🇮🇹 Serie A spotlight: Ageless Ibra shines as Milan finally stumble | OneFootball

Milan’s perfect start to the season stuttered to an end on Monday night as they were forced to settle for a point at home to Roma.

A 3-3 thriller with Zlatan Ibrahimović piling in with his typical brace and penalties at both ends would suggest a back-and-forth, dramatic affair from two excellent attacking sides.

The reality, unfortunately, was a little different as neither side really clicked into top gear in a game that mostly took its six-goal scoreline from poor defending and utterly inept refereeing.

Unfortunately, it is ultimately Piero Giacomelli’s performance with the whistle that commands most attention when reflecting on what went down at San Siro.

When both sides are furious about your officiating afterwards, it says it all.

After awarding Roma an extremely soft second half penalty (which was, of course, scored; Jordan Veretout doesn’t miss from the spot) for an almost non-existent challenge on Pedro, he subsequently lost all control.

If possible, he gave the Rossoneri an even softer one at the other end shortly afterwards, perhaps feeling a need to make amends, when Hakan Çalhanoglu threw himself to the deck with Gianluca Mancini close by.

That was after booking Ibrahimović, Pedro and Bryan Cristante in quick succession for minor misdemeanours as the game spiralled away from him entirely.

It really was a pity he chose to make such an important and exciting game about him – although some players on the field will be thankful he did so as it took the blame away from them.

The importance of Gianluigi Donnarumma to this Milan side was quickly highlighted as Ciprian Tâtâturasanu was handed a debut after the gangly Italian tested positive for COVID-19 and needed just 14 minutes to flap at a cross and gift Edin Džeko an equaliser.

Antonio Mirante didn’t quite cover himself in glory either for Ibra’s opener after two minutes (his quickest in a Milan jersey), while even the Swede erred by inadvertently gifting Marash Kumbulla a late leveller with a skewed clearance.

It wasn’t all negativity though as Rafael Leão shone in a wide left role with two assists for Milan, who have extended their scoring streak in Serie A to 25 successive games – their longest such run since 1973.

Ultimately, the result keeps Milan top and has them continuing to look like serious contenders (particularly when you think that with an available Donnarumma they’d have won this one), while we’re still trying to work out what to make of this Roma outfit.

And elsewhere …

😱 Goal of the Weekend

🥇 Player of the Weekend

Gaetano Castrovilli put on a show in Fiorentina’s win over Udinese, scoring twice and providing an assist for the other – single-handedly leading the Viola to victory. This was as good as it gets as the 23-year-old enjoys his best ever start to a season.