Serie A | Como 1-2 Milan: Leao completes another comeback | OneFootball

An historic Theo Hernandez goal and delicate Rafael Leao dink allowed Milan to complete the comeback and beat Como after Assane Diao scored on his full debut.

The Rossoneri won the Supercoppa Italiana on Sergio Conceicao’s debut, which is why this Week 19 fixture was rescheduled, but were held to a disappointing home draw by Cagliari in Serie A. Emerson Royal returned from suspension, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, Alessandro Florenzi and transfer-listed Noah Okafor were out of action. Nico Paz was only fit for the Como bench after a sprained ankle, with Sergi Roberto, Federico Barba, Daniele Baselli and Marco Sala out, but new buy Assane Diao started.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

A sudden Gabriel Strefezza strike from distance tested Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez had to prevent Assane Diao tapping in the Alieu Fadera ball rolled across the face of goal.

There was bad news for Milan when Alvaro Morata slipped and clattered into Diao, as the yellow card means he will be suspended against his old club Juventus this weekend.

Milan’s first real chance was on 22 minutes when Rafael Leao surged forward to send Tijjani Reijnders through, but both that finish and the Morata follow-up were parried by Jean Butez.

Cutrone went sliding in at the back post just beyond the Strefezza assist, but the Rossoneri lost Christian Pulisic to a muscular issue at the back of his left thigh.

Maxence Caqueret came on for his Como debut in the second half, while Milan made a triple substitution.

epa11824405 AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez (L) in action against Como’s Assane Diao during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Como 1907 and AC Milan, in Como, Italy, 14 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

Leao was tackled on the edge of the area, but Alex Jimenez saw his follow-up blocked by the on-rushing Butez.

It was Como who broke the deadlock at the Stadio Sinigaglia, as Caqueret sent Diao down the right to take on Theo Hernandez and surprise Maignan low at the near post. The two January signings combined to open the scoring, but the two Milan veterans were too sluggish.

Malick Thiaw also went off injured, but Milan equalised in curious circumstances, as Edoardo Goldaniga headed a corner straight into the path of Theo Hernandez, who shinned the volley badly, the ball taking on a strange swerve to loop into the far top corner. It was an historic moment, because the France international overtook Paolo Maldini as the Milan defender with the most Serie A goals.

Much like the Supercoppa, Conceicao’s men completed the turnaround moments later, as Tammy Abraham’s immediate through ball sent Rafael Leao sprinting forward, resisting a shove to dink the finish over the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Maignan showed great reflexes to prevent Cutrone turning in against his former club from close range on the Kempf assist, sticking out a foot to parry at the near post.

In added time, Fadera flashed a ball across the six yard box, with both Andrea Belotti and Alessandro Gabrielloni just failing to connect.

There was tension after the final whistle with a scuffle between Theo Hernandez and Gabrielloni.

Como 1-2 Milan

Diao 60 (C), Theo Hernandez 71 (M), Rafael Leao 76 (M)