AC Milan secured their second consecutive Serie A victory with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Alphadjo Cisse and Christian Pulisic scored inside the opening 20 minutes to put the Rossoneri in control, while Mikael Ellertsson's late strike set up a tense finish at Marassi.
Following their Derby della Madonnina success, Rúben Amorim's side continued their positive league form and collected another three valuable points. Genoa pushed hard during the closing stages, but their comeback attempt came too late to prevent Milan from taking the victory.
Match Highlights: Genoa vs AC Milan
First Half: Cisse and Pulisic Put Milan in Control
Genoa Threaten Before Milan Respond
The hosts nearly made the perfect start. Just 50 seconds after kick-off, Milutin Osmajić found space and sent a low left-footed effort narrowly wide of Mike Maignan's far post.
Milan gradually settled into the contest and began creating opportunities of their own. Gonçalo Ramos threatened twice during the opening 11 minutes, although neither attempt found the target.
The visitors' pressure eventually produced the breakthrough. Milan recovered possession in Genoa's half, Adrien Rabiot moved the ball into a central position, and Alphadjo Cisse finished with his right foot to give the Rossoneri a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Pulisic Doubles the Advantage
Milan continued to press aggressively and capitalised on another defensive mistake from the home side six minutes later.
Genoa's Alessandro Marcandalli failed to deal with a back-pass, allowing Gonçalo Ramos to win possession inside a dangerous area. The Portuguese forward chose to pass rather than shoot, and Christian Pulisic calmly finished to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute.
The early double strike gave Milan a significant advantage, but Genoa refused to disappear from the contest. The hosts increased their attacking pressure during the final part of the first half.
Samuel Wiafe tested Maignan in the 40th minute, while Leo Østigård also threatened with a header shortly before the interval. The Milan goalkeeper responded well on both occasions to preserve his team's two-goal lead.
Genoa even had the ball in the net through Osmajić around the half-hour mark, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Second Half: Genoa Fight Back as Milan Defend Their Lead
Milan Stay Organised Under Pressure
The second half began with greater intensity and several physical exchanges in midfield. Both teams initially struggled to create clear opportunities, while the coaches gradually turned to their substitutes to change the rhythm of the match.
Koni De Winter, facing his former club, produced an important defensive intervention in the 69th minute to stop Osmajić from advancing into a dangerous position.
Genoa continued searching for a route back into the game. Vitinha came close in the 73rd minute, but Maignan reacted quickly to make an excellent save and protect Milan's advantage.
Ellertsson Gives Genoa Hope
The home side's persistence finally paid off in the 88th minute. After a Genoa set-piece situation, the ball reached Mikael Ellertsson, who produced a powerful long-range finish to beat Maignan and reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The goal transformed the atmosphere at Marassi. Genoa pushed forward in search of an equaliser, while Milan were forced to defend their penalty area during a nervous closing period.
Kingsley Ehizibue also threatened during stoppage time, but Genoa could not find the final touch required to rescue a point. After seven minutes of added time, the referee brought the contest to an end and confirmed Milan's important away victory.
Match Timeline: Goals and Key Events
| Minute | Team | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13' | AC Milan | Alphadjo Cisse scores after Adrien Rabiot's pass. | 0-1 |
| 19' | AC Milan | Christian Pulisic finishes after Gonçalo Ramos wins possession and provides the assist. | 0-2 |
| 30' | Genoa | Osmajić finds the net, but the goal is ruled out for offside. | 0-2 |
| 40' | Genoa | Maignan saves Samuel Wiafe's effort. | 0-2 |
| 44' | Genoa | Maignan holds Østigård's header. | 0-2 |
| 69' | AC Milan | De Winter makes an important defensive intervention against Osmajić. | 0-2 |
| 73' | Genoa | Maignan produces an excellent save to deny Vitinha. | 0-2 |
| 88' | Genoa | Mikael Ellertsson scores from distance. | 1-2 |
| 90+7' | Full-time | AC Milan secure all three points at Marassi. | 1-2 |
Genoa vs AC Milan: Match Statistics
The match statistics underline Milan's greater efficiency in front of goal. Genoa registered more attempts overall, but the Rossoneri made their early opportunities count and defended their advantage during the closing stages.
| Statistic | Genoa | AC Milan |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 38% | 62% |
| Total Shots | 17 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 2 |
| Shots off Target | 6 | 3 |
| Blocked Shots | 6 | 1 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 3 |
| Offsides | 3 | 1 |
| Fouls | 14 | 13 |
Statistics are from Football Italia's published match data. Figures may vary slightly between providers.
