Genoa 1-2 AC Milan: Five things we learned – returns, maturity and a recurring issue | OneFootball

AC Milan won their third consecutive Serie A game on Monday night away from home against Genoa, beating the Rossblu by two goals to one.

Monday’s fixture was certainly a bit of a shock to the system, considering Milan are yet to drop after a run of good results. We have seen it so often, and now the Rossoneri are seemingly going from strength to strength, even if some issues still exist.

Despite Genoa taking the lead through a Vitinha volley in the second half, the Diavolo came back to earn all three points, scoring two goals in less than two minutes. Rafael Leao got the leveller, then forced an own-goal, before Milan saw out the rest of the game with relative comfort.

It is a big result – an eighth comeback under Sergio Conceicao – even if it is more about building confidence for the Coppa Italia final, but the proof will be in the pudding in the next two games. For now though, let’s take a look at five things we learned.

1. Maignan’s renewal now a must?

Despite conceding last night – something which we’ll get to – Maignan was superb for Milan, and this is a trend that is starting to form again. Of course, he has been more regularly criticised this season, but the latter parts of the campaign have been a good reminder of his quality.

We need only talk about his two big saves on Norton-Cuffey and Pulisic (who turned it towards his own net). It looked almost unnatural how the Frenchman got down to his right so quickly for the latter one, and frankly, it is a save that probably wins the game for the Rossoneri.

Talk about a renewal is still ongoing, with the management seemingly still making decisions about his year, but his recent form certainly has to swing things in his favour.

2. Big returns in big moments

The big return this week was for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who actually played his first 90 minutes since October – just as a reminder, we are now in May (horrible, we know). Questions about his future are ever-present, though he put in a solid shift on Monday, and we can’t really complain.

Additionally, Kyle Walker was welcomed back to the team and played some minutes late on. His future is also a topic of interest, and whilst he would be an expensive bit-part player, he proved that he is more than capable of offering solidity from the bench.

There are a lot of questions to be answered about the English pair in the next few weeks. However, their presence will be significant in the final weeks of the season with games coming quite thick and fast.

3. A problematic trend

For what feels like the nth game in a row, Milan were again caught napping at the far post, when Genoa scored their only goal of the game.

It came from an unlikely source in Vitinha who hadn’t scored a league goal all season, but was rather calculated and homework had clearly been done. The ball was crossed into the area between Strahinja Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez, and they were caught out, as they have been regularly.

More Stories / The Match

Genoa 1-2 AC Milan: Five things we learned – returns, maturity and a recurring issue

6 May 2025, 20:40

MN: Milan have three games to ‘recover’ Serie A season – the stakes and stipulations

6 May 2025, 19:00

‘We played a perfect game’ – Masini admits Milan undid Genoa with two moves

6 May 2025, 18:30

Of course, there would be teething problems, if they were new players. However, they have played in this same combination (Pavlovic as the left-sided central defender and Theo at left-back/wing-back) for large parts of the season.

It is a problem of communication, and until it is fixed, it is a constant threat that is not only being targeted, but more importantly exposed.

4. Leao: a team player

At the start of the year, Rafael Leao being benched was a HUGE story. It happened once, then twice, then became a bit of a regularity. In fact, it even led to reports about him seeking a move away from the club.

Against Genoa though – and in fairness recently in general – Leao has seemed to mature a little. There were no qualms about his position among the substitutes given the need to manage resources in view of the final, and there have been no suggestions of any frustrations.

Perhaps the fact he came on early doors helped. However, he still made as big of an impact as would be expected and was pivotal to the Rossoneri getting three points, continuing a knack of being a bit of an impact substitution.

We speak regularly about Leao, his mentality, maturity, and general impact. Monday was a reminder that he is the true game-breaker in the squad, the all-purpose key for the most difficult of locks.

5. We need to talk Conceicao

The talk about Sergio Conceicao will not die down anytime soon. Since he took the job, there has always been a lingering discussion about his future, largely due to the structure of his contract. So, with bad results, that conversation has grown louder, and it has never been shut down.

In fact, it has grown to the point where the Diavolo have effectively dug their own grave. We reported recently that the Portuguese is going to leave this summer and it is largely due to him not feeling supported. There have been no rumours shut down; instead they have simmered and gotten more fierce.

With that said, there is time to potentially mend things. Since turning to the 3-4-3, Milan have won four of their five games – including a dismantling of Inter – and they have been effective in each game. The record reads 11 goals scored and two goals conceded.

We are seeing a unified team, both tactically and mentally, and this is something which the Rossoneri cannot just let go this summer. So, perhaps a revision of the situation is needed, especially if a second trophy comes next week.