On a chilly February night at Arena Garibaldi, AC Milan managed to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win over struggling Pisa, tightening their grip on second place in Serie A and keeping their title ambitions alive. The match, played on February 13, 2026, was anything but straightforward for the Rossoneri, who were made to sweat by a resilient Pisa side fighting for survival at the bottom of the table.
Massimiliano Allegri, Milan’s experienced coach, didn’t hold back with his criticism in the early stages. Cameras and microphones caught him shouting, “He’s walking!” at Ruben Loftus-Cheek, expressing frustration at the Englishman’s movement. Not content with targeting just one player, Allegri also barked at Youssouf Fofana: “Wake up! You’ve only touched the ball once so far.” The pressure was on for Milan’s midfield to deliver, and the stakes were palpable.
Despite the tough love from his coach, Loftus-Cheek responded in style. Playing in a more advanced role alongside Christopher Nkunku, the English midfielder made a decisive run into the box in the 39th minute. Zachary Athekame, marauding down the right flank, whipped in a pinpoint cross. Loftus-Cheek, towering above the Pisa defense, met the ball with a powerful header that nestled into the far corner, giving Milan a precious lead. Allegri couldn’t resist another pointed remark, reportedly shouting, “The first run he makes and he scores!” according to MilanNews.
Pisa, coached by Oscar Hiljemark, weren’t content to roll over. The home side, rooted at the foot of the table with just one win all season and six points adrift from safety, showed a fighting spirit that belied their position. Their best player on the night, Felipe Loyola, was at the heart of both triumph and tribulation. Loyola’s error in conceding a penalty midway through the second half could have been costly, but Milan substitute Niclas Fullkrug squandered the opportunity, sending his spot-kick wide and letting Pisa off the hook.
That miss seemed to galvanize Pisa. In the 71st minute, Loyola made amends in spectacular fashion. A scramble in the Milan box saw the ball break kindly for the Argentine loanee, who took a touch before curling a low shot past Mike Maignan. It was Loyola’s first goal for Pisa since joining from Independiente in January, and it sent the Arena Garibaldi faithful into raptures. Suddenly, a vital point against one of Italy’s giants seemed within reach.
Milan, perhaps feeling the pressure of their recent run—three draws in their last six games—looked momentarily rattled. Fullkrug, who had replaced Nkunku at halftime, failed to make amends for his penalty miss, brushing the post with another chance. The tension was thick, and Allegri prowled the touchline, urging his side forward.
With time ticking away and both teams searching for a breakthrough, it was the 40-year-old Luka Modric who rolled back the years to provide the decisive moment. In the 85th minute, Modric orchestrated a slick move, sliding the ball to Samuele Ricci at the penalty spot. Ricci, under pressure, scuffed his pass, but Modric was quick to react, surging into the box and calmly lifting the ball over the Pisa goalkeeper from close range. The Croatian’s tireless effort and composure underlined why he was named Football Italia’s Man of the Match: “Put in an immense amount of effort over the ninety minutes, both offensively and defensively. Scored the winning goal and moved the ball around nicely in the midfield.”
Pisa, deflated but not defeated, pressed forward in the dying minutes. Their hopes were given a late boost when Milan’s Adrien Rabiot picked up a yellow card for a foul on the edge of the box in stoppage time, then immediately received a second yellow for protesting, leaving the visitors with ten men. But Milan’s defense held firm, and the final whistle brought a mix of relief and celebration for Allegri’s men.
The result leaves Milan on 53 points from 24 games, five points behind leaders Inter Milan, who face fourth-placed Juventus in a crucial clash the following day. The gap to Napoli in third now stands at four points, giving Milan some breathing room in the race for Champions League spots. The victory also sets the stage for the highly anticipated Milan derby at San Siro on March 8, a fixture that could prove pivotal in the title race.
For Pisa, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. With just 15 points from 25 games, they remain six points from safety, level with Verona and three points behind Fiorentina and Lecce. Still, there were positives to take. Coach Oscar Hiljemark, in his first matches in charge, is showing promising signs, and the performance against Milan demonstrated that his side won’t go down without a fight. As Football Italia noted, “His team gave Milan a good game and the coach is showing promising signs in his first matches in charge.” Loyola’s goal, his first in Italian football, could be the spark Pisa need as they battle for survival.
On the Milan side, Allegri’s tactical tweaks and willingness to call out his players seemed to pay dividends, even if his methods were abrasive. The blend of youth and experience—Loftus-Cheek’s athleticism, Athekame’s energy, Modric’s guile—proved too much for Pisa in the end. The missed penalty by Fullkrug will undoubtedly be a talking point, as will Rabiot’s late dismissal, but the three points are all that matter for a side chasing silverware.
The official lineups saw Milan start with Maignan in goal, a back three of Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlovic, with Athekame, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, and Bartesaghi across midfield, and Loftus-Cheek partnering Nkunku up front. Pisa lined up in a 3-4-2-1 with Nicolas in goal, a defense of Canestrelli, Caracciolo, and Bozhinov, and Loyola and Tramoni supporting Stojilkovic and Moreo in attack. The referee, Fabbri from Ravenna, had his hands full in a match that saw plenty of drama and no shortage of passion.
As the dust settles, Milan can look ahead with optimism, knowing they survived a scare and kept their title hopes alive. For Pisa, the fight continues, but their spirited display suggests the season is far from over. The Serie A campaign rolls on, and with every point crucial, both teams will need to dig deep in the weeks ahead.