AC Milan snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Pisa on February 13, 2026, at Arena Garibaldi, keeping their Serie A title hopes alive in a match brimming with tension, missed chances, and late heroics. The Rossoneri’s win, secured by a late Luka Modric strike, ensures they remain firmly in second place, five points behind leaders Inter and four ahead of defending champions Napoli, as the race for the Scudetto heats up.
From the outset, Milan’s approach was aggressive, with coach Massimiliano Allegri’s sideline demeanor setting the tone. Early in the match, Allegri was caught venting his frustration at Ruben Loftus-Cheek, audibly shouting, “He’s walking!” according to MilanNews. The English midfielder, deployed in a more advanced role alongside Christopher Nkunku, seemed to take the criticism to heart. In the 39th minute, Loftus-Cheek made a darting run into the box and met a pinpoint cross from Zachary Athekame, powering a header into the far corner to give Milan the lead. Allegri’s reaction was a mixture of relief and irony, reportedly exclaiming, “The first run he makes and he scores!”
Pisa, languishing at the foot of the table but showing new energy under coach Oscar Hiljemark, responded with grit. The hosts weathered further Milan pressure and began to grow into the match after halftime. A pivotal moment arrived in the 56th minute when Niclas Fullkrug, who had replaced Nkunku at the break, earned a penalty after Felipe Loyola fouled Strahinja Pavlovic in the box. Fullkrug stepped up, but his right-footed effort crashed off the left post, letting Pisa off the hook and keeping the deficit at one.
The missed penalty galvanized Pisa, who pressed forward with renewed belief. In the 71st minute, they found their reward. After a spell of pressure, Felipe Loyola—on loan from Independiente and making only his second start—pounced on a loose ball in the area and curled a composed finish into the net. It was Loyola’s first goal for Pisa, and the stadium erupted as the home side drew level, sensing a precious point within reach.
But Milan, with their experienced core, refused to be rattled. Fullkrug, eager to make amends for his earlier miss, came close again, brushing the post with a close-range effort. As the clock ticked down, it was Luka Modric, the 40-year-old maestro, who seized the moment. In the 85th minute, Modric initiated a give-and-go with Samuele Ricci at the edge of the area. Ricci, stumbling as he received the return pass, managed to nudge the ball into Modric’s path. With remarkable composure, Modric lifted his shot over the advancing keeper and into the net, restoring Milan’s lead with just five minutes to play.
Modric’s influence throughout the match was immense, earning him Man of the Match honors from Football Italia. His work rate, vision, and leadership in midfield were instrumental in both orchestrating Milan’s attacks and shoring up the defense when Pisa pressed late on. “He was everywhere tonight—defending, creating, and scoring the decisive goal,” noted one Italian pundit.
Pisa, not content to accept defeat, threw everything forward in the closing stages. Their hopes were buoyed when Milan’s Adrien Rabiot, already on a yellow card, was shown a second for dissent in stoppage time, reducing the visitors to ten men. The hosts pressed relentlessly, with Samuele Angori and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro both seeing shots blocked as Milan’s defense held firm. Despite the numerical advantage and a flurry of late corners, Pisa could not find a way through, and the final whistle was met with both relief and celebration from the traveling Milan supporters.
The result was a bitter pill for Pisa and their coach Oscar Hiljemark, who has shown promise in his early matches at the helm. Hiljemark’s tactical set-up stifled Milan for long stretches, and his players showed resilience in fighting back from a goal down. Felipe Loyola, despite conceding the penalty that Fullkrug missed, redeemed himself with a goal and a tireless defensive display, earning praise from across the Italian press. “He worked hard defensively and took his chance brilliantly,” wrote one match analyst, highlighting Loyola as Pisa’s standout performer.
For Milan, the victory was not without its blemishes. Allegri’s side showed moments of vulnerability, particularly after the missed penalty, and the sending-off of Rabiot is a concern with crucial fixtures ahead. Fullkrug’s struggles in front of goal—missing a penalty and squandering another golden opportunity—will undoubtedly be a talking point among supporters and pundits alike. Yet the resilience to grind out a win, even when reduced to ten men, speaks to the squad’s character and experience.
The match also saw several tactical adjustments from Allegri, with substitutions including Christian Pulisic for Athekame and Rafael Leão for Loftus-Cheek, as Milan sought to inject fresh legs and preserve their advantage. On the Pisa side, Hiljemark’s changes—bringing on Samuel Iling-Junior and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro—added attacking impetus, but ultimately fell just short.
With this result, Milan keep their title ambitions alive, moving four points clear of Napoli and setting up a tantalizing weekend in Serie A, as Inter face Juventus and Napoli host Roma. The Rossoneri’s blend of youth and experience, exemplified by Loftus-Cheek’s dynamism and Modric’s enduring class, continues to serve them well as the season enters its decisive phase.
Pisa, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table but can take heart from their spirited display. Under Hiljemark’s guidance and with emerging talents like Loyola, they will hope to build on this performance in their fight for survival.
As the dust settles on a dramatic night in Tuscany, Milan’s fans can savor a hard-fought win, while Pisa’s faithful will wonder what might have been had fortune favored them in those crucial moments.