Serie A | Milan 3-2 Torino: Pavlovic magic helps revive Rossoneri
Milan got back on track with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Torino, including spectacular Strahinja Pavlovic strike from distance, and Santiago Gimenez made his comeback.
The Rossoneri were feeling the pressure after going from Scudetto dream to nightmare in the space of a week, their defeat to Lazio leaving them closer to fifth place than the leaders. Rafael Leao had an adductor injury, so Niclas Fullkrug stepped in, with Santiago Gimenez on the bench for the first time since October. Davide Bartesaghi and Adrien Rabiot were also available again. Toro had two wins and a narrow defeat to Napoli since replacing Marco Baroni with Roberto D’Aversa, but missed Zakaria Aboukhlal, Alieu Njie and Zanos Savva.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
It was an aggressive start from the visitors, as Matteo Prati fired over from the edge of the box, then Nikola Vlasic got in front of Koni De Winter and Mike Maignan to flick on the Marcus Pedersen ball across the face of goal.
Maignan fingertipped a looping Ardian Ismajli header out from under the bar on a corner, while Christian Pulisic and Bartesaghi had efforts charged down inside the area.
Rabiot unleashed a screamer from distance that Albert Paleari flew to palm away, and it was only a warning for Milan to take the lead moments later. Saul Coco nodded a cross clear to around 25 yards, where Pavlovic took a touch, let it bounce, and smashed the left-footed half-volley in off the underside of the crossbar.
Duvan Zapata tested Maignan at the near post moments later, and Pavlovic’s goal-line clearance on Pedersen wouldn’t have counted because Simeone was offside on the assist.
Torino did equalise on the stroke of half-time, as Maignan got down for a one-handed save on the Vlasic effort from the edge of the area, it took a double ricochet off the upright and his shoulder, until Simeone was quickest to react on the loose ball.
After the restart, Milan were much more aggressive after changing to a four-man defence. Ismajli came sliding in to charge down a Pulisic effort, and Bartesaghi’s volley was deflected wide.
The pressure eventually paid off when Christian Pulisic pulled across from the right and Rabiot was ready to bundle it over the line from point-blank range with his knee. It was his first goal scored at San Siro in the Rossoneri jersey.
Moments later they extended their advantage, as Zachary Athekame’s through ball was gathered by Fofana, who was allowed to take three touches and turn in a crowd of Torino players, firing in from 13 yards.
Maignan made a sensational reaction save, sticking out a trailing leg to deny Simeone’s first-time sweep from 12 yards, then Cholito had another dangerous volley charged down for a corner.
There was a big moment, as Santiago Gimenez made his return after ankle surgery, his first appearance since the end of October 2025.
Samuele Ricci nearly scored against his former club, Alberto Paleari getting down to parry at the near post, but just before that was an incident that was spotted by VAR. Pavlovic had dragged back Simeone with an arm across his face and neck inside the penalty area, so even if he wasn’t going to reach the ball, it was a clear foul.
A penalty was awarded and converted into the top corner by Nikola Vlasic to get Torino back into the game.
The Granata had more penalty appeals for a Koni De Winter handball, but the arm was judged to be in a natural position.
Milan 3-2 Torino
Pavlovic 36 (M), Simeone 44 (T), Rabiot 54 (M), Fofana 56 (M), Vlasic pen 83 (T)
Player statistic
| Fikayo Tomori | 9' | |||
| Strahinja Pavlovic | 37' | |||
| 44' | Giovanni Simeone |
| Adrien Rabiot (Assist: Christian Pulisic) |
54' | |||
| Youssouf Fofana (Assist: Zachary Athekame) |
56' | |||
| Strahinja Pavlovic | 82' | |||
| 83' | Nikola Vlasic | |||
| Santiago Giménez | 90+6' | |||
| 90+3' | Emirhan Ilkhan |