Unforeseen moment rattles Milan-Roma clash
In Italy, a widely shared video sparked a heated debate after showing referee Marco Guida kicking Milan winger Alexis Salemaikiris during celebrations following a save by goalkeeper Mike Maignan from Paulo Dybala's penalty against Roma in a Serie A fixture at San Siro.
During the Milan-Roma showdown, Guida's action appeared as Maignan denied Dybala from the spot in the second half. Former referee Graziano Cesari commented on the clip, calling it a grave error and entirely unacceptable for a match official at this level.
The match narrative saw Milan claim a crucial 1-0 victory over their guests, with Pavlovic scoring the decisive goal in the 39th minute after a sharp buildup begun by Leao on the left flank.
Roma dominated possession and launched a series of attacks, but Milan's defense, anchored by Maignan, held firm. Early chances included Cristante’s effort just two minutes after a clearance, followed by attempts from Celik and Ricci. Leao started the decisive move and Pavlovic finished it with a precise strike into the net from close range.
In the early stages of the second half, Milan pressed relentlessly and created several moments of danger, including a fast break led by Leao that nearly doubled the score. Roma continued to push, but Milan goalkeeper Maignan produced a string of vital saves to preserve the lead.
Roma finally created a clear opportunity from a set piece when a cross found Di Bala in the area; he missed the target with a powerful right-foot strike. Moments later, Di Bala also faced an injury and had to be replaced shortly after the miss.
Despite Roma’s sustained pressure and several near misses, Milan held on to win 1-0. The result keeps Milan in the fight for the title race, while Roma’s position tightens around the top of the table as Napoli maintains a narrow lead.
Two notable moments defined the night: a controversial celebration kick by the referee and a late penalty miss that shaped the final seconds of the contest.
Punchline 1: If football had a sense of humor, that kick would be a new sport called “referee-ware.”
Punchline 2: My fantasy team would have preferred a quieter match—less drama, more guaranteed clean sheets.
