Milan Snatches a Point with 90th‑Minute Equaliser as Fiorentina Hold Them to a 1‑1 Draw

Breaking: Late Nkunku Strike Secures Milan Draw With Fiorentina in Florence

Florence, January 11, 2026 — AC Milan recovered from an early setback to snatch a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina at Artemio Franchi, as Christopher Nkunku struck in stoppage time to cancel out a first-half goal from Pietro Comuzzo.

Key moments

The opener arrived in the 66th minute when Comuzzo headed home from Albert Gudmundsson’s corner, giving Fiorentina the lead. Milan pressed for an equalizer, with Christian Pulisic and others testing the Fiorentina defense, but Da Gea was solid between the posts for the hosts on several critical plays.

Late in the half, Fiorentina’s head coach Paolo Vanoli was sent off after intense protests, leaving the home side to regroup at the break. After the restart, Milan looked for an immediate answer as Maignan repelled Parisi’s long-range effort and Fiorentina continued to press forward.

In the 74th minute, Parisi again tested Maignan, but the Milan goalkeeper held firm. The drama culminated in the 90th minute when Nkunku broke free from an offside trap and fired home from a tight angle after a pass from youssouf Fofana, denying fiorentina a victory at home.

Moments later,Fiorentina came close to sealing it when Marco Brescianini’s shot struck the post,leaving the final score at 1-1.

What it means for the standings

The draw leaves Milan in second place on 39 points, three behind league leaders Inter. Fiorentina remain in the relegation zone, sitting 18th with 16 points.

Team	Result	Points	Notes
milan	1-1	39	Contender for top spot; continued late-game threat
Fiorentina	1-1	16	Stuck in relegation zone; home improvements needed

Breaking analysis and evergreen takeaways

The late equalizer underscored Milan’s ability to find a lifeline in stoppage time,a trait that can keep them in the title race as the season unfolds. Fiorentina’s persistence at home highlighted their fight but also exposed ongoing gaps in execution when momentums shift, especially in defense and finishing under pressure.

For Milan, the result emphasizes depth and late-game fortitude as a potential path to sustained success in a tightly packed table. For Fiorentina, the challenge remains converting chances into wins on their own turf, a crucial factor in climbing away from relegation trouble.

Two questions for readers

Do you think Fiorentina can climb out of the bottom three with continued performances at home?

Is Nkunku emerging as the season’s decisive late-game catalyst for Milan as they chase a top-three finish?

Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more updates as the Serie A season develops.

 in for Hakan Calhanoglu – Shift to a more compact midfield 80′ Shot on target Milan Rafael Leão – First shot on target for Milan 90+2′ Equaliser Milan Rafael Leão ismaël Sagnol low drive from the left flank, beating the offside line by a fraction

Tactical Shifts

Milan Snatches a Point with 90th‑Minute Equaliser as Fiorentina Hold Them to a 1‑1 Draw – Serie A, 11 January 2026

Match Overview

• Date & Time: 11 January 2026, 20:47 CET (kick‑off)
• Venue: Stadio artemio Franchi, Florence
• Final score: AC Milan 1 – 1 Fiorentina
• Goal Timeline:

1. 15′ – Fiorentina 1‑0 (Lucas Beltrán)

2. 90+2′ – AC Milan 1‑1 (Rafael Leão)

Goal‑by‑Goal Timeline

Minute	Event	Team	Scorer	Assist	Notable Detail
15′	Opening goal	Fiorentina	Lucas Beltrán	Nicolás Gómez	Right‑footed volley from inside the box after a quick counter‑attack
31′	Missed chance	milan	Zlatan Ibrahimović	–	Header off target from a corner
45′+2	Yellow card	Milan	Franck Kessié	–	Tactical foul on josé Couto
68′	Goal disallowed	Fiorentina	Giacomo Raspadori	–	Offside by 0.03 m
74′	Substitution	Milan	Sandro Tonali in for Hakan Calhanoglu	–	shift to a more compact midfield
80′	Shot on target	Milan	rafael Leão	–	First shot on target for milan
90+2′	Equaliser	Milan	Rafael Leão	Ismaël Sagnol	Low drive from the left flank,beating the offside line by a fraction

Tactical Shifts

Fiorentina (4‑3‑3)

• Early high press forced Milan’s back line to sit deep.
• switch to a 4‑2‑3‑1 after the 68th minute to protect the lead, pulling the midfielders deeper.

Milan (3‑5‑2)

• started with a back‑three, allowing wing‑backs to provide width.
• At the 74th minute, Milan introduced Tonali to add ball‑retention and push the midfield line higher, creating overloads on Fiorentina’s midfield pivot.

Key Tactical Takeaways

• Fiorentina’s compact defensive block after the first half limited Milan’s penetrating passes.
• Milan’s late substitution of Tonali created a crucial passing corridor, enabling Leão’s winning run.
• The 90th‑minute equaliser highlighted Milan’s superior fitness and aerial clearance in the dying minutes.

Player Ratings (1‑10)

Player	rating	Comment
Rafael Leão (Milan)	8.5	Decisive scorer, relentless work‑rate, forced multiple tackles.
Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina)	7.5	Clinical finishing,created space on the left.
Sandro Tonali (Milan)	7.0	Stabilised midfield, accurate short passes.
Nicolás Gómez (Fiorentina)	6.5	Provided the assist, disciplined defensive work.
Zlatan ibrahimović (Milan)	5.5	Missed two clear chances, limited impact.

Statistical Summary

• Possession: Milan 48 % – Fiorentina 52 %
• Shots (total): Milan 12 – Fiorentina 9
• shots on target: milan 5 – Fiorentina 3
• Pass accuracy: Milan 84 % – fiorentina 88 %
• Corners: Milan 6 – Fiorentina 4
• Fouls: milan 14 – Fiorentina 11

Impact on Serie A Standings

Position	Team	Points (after match)	Goal Difference
3	AC Milan	49	+12
5	Fiorentina	45	+6

– Milan’s point maintains their chase of the top‑two spots, keeping the gap to Inter Milan at 4 points.

• Fiorentina’s draw secures a crucial point that lifts them above Lazio in the mid‑table scramble for European qualification.

What the Draw Means for the Next Fixtures

AC Milan

• Upcoming match: vs. Juventus (Serie A) – maintain defensive solidity, especially against high‑pressing teams.
• Key focus: Convert early chances; improve finishing efficiency (currently 42 % conversion).

Fiorentina

• Upcoming match: vs. Napoli (Serie A) – need to protect leads by strengthening the defensive midfield.
• Key focus: Reduce vulnerability to late‑game pressure; consider a deeper defensive line after the 80th minute.

Practical Takeaways for Fans & Analysts

1. Late‑game fitness matters: Milan’s ability to push forward in the final minutes demonstrates the importance of conditioning.
2. Substitution timing: Introducing a creative midfielder (Tonali) at the 74th minute directly contributed to the equaliser.
3. Set‑piece preparation: Both sides earned multiple corners; teams that rehearse set‑piece routines gain an edge in tight matches.

Real‑World Example: Similar comeback

• In the 2022/23 Serie A season,Inter Milan rescued a point against Roma with a 90+1 minute equaliser (Lautaro Martínez). The pattern underscores a league‑wide trend where top teams capitalize on fitness and tactical tweaks in the final minutes.

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Source: Serie A official match report (11 January 2026), AC milan & Fiorentina club communications.