The top three teams in the Serie A table are separated by just one point.
In the span of three days, the league leaders changed three times. Napoli briefly rose to the top but couldn’t hold the spot for more than 24 hours. After conceding two goals within the first 20 minutes against Torino, AC Milan bounced back with a spectacular victory to reclaim first place.
On Monday night, Milan won the away match 3-2, with substitute Christian Pulisic emerging as the hero by scoring twice to secure the win.
With this third consecutive league win, AC Milan now have 31 points from 14 matches. Napoli had briefly topped the table on Sunday with the same points, but Milan’s superior goal difference pushed them back to first.
Inter Milan had climbed to the top on Saturday after their own win. With 30 points from the same number of matches, they now sit third in the table.
Pulisic’s participation had been uncertain due to illness. Milan had left him on the bench at kickoff after he suffered a fever prior to the Torino game. In addition, coach Massimiliano Allegri was absent from the touchline due to a one-match ban he received last month for protesting a referee’s decision in the 1-0 win over Lazio.
Milan had a difficult start on the field. In the 10th minute, they fell behind when Nikola Vlašić converted a penalty, awarded after defender Tomori handled the ball in the box. Just seven minutes later, Duván Zapata added a second goal for Torino.
Milan responded quickly, however, with a goal from French midfielder Adrien Rabiot from nearly 30 yards out.
Their struggles continued when Portuguese forward Rafael Leão had to leave the field injured in the 31st minute. Despite these setbacks, Milan kept pushing forward. Their attacking pressure intensified in the second half, but goals remained elusive.
Finally, in the 66th minute, the team brought Pulisic on. Within seconds of entering the field, the American forward equalized. Ten minutes later, he volleyed in another cross from a teammate, sealing a thrilling victory for Milan.
