Lazio 1-0 Milan: Isaksen's strike makes the Rossoneri harder to chase the top

Isaksen's straight goal at 26th minute nails Milan from shortening the gap with Inter. 

Match Report:

In a tightly contested match at Stadio Olimpico, Lazio managed to secure a crucial 1-0 win over AC Milan in the 29th fixture of the Serie A 25/26 season. The lone goal from Gustav Isaksen in the 26th minute was enough to earn the home side all three points on the night of March 15, 2026.

Despite having less possession and fewer shots on target, Lazio capitalized on their opportunities. Milan dominated the game in terms of possession, holding 58% compared to Lazio's 42%, and had 15 shots at goal, but only managed to get three on target. Lazio, on the other hand, had seven shots with two on target, showing a more clinical edge in front of goal.

The decisive moment came midway through the first half when Gustav Isaksen found the back of the net with a well-placed left-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right, assisted by Adam Marusic. This goal marked Isaksen's fourth in the competition, highlighting his importance to the team. Marusic's contribution was also notable as he recorded his second assist of the season.

Despite Milan's efforts to equalize, including winning eight corners and creating several chances, Lazio's defense stood firm, securing a victory that keeps them competitive in the league standings. The match showcased a tactical battle where efficiency in front of goal proved to be the deciding factor.

First half: The Aquile take flight

Massimiliano Allegri made just one change to the starting line-up from the team that won the derby against Inter, with the suspended Adrian Rabiot replaced by Ardon Jashari on the left side of a midfield three.

The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico could be described as hostile. Having protested for weeks by not showing up, over 50,000 fans were present on Sunday night as the organised fan groups urged everyone to cheer the team on. Lazio started on the front foot: Isaksen tested Strahinja Pavlovic with a couple of darting runs off the left that he just about thwarted.

Milan fashioned the first dangerous moment in the 10th minute when Pavlovic did excellently to keep a cross in play on the far side, then a shot was blocked into his path deep inside the box. He dribbled around one man, but Provstgaard dived in brilliantly to stop a very dangerous shot from close range.

A couple of minutes after that, Lazio tested the strength of the crossbar with an absolute rocket of a shot off the boot of Isaksen, again after a blocked shot resulted in a fortunate bounce. This time, however, it wouldn’t have counted because he had controlled it with his arm and was potentially offside too.

After a rather scrappy period in the game in which Milan got themselves in top, Pervis Estupinan was inches away from opening the scoring for the second straight weekend. A brilliant cross from Alexis Saelemaekers found the run in behind from the Ecuadorian, who got his head to it but guided it just wide of the far post.

Then, at the other end, it was Lazio’s turn to come incredibly close to breaking the deadlock. Taylor had overlapped on the left edge of the box and found space to shoot from a narrow angle, rattling the woodwork as Mike Maignan watched it cannon away to safety.

In the 27th minute, the home side did take the lead and it came courtesy of Isaksen. A long hopeful ball nestled in behind Estupinan who seemed to misjudge both the flight of the ball and where his man was. The Dane was able to latch onto it and surge into the box down the right side, finishing well past Maignan having opened up onto his left foot.

Nine minutes before the break, Daniel Maldini must have seen the headlines flash before his eyes as he raced through towards goal with Koni De Winter for company. He did get a shot off from the edge of the box, though the centre-back had done just enough to ensure it was weak and straight at Maignan.

Second half: Rossoneri can’t respond

Milan started the second half on top as they searched for an equaliser, and twice they created panic in quick succession. The first was a first-time shot from Pulisic on the edge of the box that Motta palmed away, then the rebound led to a cross and a scuff looped it up for Fofana, whose header from a great position was straight at Motta too.

Two minutes later it was Lazio’s turn to create some danger. Taylor did excellently to hammer a low ball across goal that nobody was on hand to tap in, before Estupinan almost scored a comical own-goal as he tried to head back to Maignan. Thankfully the Frenchman gathered at the second attempt.

Three minutes before the hour-mark, Allegri made a double change and it was two wing-backs who came on. Estupinan – who had just been booked – made way along with Fikayo Tomori, replaced by Zachary Athekame and Davide Bartesaghi.

If this really was an audition for Gila ahead of the summer, he passed the first hour with flying colours. His best moment came when Fofana looked to have put Leao through on goal but he was jostled off it by the Spaniard who used just the right amount of force.

Not long after Leao had failed to get his head on a cross into a great area and Pulisic had lashed a shot well over, another double change came. The Portuguese was not happy to be brought off, and Niclas Füllkrug took his spot, while Christopher Nkunku replaced Fofana.

Milan did have the ball in the net with just over 15 minutes to go as a corner ricocheted around and was fired in emphatically by Athekame, though the appeals for a handball were immediate and the referee quickly disallowed it.

It was all pressure from the Rossoneri as cross after cross went into the Lazio box, but the home side stood firm. When Modric opened up and curled a shot narrowly over inside the final 10 minutes, it was looking more and more like it wouldn’t be Milan’s day. The final change was Samuele Ricci for Saelemaekers.

The final chances of the game would see Jashari drive a shot wide from 25 yards with the box loaded full of players, and then the Swiss also volleyed after chesting the ball down well, failing to really test Motta.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

10' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

13' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

23' Highlight from Lazio vs Milan

25' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

26' GOAL! Lazio 1-0 Milan (Gustav Isaksen)

36' Highlight from Lazio vs Milan

50' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

51' Highlight from Lazio vs Milan

55' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

66' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

72' Highlight from Lazio vs Milan

73' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

75' Match Event for Lazio vs Milan

Line-ups

Lazio XI: Patric, Marusic, Zaccagni, Nuno Tavares, Gustav Isaksen, Kenneth Taylor, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Mario Gila, Maldini, Oliver Provstgaard, Edoardo Motta

Subs: Pedro, Hysaj, Lazzari, L.Pellegrini, Boulaye Dia, Matteo Cancellieri, Alessio Furlanetto, Tijjani Noslin, Petar Ratkov, Reda Belahyane, Adrian Przyborek, Giacomo Giacomone

Milan XI: Modric, Maignan, Tomori, Pervis Estupiñán, Pulisic, Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers, Youssouf Fofana, Ardon Jashari, S. Pavlovic, Koni De Winter

Subs: Pietro Terracciano, Füllkrug, Nkunku, Samuele Ricci, D. Odogu, Davide Bartesaghi, Zachary Athekame, Matteo Pittarella