Serie A: Torino Compound AC Milan's Misery with 2-1 Victory

AC Milan's Serie A title bid suffered a setback as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Torino, leaving them six points behind fourth-placed Lazio.

Torino added to AC Milan's woes with a 2-1 victory in Serie A, marking their fourth consecutive home win over the Rossoneri in this fixture for the first time since 1977. Milan's misery was compounded by their recent elimination from the UEFA Champions League, and their match against Torino got off to a disastrous start. In the fifth minute, Mike Maignan's attempted long clearance inadvertently hit Malick Thiaw and trickled into the net, giving Torino an early lead.

The match could have taken a different turn if not for the heroics of Torino goalkeeper Milinković-Savić. He was fortunate when his clearance kick was returned straight to him by João Félix, but he then showcased his quality by denying Santiago Giménez with a strong save. Giménez later headed wide from a Christian Pulisic cross as Milan pushed for an equalizer. The visitors had a golden opportunity to level the score when Rafael Leão met Álex Jiménez's cross, but Torino's right-back Marcus Pedersen handled the header, resulting in a penalty for Milan.

Milan's woes continued, however, as Milinković-Savić produced a spectacular save to deny Pulisic's penalty, diving to his right to make the stop with a strong hand. Torino could have extended their lead before halftime, but Mike Maignan saved a Nikola Vlašić shot, and Strahinja Pavlović blocked another attempt. In the second half, Sérgio Conceição introduced Youssouf Fofana and Tammy Abraham in the 55th minute, seeking to change the course of the match and salvage a result for Milan.

Torino beat Milan at home for a third consecutive season! 🐂#TorinoMilan pic.twitter.com/N31y00Yv8G

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 22, 2025

Gvidas Gineitis nearly provided Torino with a two-goal cushion, but the team's lead was eventually erased with just 15 minutes remaining. Sebastian Walukiewicz's attempted clearance inadvertently set up the ball for AC Milan's Reijnders, who capitalized on the opportunity to score with a powerful strike.

However, Torino responded swiftly, regaining the lead within three minutes. Gineitis collected Antonio Sanabria's cleverly taken quick free-kick and beat Mike Maignan with a precise strike. Although Sanabria missed the chance to score himself, Torino's defense held firm to secure a vital victory, marking only their second win in the last 10 matches.

The win came at a significant cost for AC Milan, as they suffered their first defeat in five Serie A matches. The loss left Milan six points behind fourth-placed Lazio, who have played one more match. Torino's victory provided a much-needed boost to their campaign, as they continue to navigate a challenging period.