Ac Milan’s Comeback Win Reveals Second-Half Rewire and a Contested Penalty
ac milan produced a dramatic second-half turnaround to beat Torino 3-2, a result that combined a tactical reset, a long-awaited attacking contribution from Christian Pulisic, and a VAR decision that changed the finale.
What did Ac Milan change at halftime?
Verified facts: The first half belonged more to Torino, but AC Milan took the lead through Strahinja Pavlovic in the 37th minute. Giovanni Simeone levelled shortly before halftime. After the break, Milan scored twice in quick succession: Adrien Rabiot bundled in a cross from Christian Pulisic in the 54th minute, and Youssouf Fofana added a second two minutes later. Pulisic’s cross ended his run of 11 Serie A matches without a goal or an assist; this was registered as his first goal contribution of 2026. Massimiliano Allegri’s halftime intervention is credited with a visible change in Milan’s performance.
Analysis: The sequence of events suggests a planned second-half adjustment rather than a mere fluctuation in momentum. Pavlovic’s earlier strike from distance had given the team an initial platform, but Milan’s decisiveness after the break — including service into the box that culminated in Rabiot’s knee finish — points to clearer attacking intent. The return from suspension of Adrien Rabiot and tactical choices around the front line appear to have been decisive in turning a sluggish opening period into a winning performance.
How decisive was the Pavlovic incident and the VAR penalty call?
Verified facts: The match ended nervily when Nikola Vlasic converted a penalty after Strahinja Pavlovic was adjudged to have dragged down Giovanni Simeone. Referee Fourneau checked the incident on VAR before awarding the spot-kick. Luca Marelli described the earlier challenge as a high-intensity situation; he later noted an 88th-minute handball appeal against De Winter was played on because the defender’s arm did not move in the contact.
Analysis: The Pavlovic episode played a dual role: he delivered a spectacular opening goal and later became the central figure in the decision that almost altered the outcome. The VAR intervention by Fourneau shifted the immediate balance of the match and compressed the closing minutes into a tense finish. The contrast between the upheld penalty and the dismissed De Winter handball appeal highlights how marginal interpretations of hand and body contact can produce very different outcomes in a single match.
What does Rafael Leao’s absence and Fullkrug’s role mean for the run-in?
Verified facts: Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Rafael Leao is out with an adductor issue; Allegri stated there was no lesion but the injury was sufficient to rule Leao out of international duty. Niclas Fullkrug started in Leao’s place; Allegri characterises Fullkrug as having different characteristics and noted the team would adapt service to suit him. Fullkrug is used as a centre-forward on loan from West Ham United. Squad context included Santiago Gimenez listed on the bench amid an ankle problem, Adrien Rabiot returning from suspension, and Davide Bartesaghi in the starting XI.
Analysis: Leao’s enforced absence forces a tactical recalculation. Fullkrug’s profile shifts Milan toward a more direct centre-forward role and increases the premium on crossing and aerial delivery, which was evident in the match’s decisive moments. The club’s handling of the injury — noting no lesion but withdrawing the player from duty — frames a balancing act between managing the individual’s recovery and immediate competitive needs.
Accountability and next steps: Verified facts above show two immediate areas for clearer transparency. The VAR intervention that produced the late penalty was match-defining and was handled through a review by Fourneau; a concise public breakdown of the specific images and angles used would reduce ambiguity for fans and stakeholders. On the medical side, Allegri’s explanation that Leao’s issue lacks a lesion yet rules him out of international duty raises reasonable questions about how injury status is communicated to players’ national teams and to supporters. Both calls for clearer procedural explanations relate directly to the events witnessed at San Siro and bear on ac milan’s path in the closing stages of the campaign.
