Allegri’s Red Card Unpacked: Milan Holds Lazio in a Tense Serie A Showdown
30 November 2025
What happened at the end and the red cards
Massimiliano Allegri, Milan's head coach, revealed what he told Lazio in the final seconds of the match that earned him a straight red card.
Milan edged Lazio 1-0 on Saturday night, securing three vital points in Serie A round 13.
In the late minutes, Allegri and Lazio's assistant Marco Ianni were sent off during a VAR review over a possible Lazio penalty.
Replays showed a handball by Strahinja Pavlovic of Milan, but it was preceded by a foul from Adam Marusic on Pavlovic.
Key quotes and players’ roles
Allegri told Sky Italia that the final minutes were chaotic, and the referee faced a tough call after the video review.
He said the referee was the same official who oversaw our opener against Cremonese, so he asked why there is trouble every time.
In the chaos, the decision felt natural, though Allegri insists he did not mean to insult the official.
Milan struggled early as Lazio pressed and closed off passing lanes, forcing riskier moves that could fail, so the hosts were not at their best.
In the second half, Milan raised the tempo and Lazio faded somewhat, leaving several clear chances besides the goal.
Over the last decade Milan has only led the table twice after 13 rounds, finishing the first and second seasons in that order.
Allegri added that the team must keep working, stay humble, win back the ball, and play as one; he sees hunger in the squad and the fans.
Asked if Rafael Leao is adapting to the center-forward role, he answered that Leao played as a centre-forward at Lille and can sprint from wide or move into different attacking positions.
With Adrien Rabiot in the starting lineup, Milan have a near-perfect record; he said that compared with Juventus, Adrien has improved a lot.
Allegri added that Adrien brings great physical strength, sharp tactical awareness, and is a team player; to build a title-challenging side, you need teammates who serve others.
Allegri wrapped up by saying there are many players who share this passion, and that is what makes the difference; Adrien's midfield power is unmatched.
Punchline: If calm were a sport, Allegri would win it—until the red card reality check arrives at the door.
Punchline 2: And if drama sells, this game was a bestseller—VAR, red cards, and a coach keeping his cool long after the whistle. Bam, the snapshot goes viral.
