GdS: Fluidity, gifts and a tense finale – how Milan overcame Genoa to reclaim top four spot

Oliver Fisher

AC Milan won away from home against an in-form Genoa side to ensure they will go into the international break inside the top four.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) have analysed a second consecutive Serie A victory for Milan, remarking that if it were it not for the nuisance of the Europa League – specifically that ugly defeat to Ferencváros – they would be heading into the break in perfect spirits.

Still, things have worked out well enough: the win at Marassi, combined with Como’s loss against Inter, has allowed Rúben Amorim’s side to leapfrog Cesc Fàbregas’s team and move into fourth place. It is of course the final spot for Champions League qualification, the minimum objective.

The question remains the same: which is the ‘real’ Milan? The one that put two goals past Genoa in the opening 20 minutes, or the one that nearly threw it all away with a passive final 20 minutes of the game?

Daniele De Rossi almost snatched a point thanks to his substitutions, while Amorim nearly dropped two points due to his own, less-than-effective changes. It seems clear that there is an issue with the squad’s overall competitiveness, with help needed in January.

In Genoa, Amorim opted for a 4-4-2 formation to start, with Yunus Musah deployed as a surprise left-back and a central midfield pairing of Luka Modrić and Adrien Rabiot.

Just seconds after kick-off, Genoa nearly took a 1-0 lead through Osmajic, who surged deep into the final third. Shaken into life by this, Milan took control and built a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the team gradually shifted into a classic 3-5-2, eventually dropping into a five-man defensive line to hold firm after Ellertsson’s goal. In modern football, fluidity is an asset though it carries the risk of lacking a clear, defined identity.

Milan dominated for long stretches of the first half, particularly on the flanks, but found themselves under significant duress toward the end of the match. The data on the average position of the team is telling: Genoa finished at 55.6 metres, while Milan sat at 44.3.

Anyone unaware of the final score when looking at the stats might well imagine a different outcome, while it remains unclear if the team dropping so deep was instruction or protective instinct. However, the Diavolo survived.

The reality is that sometimes errors – individual or otherwise – have a greater impact on results than good intentions or tactical formations. Genoa arrived at this match on the back of three consecutive victories, though they were missing Frendrup, the Dane who acts as the team’s stabiliser.

Having already enjoyed a string of successes, the team grew complacent. It was a feeling only intensified by the golden opportunity that fell to Osmajic in the opening minutes. Genoa lulled themselves into a false sense of security, and some players began to switch off.

There was an early warning sign when Vasquez gifted the ball to Gonçalo Ramos, though the Portuguese forward’s shot went wide. Later, Vasquez was dispossessed again – this time by Pulisic – sparking the sequence that led to the 0-1 goal: a touch to Rabiot, a cross for Cissé and a finish.

Milan then shifted their focus to the left flank. Under pressure from Cissé, Traoré played a disastrous pass toward Østigård inside the box. The Norwegian failed to clear it, and Ramos set up Pulisic just inside the area for the goal that made it 0-2.

At 2-0, the game opened up for Milan, who favoured direct, vertical play over patient possession. The attacking combinations on the flanks proved decisive: Moreira operated on one side, working alongside Pulisic, who was given the freedom to roam between the penalty area, the final third, and the wing.

The duo of Musah and Cissé dominated their flank against Marcandalli and Ehizibue. Deploying Musah as a left-back was a tactical move De Rossi likely hadn’t anticipated. Was it all over? Had the match been decided? Not quite. Before the half-time whistle, Genoa showed signs of a resurgence.

In the second half, the atmosphere turned hostile, and referee Massa had to send four people off from the benches to restore some semblance of order. Then, a flurry of substitutions narrowed the gap between Genoa and Milan.

When El Shaarawy came on, De Rossi found more space to push forward. When Pulisic was taken off, Amorim’s side lost ground. Ellertsson’s goal – a beautiful strike, aided by a lack of marking from Jashari – set the stall out for a frantic final stretch, during which Milan risked conceding an equaliser.

if you tally up the chances and shots on target, the scales actually tip in favor of the Grifone. So, what does this mean? Is all well that ends well? Is a Champions League spot guaranteed? Certainly not. The impression is that this Milan is still in a phase where anything is possible, in either direction.

A return to the Champions League is far from certain, but the table is tight. League-leaders Lazio are only five points ahead, less than two wins away, so who’s to say Milan can’t aim higher?

Much will depend on January. The winter window shouldn’t be about patching things up, as quick fixes often end up being worse than the original problems. Rather, Gerry Cardinale (plus potentially Markus Krösche) should think about genuine improvement.

It will also depend on Amorim and his ability to shape the squad, ironing out the deficiencies. In the background, the question of Gonçalo Ramos remains. He showed commendable selflessness at Marassi, but he needs to start scoring himself soon.

For now, Cissé is stepping up, having netted his eighth goal of the season and his fifth in Serie A. Roberto Mancini is now waiting for him with the senior national team, which is just the latest step in a fairytale start to 2026-27.