Starting Line-ups and Formations
Genoa – 3-4-2-1
Bijlow; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vásquez; Ehizibue, Traorè, Wiafe, Ellertsson; Messias, Vitinha; Osmajić.
AC Milan – 4-4-1-1
Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Diawara, Musah; Moreira, Modrić, Rabiot, Cisse; Pulisic; Gonçalo Ramos.
Coaches: Daniele De Rossi (Genoa) and Rúben Amorim (AC Milan).
Editorial Player Ratings
The following ratings are editorial assessments based on the players' contributions in this match. They are not official ratings.
| Player | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Maignan | AC Milan | 8.0/10 |
| Adrien Rabiot | AC Milan | 8.0/10 |
| Alphadjo Cisse | AC Milan | 8.0/10 |
| Christian Pulisic | AC Milan | 7.5/10 |
| Gonçalo Ramos | AC Milan | 7.5/10 |
| Koni De Winter | AC Milan | 7.5/10 |
| Mikael Ellertsson | Genoa | 7.5/10 |
| Samuel Wiafe | Genoa | 7.0/10 |
| Milutin Osmajić | Genoa | 6.5/10 |
| Alessandro Marcandalli | Genoa | 5.5/10 |
Tactical Analysis: Milan's Early Pressing Makes the Difference
1. High Pressing Creates the Opening Goals
Milan's most important attacking weapon during the first half was their ability to recover possession in advanced areas. Both goals came after the Rossoneri disrupted Genoa's attempts to build from the back.
Rabiot's recovery and pass created the opening for Cisse, while Ramos capitalised on a defensive mistake before setting up Pulisic. These moments demonstrated how Milan's aggressive approach could turn defensive pressure into immediate attacking opportunities.
2. Cisse Provides a Central Attacking Threat
Alphadjo Cisse's movement and positioning gave Milan an effective option between Genoa's defensive lines. His goal in the 13th minute rewarded his ability to find space in a central position and finish quickly.
His contribution also continued a productive start to the season. The young attacker has increasingly become an important part of Milan's forward play, offering movement and directness in the final third.
3. Milan's Defensive Organisation Is Tested
Although Milan controlled possession, Genoa created several opportunities and finished the match with more total shots. The Rossoneri therefore had to rely on their defensive organisation and Maignan's interventions to preserve the lead.
De Winter's intervention against Osmajić and Maignan's second-half save against Vitinha were particularly important moments. Without those defensive contributions, Genoa could have found a way back into the contest earlier.
4. Genoa's Late Pressure Makes the Finish Nervous
Genoa's attacking intensity increased as the match approached its conclusion. Ellertsson's long-range goal gave the hosts renewed belief and forced Milan to defend deeper.
The home side's late pressure exposed the danger of allowing an opponent to remain within one goal. Milan ultimately held on, but the final minutes demonstrated that their defensive performance still has areas to improve.
What the Result Means for the Serie A Table
The victory lifted AC Milan to 24 points after 11 league matches, keeping the Rossoneri within reach of the leading positions. The result also continued the positive momentum created by their Derby della Madonnina victory.
For Genoa, the defeat ended a run of three consecutive league victories. Daniele De Rossi's side showed determination after falling two goals behind, but their defensive mistakes during the opening 20 minutes proved too costly.
Milan's next league fixture is scheduled against Frosinone at San Siro on November 22, following the international break.
Conclusion
AC Milan left Marassi with a valuable 2-1 victory after an efficient first-half performance and a demanding defensive effort after the break. Alphadjo Cisse and Christian Pulisic delivered the decisive goals, while Mikael Ellertsson's late strike made the closing minutes far more uncomfortable for the visitors.
The Rossoneri have now followed their derby triumph with another Serie A win, strengthening their position in the race near the top of the table. Genoa, meanwhile, will regret the early mistakes that left them chasing the game for much of the afternoon.
Final Score: Genoa 1-2 AC Milan. Cisse and Pulisic scored for Milan, while Ellertsson found the net late for Genoa.
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