AC Milan Secure Late Win Over Cremonese As Pavlovic And Leao Strike

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AC Milan left it late but earned a 2-0 victory over Cremonese in Serie A, thanks to goals from Strahinja Pavlovic and Rafael Leao. The result trims the gap to leaders Inter back to 10 points and keeps Milan’s title chances alive ahead of the Derby della Madonnina next weekend.

The win also ends a long scoring drought for Milan at the Stadio Giovanni Zini. Milan had not found the net in their previous three Serie A away matches against Cremonese, recording two draws and one defeat. Their last league goals there came from Jean-Pierre Papin and Marco Simone in a 2-0 success on 26 September 1993.

Inter’s 2-0 victory over Genoa on Saturday had stretched the gap to 13 points before kick-off, putting extra pressure on Milan. The three points mean Milan stay four clear of third-placed Napoli and hold a nine-point cushion over Cesc Fabregas’ Como, currently occupying fifth place. Milan also respond after losing 1-0 to Parma last week.

Cremonese entered the match in poor league form despite positive memories against Milan. Cremonese had beaten Milan at San Siro on matchday one, yet had not celebrated a Serie A win since 7 December. Even so, Cremonese matched Milan for long spells and produced a competitive first half before fading late on.

The hosts almost struck first after 26 minutes when Federico Bonazzoli glanced an effort narrowly wide of Mike Maignan’s left-hand post. From the resulting corner, Jamie Vardy met a loose ball but lifted the shot over the bar. Milan replied in the 34th minute as Youssouf Fofana slipped Leao through, only for the Portugal forward to drag the finish wide.

Milan finished the opening period stronger, with Fofana again heavily involved. In first-half stoppage time, Fofana drove forward and forced Emil Audero into a sharp save. After the break, Milan controlled possession and territory, yet Leao wasted another good opening. The frustration deepened when Niclas Fullkrug headed a Luka Modric cross off target in the 86th minute.

AC Milan Cremonese: Late goals and key stats

The deadlock finally broke three minutes later from another Modric delivery. The Croatian midfielder curled in a dangerous cross, Koni De Winter flicked it on, and Pavlovic forced the ball over the line. With Cremonese pushing bodies forward four minutes into stoppage time, Milan countered quickly as Christopher Nkunku squared for Leao to tap into an empty net.

Milan’s attacking numbers reflected their territorial control across the 90 minutes, while Cremonese still fashioned chances of their own. Expected goals and shot counts underlined Milan’s superiority.

The performance means Milan avoid going two consecutive Serie A matches without scoring, something that has not happened since April 2022, when they recorded 0-0 draws against Bologna and Torino. On this occasion, sustained pressure finally told, ending a 23-year away scoring wait at Cremonese and keeping Milan’s pursuit of Inter mathematically intact.