MILAN WIN IT! Surely that's three points stolen by the champions! As Rebic rises to reach a curled Vranckx cross from the right and fails, Milenkovic meets it instead, after Terracciano fails to make a punched clearance. The ball spins into the net, and the Serbian's own goal puts Milan 2-1 ahead!
88'
Biraghi wastes an opportunity to pick out a team-mate in the centre from a right-sided corner, which instead sails straight into the gloves of an unchallenged Tatarusanu.
86'
An attacking gamble by Pioli sees Tonali taken off for a forward, Rebic.
85'
A. Rebić enters the game and replaces S. Tonali.
Neither side wants to settle for a point, it seems, so we are having a wide-open conclusion to this game. Can anyone find a moment of inspiration and win it?
83'
A tame shot from 20 yards sees Terzic find only the waiting gloves of Tatarusanu, who is well placed in the centre of his goal. It will take more than that to beat the giant keeper.
81'
With Leao sprinting towards the left byline at top speed, Amrabat puts on the after-burners and reaches out a leg to divert the ball away for a corner - very much in the manner of Tomori's last-gasp tackle earlier on. Some more top-class defending at San Siro!
79'
Flinging his arms wide in frustration, Giroud despairs at an overhit pass from Bennacer, which is nowhere near its target and spins past the striker for a Fiorentina goal-kick.
77'
Milan are piling on the pressure now, as after a couple of blocked efforts from outside the box, Leao blazes over from near the penalty spot. That was a good chance spurned by the opening goalscorer.
75'
A. Terzić enters the game and replaces A. Barák.
A. Vranckx enters the game and replaces R. Krunić.
C. Kouamé enters the game and replaces R. Saponara.
Fiorentina make two more changes. First, Saponara is replaced by Kouame on the left wing.
Goalscorer Barak is also replaced. A more defensive option, Terzic, comes on instead.
Pioli also opts for an unorthodox switch: Krunic makes way for Vranckx.
Minute
Description
74'
L. Jović gets yellow.
Not for the first time in his career, Hernandez hares off down the left flank on a counter-attack and finds himself mowed down by a desperate hack. Jovic is the guilty party this time, and sees yellow as a result.
72'
A typically spectacular bicycle-kick from 10 yards sees Giroud miss the target by some margin, as he can't quite make clean contact on Leao's cross stood up from the left.
68'
Though they've shown few signs of penetrating their visitors' well-drilled defence, Milan are certainly exerting more control on this second half than the first, most of which they spent on the back foot.
66'
L. Jović enters the game and replaces Arthur Cabral.
A. Duncan enters the game and replaces R. Mandragora.
Having just received a booking, Mandragora makes way for Duncan's fresh legs in midfield.
An expected change by Italiano: Cabral's shift is over, as Jovic slots in up front for the final stages of this finely-balanced game.
63'
R. Mandragora gets yellow.
For a mistimed challenge on Krunic, who was sprinting onto a loose ball in midfield, Mandragora becomes the third Fiorentina player yellow-carded today.
57'
After Cabral manages to force the ball between two defenders on the edge of the area, Mandragora slips as he sends a hurried snap-shot well wide of the right-hand post.
56'
S. Dest enters the game and replaces M. Thiaw.
Thiaw is also replaced, as Dest comes on. That will require something of a defensive reshuffle for Milan.
55'
D. Origi enters the game and replaces Brahim Díaz.
Booked in the first half, Diaz is the first man withdrawn by Milan; Origi will partner Giroud up front.
54'
While Milan are now playing at a greater tempo and finally pinning Fiorentina back, it looks like Pioli has seen enough - he's readying some substitutes on the touchline.
50'
R. Saponara gets yellow.
Trying, but failing, to halt a Milan counter-attack with a crude foul on Diaz in the centre circle, Saponara is ultimately booked by the referee.
49'
A. Barák gets yellow.
For a clear pull on Hernandez's shirt in midfield, Barak is booked; receiving Fiorentina's first yellow card.
48'
Thiaw is forced into a clearance from inside his six-yard box, following a dangerous low cross from the left by Barak.
46'
Fiorentina kick off, and we are back under way at San Siro!
45' +3
HALF-TIME: MILAN 1-1 FIORENTINA
43'
Just in time, Milenkovic makes a timely intervention inside his six-yard box, as Tonali takes in a pass from Leao and threatens to slam the ball in by the left-hand post.
42'
Having received the ball from Cabral, another effort by Mandragora from outside the box sails high over the crossbar.
37'
Both Mandragora and Amrabat see shots charged down from just outside the box, as the Viola remain ascendant.
36'
After a short delay, Biraghi returns to his feet and the action continues. Fiorentina are still marginally on top at this point, and Milan can't quite figure out how to deal with the intensity of their play.
34'
After a well-timed challenge from Kalulu in the box, a rather dramatic Biraghi rolls about on the pitch claiming a penalty. The game is halted while the Fiorentina full-back receives treatment, but neither the referee or VAR are interested in awarding a spot-kick.
