Fiorentina took to the pitch at San Siro for a prestigious clash against AC Milan on Sunday evening. It was a night full of significance as Stefano Pioli returned to the stadium where he guided the Rossoneri to their most recent Serie A title. The occasion also marked his 500th appearance as a Serie A coach.

Both sides started cautiously, focused on maintaining defensive solidity and offering little space in behind. The first real chance of the match came in the 20th minute for Milan from a set piece: Luka Modric delivered a dangerous cross, Luca Ranieri’s attempted clearance ricocheted off a team-mate, and Strahinja Pavlovic fired over from a promising position.

Fiorentina responded with some neat link-up play between Jacopo Fazzini and Moise Kean, who drew a few useful free kicks, but Milan’s defence held firm and offered no gaps. After one minute of stoppage time, the first half ended goalless, with neither team able to create any clear-cut opportunities.

The second half began with no line-up changes from either side. In the 53rd minute, Fiorentina threatened through Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, whose powerful right-footed strike from distance flashed just wide. Three minutes later, the Viola took the lead: Nicolo Fagioli swung in a cross, Ranieri headed the ball into a dangerous area, Mike Maignan saved from Matteo Gabbia, but Robin Gosens was on hand to turn home the rebound and make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Milan reacted immediately, bringing on Santiago Gimenez for Zacuary Athekame. In the 62nd minute, Rafael Leao levelled the score with a superb curling effort from outside the area to make it 1-1. Fiorentina then made their first changes, with Albert Gudmundsson and Fabiano Parisi coming on for Fazzini and Gosens.

In the 74th minute, Fagioli threaded a clever pass through for Dodo, whose strike with the outside of his foot went narrowly over the crossbar. A minute later, Milan created a big chance after a fine move down the left: Davide Bartesaghi crossed for Gimenez, whose left-footed shot was brilliantly saved by David De Gea.

After making a swift recovery from the injury sustained on international duty, Kean made way for Roberto Piccoli. In the 85th minute, following a VAR review, referee Marinelli awarded a penalty for a foul by Parisi on Gimenez. Leao converted from the spot to complete Milan’s turnaround.

Fiorentina made further substitutions, introducing Edin Dzeko and Simon Sohm for Caviglia and Rolando Mandragora, pushing everyone forward in search of an equaliser. Milan also made late changes, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Leao making way for Koni De Winter and Cheveyo Balentien.

The match finished 2-1 to Max Allegri’s Milan in the end. The Viola will now turn their attention to their upcoming UEFA Europa Conference League fixture, as they travel to face Rapid Vienna on Matchday 2.

Milan 2-1 Fiorentina (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Gosens 55, Leao 63 and 86 (pen)

Milan (3-5-1-1):
Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Athekame, Ricci, Modric, Fofana, Bartesaghi; Saelemaekers; Leao.

Subs: Terracciano, Pittarella, De Winter, Loftus-Cheek, Gimenez, Balentien, Odogu.
Coach: Allegri.

Fiorentina (3-4-2-1):
De Gea; Pongracic, Mari, Ranieri; Dodo, Mandragora, Nicolussi C., Gosens; Fagioli, Fazzini; Kean.

Subs: Martinelli, Lezzerini, Fortini, Parisi, Kouadio, Comuzzo, Viti, Ndour, Sohm, Gudmundsson, Sabiri, Dzeko, Piccoli.
Coach: Pioli.

Booked: Athekame, Caviglia, Fofana, Tomori, Parisi, Leao, Ranieri.