AC Milan 1-1 Genoa: Leao levels amid late drama as Stanciu squanders spot-kick

Nicolae Stanciu missed a last-gasp penalty as Genoa were pegged back by AC Milan in a chaotic 1-1 draw at San Siro.

Serie A strugglers Genoa seemed set to clinch a surprise victory on Thursday when Davide Bartesaghi brought down Mikael Ellertsson deep in second-half stoppage time.

However, Stanciu fluffed his lines from the spot, blazing his attempt well over the crossbar.

That incident came just moments after Rafael Leao had headed Milan level, cancelling out Lorenzo Colombo’s 28th-minute opener for the visitors.

Milan, who saw Matteo Gabbia hit the woodwork twice, almost won it through Niclas Fullkrug prior to the Genoa break that resulted in the spot-kick.

Yet an animated Daniele De Rossi and Massimiliano Allegri, who was marking his 200th match in charge of the Rossoneri across two spells, were ultimately forced to settle for a share of the spoils, with Milan now three points behind Serie A pacesetters Inter.

3 – #Genoa have remained unbeaten in three consecutive away games in #SerieA against #Milan (D3) for the first time since 1976–1981 (three draws in a row on that occasion). Balanced.#MilanGenoa

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 8, 2026

Data Debrief: Genoa frustrate Milan again but penalty woes continue

Genoa may be in a relegation battle, but this is now their third straight league draw at San Siro when going up against Milan.

It is the first time they have gone three straight away games unbeaten against Milan in the league since the 1970s.

Milan would have considered it daylight robbery, though, had Genoa come away with all three points.

The hosts had 55 touches in the opposition box, conceding just 14, and put up 32 shots for an accumulative 2.34 expected goals to Genoa’s seven attempts (1.32 xG).

Genoa will hope that penalty miss does not come back to bite them down the line, though. They have failed to score three of their four spot-kicks taken in Serie A this season.