Milan’s comeback victory : Pulisic and Reijnders secure 2-1 win against Como in Serie A

AC Milan’s resilience was on full display at San Siro as they fought back from a goal down to secure a vital 2-1 victory against Como in Serie A. Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders emerged as the heroes for the Rossoneri, turning the game around in the second half after Lucas Da Cunha had given the visitors a first-half lead. This comeback victory continues Milan’s impressive form under new manager Sergio Conceicao, who has instilled a fighting spirit within the squad since his arrival in early 2025.

In Short

Milan’s resilient comeback showcases championship mentality

The match began with Milan creating an early opportunity in the 4th minute when Yunus Musah found himself one-on-one with Como goalkeeper Guillaume Butez, but the American midfielder’s finish was wide of the target. This missed chance proved costly as Como grew into the game and eventually took the lead in the 33rd minute through Lucas Da Cunha, who finished clinically from a well-worked move involving Nico Paz and Diao.

Milan’s first-half performance left much to be desired, with the home crowd expressing their frustration through whistles as the teams headed to the dressing rooms. Conceicao responded with tactical changes at halftime, bringing on Youssouf Fofana and Alex Jimenez for Bondo and Theo Hernandez. The Portuguese manager continued to make attacking substitutions, introducing Joao Felix for the underwhelming Musah in the 51st minute.

These changes paid dividends almost immediately. In the 53rd minute, Tijjani Reijnders found Pulisic with a perfectly weighted pass, and the American made no mistake with a precise finish across Butez to level the score. The momentum had shifted, and Milan’s prediction models would have shown a significant swing in their favor at this point.

The winning goal arrived in the 76th minute when Tammy Abraham, who had replaced Santiago Gimenez, displayed excellent hold-up play before setting up Reijnders. The Dutch midfielder, who had been outstanding throughout the match, confidently slotted past Butez to complete the comeback. Como’s hopes of salvaging something from the game were further diminished when Dele Alli, making his first competitive appearance since February 2023, was sent off shortly after coming on as a substitute.

This victory extends Milan’s winning streak against Como to four consecutive Serie A matches, a feat they had not achieved since 1951-1952. The comeback win also marks Milan’s second consecutive come-from-behind victory, highlighting the resilience that has become characteristic of Conceicao’s team. Since his appointment in early 2025, Milan have gained 12 points from losing positions, second only to Bologna (15) across Europe’s top five leagues.

Standout performers energize Milan’s European qualification push

Christian Pulisic continues to be a driving force for Milan’s attacking play. His goal against Como was his ninth in the current Serie A campaign, adding to his six assists for a total of 15 goal contributions – the highest among all midfielders in the league this season. The American’s consistent performances have been crucial for Milan’s push toward European qualification, similar to his impact in Milan’s 1-0 win against Verona earlier in the season.

Tijjani Reijnders had arguably his most complete performance in a Milan shirt, scoring the winning goal and providing the assist for Pulisic’s equalizer – the first time in his career he has both scored and assisted in the same game across Europe’s top ten leagues. The Dutch midfielder now has 12 goal contributions (9 goals, 3 assists) this season, making him and Pulisic two of the most productive midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

Milan’s ability to create scoring opportunities through their midfielders gives them a statistical edge in matches where traditional forwards might be struggling. Only Brentford has more midfielders with 10+ goal contributions than Milan in Europe’s top five leagues this season. This diversified attacking threat makes the Rossoneri particularly dangerous and unpredictable for opposition defenses to handle.

Como, meanwhile, had their own standout performer in Nico Paz. The young Argentine continues to impress with his creativity and goal threat. At just 20 years old (born in 2004), he has already accumulated six goals and five assists this season. Among players with at least five goals and five assists in Europe’s top five leagues this season, only Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (born in 2007) is younger.

The visitors will be disappointed to have lost after taking the lead, continuing a concerning trend. Como have now dropped 22 points from winning positions this season – the third most in Europe’s top five leagues behind only Venezia (24) and Southampton and Valencia (23 each). This statistical vulnerability makes them particularly attractive for in-play trading strategies when they take the lead.

Future implications for Milan’s European ambitions

This victory carries significant weight for Milan’s European aspirations. The three points move them closer to the coveted European qualification spots, building on their recent momentum. Milan have now gained 15 points from losing positions in Serie A this season – their highest tally since the 2021/22 campaign when they won the Scudetto (16 points).

The win also extends Milan’s impressive record at San Siro against Como, marking their fourth consecutive home victory against the visitors in Serie A – another historical milestone for the Rossoneri. These statistics highlight Milan’s dominance in this fixture and suggest they maintain a psychological edge over the Como side coached by Cesc Fabregas.

For Rafael Leão, the match marked his 250th appearance for Milan across all competitions – a significant milestone for the Portuguese winger who continues to be a key figure at the club despite an inconsistent performance on this occasion. Advanced metrics suggest Leão’s underlying numbers remain strong, indicating potential for explosive performances in upcoming fixtures.

Como will need to address their tendency to surrender winning positions if they hope to climb from their current 13th position in the table. Their ability to score from distance (seven goals from outside the box this season – only Atalanta and Roma have more) shows they have the technical quality, but game management remains a concern.

As Serie A enters its final stretch, every point becomes increasingly valuable in the battle for European places. Milan’s ability to fight back and win difficult matches demonstrates the character and quality needed to succeed at the highest level. For betting enthusiasts tracking form and momentum, the Rossoneri’s resilience makes them a compelling proposition, particularly in scenarios where they concede first but still have time to mount a comeback.