Rafael Leão’s masterpiece and a late penalty nudged AC Milan to the top of Serie A, but the headlines will linger on the spectacle rather than the table. A scintillating Leão strike followed by a contentious spot-kick gave Milan a 2-1 win — and left Fiorentina feeling robbed after a cringeworthy fall by Santi Gimenez and a chaotic VAR intervention.
With 16 points from 7 matches played, Milan lead city rivals Inter by one point, with defending champions Napoli third with 15 points on board. It is an enterprising start for Milan, who had the impressive Leão to thank for, following a tight match at the San Siro.
SERIE A Results matchday 7
Saturday, October 18, 2025
- Lecce 0-0 Sassuolo (3:00 PM)
- Pisa 0-0 Hellas Verona (3:00 PM)
- Torino 1-0 Napoli (6:00 PM) Goal: G. Simeone (32')
- Roma 0-1 Inter Milan (6:00 PM) Goal: E. Bonny (6')
Sunday, October 19, 2025
- Como 2-0 Juventus (12:30 PM) Goals: G. Kempf (4'), N. Paz (79')
- Cagliari 0-2 Bologna (3:00 PM) Goals: J. Holm (31'), R. Orsolini (80')
- Genoa 0-0 Parma (3:00 PM)
- Atalanta 0-0 Lazio (6:00 PM)
- AC Milan 2-1 Fiorentina (8:45 PM) Goals: R. Gosens (55'), R. Leão (63', 86')
Monday, October 20, 2025
- Cremonese 1-1 Udinese (8:45 PM)
The incident that stole the show
Four minutes from time, with the game level, Santi Gimenez went down clutching his face after minimal contact from Fabiano Parisi. The referee initially played on, only for VAR to summon a review and the decision to flip to a penalty. The sequence reeked of theatre: Gimenez’s reaction looked exaggerated and the VAR reversal felt improvised, handing Fiorentina a raw sense of injustice and handing Milan a lifeline.
Leão’s vintage intervention
Before the controversy, Rafael Leão had already produced a moment of sheer class — a world-class strike that swung momentum. He finished the match clinically from the spot to seal victory. Leão’s ability to change a game alone remains Milan’s most consistent weapon this season, and his contribution underlined why he is the club’s talisman.
Milan go top but it’s a delicate summit
The points propel Milan to first place, yet the summit feels fragile. The win papered over a match that offered little beauty and plenty of tension. Credit goes to the players who held nerve, but the result raises as many questions as it answers about legitimacy and how the team functions under pressure.
Allegri’s task grows larger
Max Allegri deserves praise for keeping Milan competitive despite a shrinking squad and an injury list that keeps growing. He has shown faith in youth like Zachary Athekame and found ways to grind out results. That said, this team only looks sustainable when key figures return and performances gain polish. Allegri must coax cohesion from a patched-together roster and ensure wins aren’t decided by controversy.
