🇮🇹 Milan grind out win at Sampdoria despite Rafael Leão red card | OneFootball

Milan are keeping pace with Napoli at the top of the Serie A table after winning at Sampdoria despite being reduced to 10 men.

An Olivier Giroud penalty earned the visitors all three points at Stadio Luigi Ferraris after Rafael Leão had been sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second half.

Scorers: Đuričić 57′; Junior Messias 6′, Giroud (pen) 67′

Milan took an early lead when Leão and Giroud combined to feed Junior Messias, and the Brazilian lashed home powerfully past the goalkeeper.

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Sampdoria then went close to an equaliser, when Filip Đuričić hit the crossbar with a lovely effort that had Mike Maignan beaten.

Milan thought they’d gone 2-0 up through what would have been Charles De Ketelaere’s first goal for the club, but after a VAR review the goal was chalked off for an offside in the build-up.

The Rossoneri were then dealt a blow when Leão was sent off just moments into the second half. A cross came over and the Portuguese caught Alex Ferrari in the face with an attempted overhead kick, earning him a second yellow card and an early bath.

Sampdoria made their man advantage count and quickly drew level, with Đuričić leaping to head home powerfully at the near post for 1-1.

But Milan soon went back in front when a penalty was awarded for handball from Sampdoria’s Gonzalo Villar. Giroud stepped up and sent goalkeeper Emil Audero the wrong way for 2-1.

Maignan was called into action late on to twice deny Manolo Gabbiadini, with Fabio Quagliarella also hitting the post for Sampdoria in between the two saves.

The reigning champions face Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League in midweek before a table-topping Serie A clash with Napoli next weekend, when they will be without the suspended Leão.