Max Allegri believes AC Milan were firmly on track for victory at the Stadio Olimpico before a penalty swung the balance in Roma’s favour, insisting the 1-1 draw should still be viewed as a positive result.
AC Milan looked set to repeat their earlier success against Roma this season, when they weathered heavy pressure to claim a narrow win at San Siro.
This time, De Winter’s header from a clever Modrić short corner routine gave AC Milan a deserved lead, but Pellegrini made no mistake from the spot, unlike Dybala earlier in the campaign.
Despite the final scoreline, the numbers underlined Milan’s dominance. They registered 15 shots to Roma’s five and posted an expected goals figure of 2.74 compared to the hosts’ 0.35, even if the contest became more even after the break.
“I think the first seven or eight minutes were good, then Roma pushed us back,” Allegri told reporters. “They were quicker to second balls and dangerous with vertical passes. Maignan did very well to keep us in the game. In the second half, we improved technically and Roma lost some intensity.”
Allegri felt the match was under control once AC Milan took the lead, only for the penalty to change everything. “Once we went ahead, it seemed to be going our way, but these incidents can happen. Coming to the Olimpico and taking a point at this stage of the season is important. We gained a point on Napoli and kept Roma at the same distance.”
The draw leaves AC Milan second in Serie A, now five points behind leaders Inter but with a five-point cushion over fifth-placed Juventus. It also extended their unbeaten league run to 21 matches, dating back to their opening-day defeat in August.
Reflecting on his tactical choices, Allegri highlighted the importance of squad depth. “Roma pressed hard, but we were more aggressive in the second half. Against that style, we need long passing triangles and more precision from the back. Once we were leading, it felt easier for us to go 2-0 up than for Roma to equalise, but football changes quickly — just when you think one thing, something else happens.”