32'
Hernandez whips over a free-kick from 25 yards out, on the left, but Terracciano is able to punch the ball away from near the penalty spot, and Fiorentina ultimately clear the danger.
28'
A. Barák has scored a goal for Fiorentina! Assist by J. Ikoné.
FIORENTINA EQUALISE! Only on the pitch due to a pre-match injury for Bonaventura, Barak pulls the Viola level with a low shot from 10 yards out, which deflects heavily off Thiaw and leaves Tatarusanu well beaten! It came after a messy spell in the Milan box, at the end of which, Ikone bundled the ball towards the Czech midfielder. It's now 1-1, and no less than Fiorentina deserve.
Managing to steer the ball to Barak under pressure inside the Milan box, Ikone records an assist.
24'
Using some neat footwork and a turn of pace, Barak wins a free-kick by the right corner flag; drawing Bennacer into a foul. After the set-piece comes in, the ball drops out to Ikone on the edge of the box, and his low drive is saved low down by Tatarusanu. The flag then goes up for an offside call on Saponara earlier on.
21'
Brahim Díaz gets yellow.
A ridiculously rash pull on Saponara by Diaz in the centre circle results in a deserved yellow card for the latter. He may regret that decision later on.
20'
A loose back-pass from Igor almost lets Giroud steal in and snatch the ball inside the Fiorentina box, but a well-timed lunge from Terracciano gets it clear just in time.
18'
L. Venuti enters the game and replaces Dodô.
Dodo cannot continue due to injury, so his deputy Venuti slots in at right-back for the Viola.
15'
Tatarusanu gathers the ball comfortably inside his six-yard box, after Cabral loops a tame header from near the penalty spot towards goal.
14'
Giroud is penalised for leaning on Biraghi as he attempts to win a high ball, and Fiorentina are gifted possession once again. Milan simply can't get hold of it at the moment.
10'
Since going ahead, Milan have been under constant pressure from their Viola visitors, and Tomori is forced to concede a corner as the hosts struggle to cope with Fiorentina's fluent football.
6'
A former Rossonero, returning to San Siro today, Saponara drives a shot over the crossbar from long range. He can certainly hit them from there, but that was ambitious.
2'
Rafael Leão has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by O. Giroud.
MILAN LEAD! Capitalising on incessant pressure from almost the very first whistle, Milan go ahead early on! After Giroud flicks a ball around the corner, around 30 yards out from goal, Leao picks it up without breaking stride and surges into a shooting position, just inside the box. He picks his spot and calmly guides the ball into the bottom-right corner! It's 1-0 to the Rossoneri!
A typically clever flick by Giroud releases Leao to sprint through the centre and score.
1'
Milan kick off, and we are under way at San Siro!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Serie A clash between Milan and Fiorentina at San Siro!
After recently slipping to third place, and now 11 points adrift of the Serie A summit, Scudetto-holders Milan seek a more successful conclusion to their 2022 schedule today. Held to a goalless draw by promoted Cremonese in midweek, the Rossoneri have picked up just one point from the last possible six away from home, which contrasts starkly with some fine form at San Siro. Stefano Pioli's side have averaged over two goals per game in their last 10 league fixtures at home; winning nine times in the process.
Finally finding top form just as the season stops for the World Cup, Fiorentina's recent resurgence has seen them sneak back into the top half of the Serie A standings. Also through to the Europa Conference League's knockout phase, in midweek, the Viola secured a 2-1 home win over Salernitana, thanks to Luka Jovic's late winning goal. The Tuscan side are also unbeaten in each of their last three top-flight away games, so now aim to end their calendar-year schedule in style.
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Ciprian Tatarusanu; Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer; Rade Krunic, Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud.
SUBS: Antonio Mirante, Andreas Jungdal, Fode Ballo-Toure, Sergino Dest, Yacine Adli, Tommaso Pobega, Simon Kjaer, Charles de Ketelaere, Ante Rebic, Divock Origi, Aster Vranckx, Tiemoue Bakayoko.
FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Pietro Terracciano; Dodo, Nikola Milenkovic, Igor, Cristiano Biraghi; Sofyan Amrabat, Rolando Mandragora; Jonathan Ikone, Antonin Barak, Riccardo Saponara; Arthur Cabral.
SUBS: Pierluigi Gollini, Michele Cerofolini, Luca Ranieri, Christian Kouame, Youssef Maleh, Alfred Duncan, Aleksa Terzic, Alessandro Bianco, Lorenzo Venuti, Luka Jovic, Lucas Martinez Quarta.
The players are out on the pitch, and after Rafael Leao receives an award as Serie A's October 'Player of the Month' from Rossoneri legend Paolo Maldini, we are now just moments away from kick-off!
Milan's win keeps them within eight points of relentless Serie A leaders Napoli at the World Cup break, and they resume their Scudetto defence at Salernitana early in the new year. Fiorentina, meanwhile, will curse their luck and have nearly two months to mull over this last-gasp defeat - they next tackle Monza, on January 4.
That's all from San Siro today - and for this year - so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Commentary
More…