PISA 1 — 2 AC MILAN
Modrić Rolls Back the Years with Stunning Late Winner at Arena Garibaldi
Match Overview
AC Milan extended their unbeaten run to 24 consecutive Serie A matches with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to struggling Pisa. The match encapsulated classic Allegri-ball: dominant possession, controlled tempo, yet an inability to kill off the game comfortably.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek opened the scoring with a towering header in the 39th minute, before Niclas Füllkrug squandered a penalty in the second half, hitting the post. That miss proved costly as Felipe Loyola equalized for Pisa on 71 minutes, but ageless Luka Modrić — at 40 years and 157 days old — sealed the victory with a sublime finish in the 85th minute. Drama continued when Adrien Rabiot was sent off with two yellow cards in 20 seconds during injury time, but Milan held on with ten men.
Starting Lineups
- GK Nicolas
- CB Canestrelli
- CB Caracciolo
- CB Božhinov
- RWB Touré 🔄 86′
- CM Loyola ⚽ 71′ | 🔄 92′
- CM Aebischer 🔄 57′
- LWB Tramoni 🔄 57′
- LWB Angori
- ST Stojilković
- ST Moreo 🔄 86′
- GK Maignan
- CB Tomori
- CB Gabbia
- CB Pavlović
- RWB Athekame 🅰️ 39′ | 🔄 77′
- CM Fofana 🔄 72′
- CM Modrić ⚽ 85′ | ⭐ MOTM
- CM Rabiot 🟥 90+1′
- LWB Bartesaghi 🟡 88′
- ST Loftus-Cheek ⚽ 39′ | 🔄 72′
- ST Nkunku 🔄 46′
Tactical Analysis
Allegri deployed his signature 3-5-2 formation that has become Milan’s identity this season. The three-man backline of Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlović provided defensive depth, while Modrić operated as the regista — a deep-lying playmaker dictating tempo from central midfield. Fofana and Rabiot maintained balance on either side, with wing-backs Athekame and Bartesaghi serving as the primary outlets for width in attack.
🔴 Milan — Progressive Control
Milan dominated possession (66.3%) and applied patient positional play throughout. Build-up began from the three centre-backs, with Modrić dropping deep to collect and distribute to the wing-backs. Athekame was the key weapon on the right — his pinpoint cross in the 39th minute found Loftus-Cheek completely unmarked. Milan also posed a significant threat from set-pieces, with Modrić as the designated taker.
🔵 Pisa — Low Block Counter
Oscar Hiljemark instructed Pisa to sit in a 5-3-2 low block without the ball. This strategy was designed to congest central areas and force Milan wide. Pisa relied on rapid transitions through Stojilković and Moreo. This counter-attacking approach nearly bore fruit early when Stojilković broke through Milan’s defensive line, only for Maignan to close the angle superbly.
⚔️ Half-Space Exploitation
Loftus-Cheek and Nkunku operated in the half-spaces — the zones between the opposition’s centre-backs and wide defenders. This created localized overloads that Pisa’s three-man backline struggled to handle. When Nkunku was replaced by Füllkrug at half-time, Milan lost mobility in these areas but gained an aerial target for crosses.
🔄 Critical Substitutions
The introduction of Fofana → Ricci (72′) transformed the game’s dynamic. Ricci was more progressive in carrying the ball forward and was directly involved in the winning goal — a slick one-two with Modrić inside the penalty area. The arrivals of Leão and Pulisic added fresh legs on the flanks despite neither producing a standout individual moment.
“Tonight was not easy. Pisa SC is an awkward team to face. In the first half we took some risks. They sit deep, draw you out, then hit you on the counter. We had to take these three points. The boys played well. But we have to improve from this match.”
Minute-by-Minute Timeline
Match Statistics
Key Moments
Maignan Saves Milan
Stojilković beat the offside trap and raced clear on goal. Maignan charged off his line with extraordinary reflexes and smothered the one-on-one chance. Had that gone in, the entire complexion of the game would have changed.
Füllkrug’s Penalty Nightmare
After Pavlović was felled inside the box, Füllkrug stepped up with a chance to put the game to bed. His powerful strike cannoned off the outside of the left post. The miss revived Pisa and completely swung the momentum of the second half.
⭐ Modrić Magic — The Winner
At 40 years and 157 days, Luka Modrić became the third-oldest goalscorer in Serie A history, behind Alessandro Costacurta (41y 25d) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (41y 166d). His instinctive one-two with Ricci and delicate dink over the goalkeeper proved that class is permanent and age is merely a number.
Rabiot’s Moment of Madness
Two yellow cards in the space of 20 seconds — the first for a cynical foul, the second for furiously protesting the decision. Milan were forced to see out the final minutes with ten men. Fortunately for the Rossoneri, the defensive resolve held firm.
Player Ratings — AC Milan
Player Ratings — Pisa SC
Serie A Impact
This victory lifts Milan to 53 points from 24 matches, just 5 points behind league leaders Inter Milan. The gap to third-placed Napoli is now four points, giving Milan a comfortable cushion in the title race and the top-four battle.
For Pisa, this defeat extends their losing streak to 14 consecutive matches — a club record this season. Rooted to 19th place with just 15 points from 24 games, a monumental effort will be needed to avoid relegation to Serie B.
Milan’s next fixture is against Como on 18 February (rescheduled due to the Winter Olympics), before the huge Derby della Madonnina against Inter Milan on 8 March at San Siro — a match that could decisively shape the Scudetto race.
Final Verdict
This was not a pretty win, but it was one that demonstrated character and resilience. Milan dominated the underlying metrics (2.35 vs 0.77 xG, 66% possession) yet made everything harder than it needed to be. Füllkrug’s missed penalty and Rabiot’s red card are blemishes that Allegri will need to address.
But the story of this night belongs to Luka Modrić — a 40-year-old maestro who proved that world-class quality transcends the passage of time. His second goal for Milan may be worth more than just three points — it sends a resounding message to the rest of Serie A that I Rossoneri will not be denied in the hunt for the Scudetto.
