AC Milan left it incredibly late to secure a vital 2-0 victory over struggling Cremonese on Sunday, March 1, 2026. In a match that appeared destined for a frustrating goalless draw, the Rossoneri struck twice in the dying embers of the game to keep their slim title hopes alive and strengthen their grip on a Champions League spot.
The win at the Stadio Giovanni Zini ends a 23-year away scoring drought for Milan against Cremonese and provides the perfect response to last week’s disappointing defeat to Parma.
Match Highlights: Frustration at the Zini
For 89 minutes, it was a story of "what could have been" for Massimiliano Allegri’s side. Despite dominating possession and racking up an impressive 3.51 Expected Goals (xG), Milan found themselves thwarted by a resolute Cremonese defense and a standout performance from goalkeeper Emil Audero.
Leao's Off Day (Until the End): Rafael Leao had several golden opportunities to open the scoring in both halves, most notably dragging a shot wide when one-on-one in the 34th minute and lifting another effort over the bar from point-blank range after the restart.
Audero's Heroics: The Cremonese keeper produced world-class saves to deny both Leao and Christian Pulisic before the interval, keeping the hosts level as the pressure mounted.
Cremonese Threats: The home side weren't without their chances; veteran striker Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli both came close to breaking the deadlock on the counter, forcing Mike Maignan into several alert interventions.
The Breakthrough: 90th-Minute Relief
The deadlock was finally broken in the 90th minute. Following a trademark curling delivery from Luka Modric, defender Koni De Winter flicked the ball toward the back post. Strahinja Pavlovic was there to bundle it over the line—a goal eventually confirmed by VAR after a check for a potential handball.
With Cremonese pouring forward in search of a last-gasp equalizer, Milan capitalized on the break in the 94th minute. Christopher Nkunku led a rapid counter-attack before squaring for Rafael Leao, who made no mistake with a simple tap-in to finally get his name on the scoresheet and seal the three points.
Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | Cremonese | AC Milan |
| Score | 0 | 2 |
| Shots (On Target) | 15 (2) | 20 (5) |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.99 | 3.51 |
| Possession | 33% | 67% |
The Derby della Madonnina
The victory ensures Milan move back to within 10 points of league leaders Inter Milan, who had temporarily stretched their lead to 13 points on Saturday.
The stage is now perfectly set for next weekend’s monumental Derby della Madonnina. While Inter remains the heavy favorite for the Scudetto, Milan’s late-show in Cremona ensures they head into the derby with momentum and their Champions League qualification almost certainly secured.