malinovskyi and Martin, but I brought them both off. It was my choice because I’ve seen how he takes them in training and has an incredible shot. I’m sorry for him because he’s a great guy, who never lowers his professionalism, even if he isn’t playing. He deserved to celebrate, as did the others given the game we played.”
On the Milan side, Allegri—marking his 200th match as Milan coach, a unique milestone as he’s also reached 420 with Juventus—was pragmatic about the result. “In football, you take whatever the result gives you. We have to take the positives from this match. They were very good at shutting us down. We found ourselves in favourable positions despite a very tricky first half, but then went and conceded that goal. They dropped in intensity in the second half, and we increased. The thing that we have to improve on is our patience against these low-block teams so that we don’t leave ourselves exposed on the counter-attack, which is how we risked losing this game. It’s a lesson in maturity if we want to achieve our goal, which is to finish in the top four. We have to improve. We didn’t have enough patience, we were too hasty and haste leads nowhere.”
The statistics told their own story. Milan’s 32 shots highlighted their attacking intent but also underlined the doggedness of Genoa’s defense. Bartesaghi’s crossing masterclass was a throwback to Beckham’s days in red and black, and Leao’s scoring streak at home keeps him among the league’s elite finishers. For Genoa, the missed penalty will sting, but their resilience and ability to trouble one of Italy’s best sides could prove vital in their survival bid.
As the dust settled, the draw left Milan still unbeaten and within touching distance of Inter, but ruing another missed chance to close the gap. Genoa, meanwhile, remain just above the relegation zone, but with renewed belief they can battle their way to safety. With both teams set for crucial fixtures ahead, this wild night at San Siro might just be remembered as a turning point in their respective seasons.