If AC Milan fans were looking for a statement win to keep the pressure on Inter, Sunday night at the Stadio Olimpico provided a cold shower instead. In a match defined by defensive grit and a single moment of capital punishment, Lazio walked away with a 1-0 victory, handing the Rossoneri their first away defeat of the 2025/26 season.
Isaksen’s Moment of Magic
The deciding blow landed in the 26th minute. Gustav Isaksen, who has been a bright spark for the Biancocelesti this season, took advantage of a uncharacteristic defensive lapse from Pervis Estupiñán. After outmuscling the defender, the Dane kept his cool to slot a left-footed finish past Mike Maignan.
Earlier in the half, Kenneth Taylor had already rattled the crossbar for Lazio, serving a warning that Milan failed to heed. While the Rossoneri dominated possession (nearly 60%), they spent much of the night huffing and puffing against a “Sarrismo” defensive masterclass.
The VAR Drama
The second half was a story of “what could have been” for Massimiliano Allegri’s men. The biggest talking point came in the 75th minute when substitute Zachary Athekame appeared to have found the equalizer with a brilliant acrobatic strike. However, the Olimpico erupted in relief rather than silence as the goal was ruled out for a handball in the buildup.
Allegri threw everything at the Roman wall—bringing on Niclas Füllkrug and Luka Modrić to spark some late-game heroics—but Lazio’s Mario Gila put in a Man of the Match performance to ensure the clean sheet stayed intact.
The Big Picture
This result is a hammer blow for Milan’s title aspirations. With Inter dropping points earlier in the weekend, this was a golden opportunity to close the gap. Instead, the Rossoneri remain eight points adrift of the summit with only nine matches left to play. For Lazio, the win moves them up to 9th, providing a much-needed morale boost amidst a season of ups and downs.
