A tightly contested Serie A clash between AS Roma and AC Milan ended in a 1–1 draw at a packed Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night, as two very different performances produced an evenly balanced scoreline.
Played in front of 63,582 spectators, the match saw Roma dominate possession and chances, while Milan leaned heavily on defensive resilience and clinical moments to escape the Italian capital with a point.
Match overview
Roma controlled large stretches of the contest and looked the more assertive side from the opening whistle.
Their reward eventually came in the 74th minute when Lorenzo Pellegrini converted a penalty to put the hosts ahead.
That goal followed sustained pressure and a series of missed opportunities, with Roma repeatedly testing Milan’s defensive structure.
However, Milan had already struck first just after the hour mark.
Centre-back Koni De Winter opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, capitalising on a rare attacking moment to stun the home crowd.
Despite being under pressure for much of the match, Milan’s ability to take one of their few chances proved decisive in shaping the final outcome.
Roma pushed hard for a winner after equalising, but Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a string of saves to deny the hosts a late breakthrough.
Confirmed starting lineups
The table below shows how both sides lined up at kick-off.
| Roma | AC Milan |
|---|---|
| M. Svilar (GK) | M. Maignan (GK, c) |
| G. Mancini | F. Tomori |
| O. Ndicka | M. Gabbia |
| D. Ghilardi | K. de Winter |
| M. Zeki Celik | A. Saelemaekers |
| B. Christante (c) | S. Ricci |
| K. Koné | L. Modrić |
| W. França Lima | A. Rabiot |
| P. Dybala | D. Bartesaghi |
| M. Malvano | C. Nkunku |
| D. Malen | R. Leão |
Substitutions played a significant role for both teams, with Roma introducing Pellegrini from the bench before he calmly dispatched the decisive penalty.
Possession and passing dominance
Statistically, Roma were the clear leaders in possession.
They finished the match with 57.9% of the ball compared to Milan’s 42.1%, reflecting their control in midfield and territorial advantage.
That dominance translated into passing numbers, with Roma completing 511 accurate passes from 586 attempts, an impressive accuracy rate of 87.2%.
Milan, by contrast, completed 359 accurate passes from 434 attempts, posting a passing accuracy of 82.7%.
Roma’s higher tempo and willingness to recycle possession kept Milan pinned back for long spells, particularly in the second half.
Attacking threat and missed opportunities
Roma registered 15 shots overall, seven of which were on target.
They also missed three big chances, a statistic that ultimately defined the match and prevented them from turning control into victory.
Milan, meanwhile, managed just five shots in total, with only two hitting the target.
Despite the low attacking output, Milan were far more efficient, converting one of their limited opportunities into a goal.
Touches inside the opposition box further highlight the imbalance.
Roma recorded 47 touches in Milan’s penalty area, compared to just 12 for the visitors.
Corners followed a similar pattern, with Roma earning five to Milan’s three.
Defensive workload and goalkeeping
Milan’s defensive numbers tell a story of survival.
They made 26 clearances and blocked five shots, while Maignan was forced into six saves over the course of the match.
Roma’s goalkeeper Svilar, by comparison, was only required to make a single save.
Milan attempted more tackles overall, but Roma enjoyed a higher tackle success rate at 50%, compared to Milan’s 42.9%.
Aerially, Roma were also stronger, winning 66.7% of their aerial duels.
Discipline and physicality
Despite the intensity, Roma finished the match without a single yellow card.
Milan, however, picked up four yellow cards as they struggled to contain Roma’s movement and ball circulation.
There were no red cards for either side.
In duels, Milan edged the overall count, winning 53.8% of total duels, particularly excelling in ground duels.
Roma, though, were more effective in the air and looked sharper in attacking transitions.
What the draw means
For Roma, the draw may feel like a missed opportunity after dominating so many statistical categories.
Their inability to convert clear chances ultimately cost them two points.
Milan, on the other hand, will be satisfied with a resilient away performance, built on defensive organisation and key interventions from their goalkeeper.
The 1–1 scoreline may suggest balance, but the numbers underline just how hard Milan had to work to leave the Olimpico unbeaten.
