MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team`s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Rafael Leao finished off a well-worked team move after more Mike Maignan heroics, as AC Milan saw off Lazio to temporarily go top of the Serie A table with a dramatic finale.

The Rossoneri were fresh off a Derby della Madonnina victory against Inter, but lost Christian Pulisic to injury, joining Santiago Gimenez and Zachary Athekame, so Christopher Nkunku stepped in. The Aquile`s only defeat in the last eight rounds was 2-0 here with Inter, but Danilo Cataldi was the latest addition to the absentee list along with Matteo Cancellieri, Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot. Taty Castellanos was back on the bench, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru added to the squad in place of Elseid Hysaj.

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri and SS Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri prior the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Bizarrely, these two teams will meet again on Thursday in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

It was almost the perfect start for Lazio, as a free kick was floated to the six-yard box for Mario Gila`s header in the opening 90 seconds, but Mike Maignan fingertipped it onto the crossbar.

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: Mario Gila of SS Lazio reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Maignan was called into action again at the base of the near post after Mattia Zaccagni turned Fikayo Tomori, while the first real Rossoneri opportunity came just before half-time when Tomori scuffed a volley wide on the deflected Davide Bartesaghi cross.

Zaccagni also failed to steer a Gustav Isaksen cross on target at the back post, although Tomori had managed to clear regardless.

It was Milan who broke the deadlock after the restart with a well-worked move, as Saelemaekers and Fofana sent Tomori down the right, his hard and low ball across the six-yard box found Rafael Leao sliding in for the finish.

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team`s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Adrien Rabiot and Fofana both fired their opportunities off target from very promising positions, while Fofana then hit a fresh-air shot having run from midfield to the edge of the box.

Taty Castellanos made his comeback after nearly two months out injured, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru also returned having been cut from the squad and put back in this week.

Ivan Provedel flew to palm away the Rafael Leao towering header on Bartesaghi`s cross, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek nodding wide on a similar move.

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: Gustav Isaksen of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Castellanos at full stretch hooked a volley around Strahinja Pavlovic, but only into Maignan`s arms, and the Saelemaekers volley from a corner was cleared almost off the line by Luca Pellegrini.

Leao and Toma Basic tested the goalkeepers with snapshots from distance, while Provedel spilled a Pavlovic strike on a set play.

Deep into stoppages, there were penalty appeals for an Alessio Romagnoli volley charged down by Pavlovic`s arm, prompting a VAR review and chaos on the touchline, with both Max Allegri and Sarri`s assistant manager Marco Ianni sent off for dissent. Following the review, the referee ruled that the arm was jutting out, but that Pavlovic was fouled by Adam Marusic first.

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Allegri reveals red card comment and Rabiot ‘makes difference` for AC Milan

Max Allegri reveals what he said to get sent off during the chaotic finale of AC Milan`s victory over Lazio and why Adrien Rabiot ‘makes the difference` for his team.

It was a difficult first half, as Mike Maignan kept the clean sheet with big saves on Mario Gila`s header and a Mattia Zaccagni angled drive.

However, the Rossoneri broke the deadlock after the restart with a well-worked team move finished off by Rafael Leao from six yards.

The tension erupted in stoppages when both Allegri and Lazio assistant manager Marco Ianni were sent off from the touchline during the VAR On-Field Review.

Ultimately, a penalty was not given because Adam Marusic fouled Strahinja Pavlovic before the handling offence.

Allegri saw red in stoppages

"It was a bit chaotic in the final minutes, but it was not easy for the referee either to make this decision when he was called by VAR," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.

What did the coach say to get himself sent off even before any decision had been made?

"It was the same referee as the opening game when we lost to Cremonese, so I just said how come every time with him there`s a problem? So he sent me off. In the chaos, it`s only natural he would make that decision, but I certainly didn`t mean to offend him.

"As for the match itself, we had some difficulties at the start because Lazio pressed hard, and while they keep that kind of tempo, they close off all your passing channels. It means you have to make riskier passes and can lose it, so we didn`t do that well.

"In the second half, we raised our tempo and theirs fell a little, so we had other favourable opportunities along with the goal."

The result does put Milan temporarily top of the table, and they could stay there because tomorrow Napoli and Roma go head-to-head.

It was put to Allegri that in the last decade only twice have the Diavolo been top of the table after 13 rounds, finishing first and second in those seasons," replied the coach.

"We`ve just got to keep working, maintaining this humility and desire to win the ball back, to play as a team unit. There is good enthusiasm within the squad and with the fans. They give their all and don`t hold back, that is the most important quality we need to keep going."

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 29: AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Is Rafael Leao gradually learning to be a Number 9 in this new role?

"Leao was already a centre-forward playing for Lille, he had a good header on target today. When the ball comes from wide, he has started making those runs towards the box, but he also has the option to move around in various attacking positions."

With Adrien Rabiot in the starting XI, Milan have almost a perfect win record, so was his importance undervalued?

"Compared to the last season I worked with him at Juventus, Adrien has improved so much," confessed Allegri.

"He has this physicality, is tactically very intelligent, and also a team player. In order to create a team that challenges for the top, you need team players who put themselves at the disposal of the others. I have lots of players who put that passion into the game and it makes the difference. Adrien also has an engine like few others in midfield."