AC Milan had to stage another comeback to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Como, marking their second consecutive Serie A win.
The visitors had the upper hand for much of the first half and took the lead through Luca Da Cunha, who finished clinically. Despite Milan creating a couple of significant chances, Como held firm until the break.
As in their previous encounter, the Rossoneri turned the game around against Cesc Fabregas’ team. Christian Pulisic equalized with a sharp strike from a tight angle, and Tijjani Reijnders once again proved decisive by netting the winner.
With this victory, Milan temporarily climbed to seventh place while awaiting results from other fixtures, including Bologna vs. Lazio and Fiorentina vs. Juventus.
Sergio Conceicao made two adjustments to the lineup that completed a comeback against Lecce.
Mike Maignan returned from suspension to reclaim his spot in goal, while Rafael Leao was reinstated on the left wing after his influential display last week.
The Rossoneri nearly took the lead within the first five minutes when Yunus Musah found himself in a prime position.
After winning possession deep in Como’s half, the American rounded the goalkeeper and drilled the ball across goal, only for it to evade both Tijjani Reijnders and Santiago Gimenez before rolling just wide.
Como’s early opportunities stemmed mostly from Milan’s lapses in possession. One such instance in the 12th minute saw Nico Paz fire just past the near post from the edge of the box.
Reijnders was a creative force in the opening 25 minutes, carving out two promising opportunities. First, he delivered a superb curling pass into Theo Hernandez’s path, though the full-back couldn’t maintain his balance in the box. Later, another incisive pass found Rafael Leao in space, but the final touch was lacking.
Maignan made his first save of the game just after the half-hour mark, denying Nico Paz. However, moments later, he was beaten.
A slick move down the left involving Diao and Paz set up Da Cunha, who slotted a precise left-footed effort into the bottom corner at the near post.
Como could have doubled their lead before halftime. Maxence Caqueret delivered an inviting cross, which was controlled and flicked toward goal, but the finishing touch from defender Marc-Oliver Kempf lacked the necessary power to trouble Maignan.
As has been a recurring pattern under Conceicao, Milan struggled in the first half, prompting tactical adjustments.
Theo Hernandez and Warren Bondo were substituted at halftime, with Alex Jimenez and Youssouf Fofana coming on.
Como thought they had extended their lead when Da Cunha broke through Milan’s high line and found the net, but VAR intervened, ruling him offside. Meanwhile, Joao Felix replaced Musah in an attacking switch.
That proved to be the turning point, as Milan soon found their equalizer. Pulisic, receiving a clever pass from Reijnders on the left side of the box, produced a sublime finish from an improbable angle to level the score.
Da Cunha remained Como’s biggest attacking threat, forcing Maignan into a crucial low save to deny another attempt similar to his first-half goal.
Despite enjoying more possession, Como struggled to capitalize, while Milan remained patient, waiting for openings in transition. One such moment saw Felix nearly thread a pass to Gimenez, but the Mexican forward had another subdued outing and was replaced by Tammy Abraham.
Reijnders, instrumental in creating chances, nearly turned goal-scorer when he latched onto Pulisic’s cut-back, only to fire narrowly over the bar. At the other end, Patrick Cutrone spun and sent a shot just wide.
Milan found their breakthrough with 15 minutes remaining, thanks to substitute Abraham’s vision and execution. Holding the ball with his back to goal, he spotted Reijnders’ run and delivered a perfectly weighted pass.
The Dutch midfielder took full advantage, slotting the ball past the keeper at the near post.
Abraham and Reijnders combined again late on, but Milan squandered a golden opportunity to put the game to bed. Abraham’s first-time layoff set up Reijnders, who was through on goal, yet his shot narrowly missed the far post.
Como’s chances of salvaging a point faded in stoppage time when Dele Alli, making his debut, saw red for a reckless challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Initially booked for his studs-up tackle, the decision was upgraded to a dismissal after a VAR review, sealing Como’s fate.
