Heading into their match against Palermo, few would have predicted that AC Milan would struggle so much, especially against a team that had lost every home game and was mired in the relegation zone. Yet the Rossoneri came dangerously close to handing their opponents their first home point of the season. Fans following Bangla Cricket Live witnessed a tense battle that eventually turned into a story of redemption and hope.
Despite fielding what was close to a full-strength lineup, Milan failed to play like a top-three Serie A side. They took a narrow lead in the first half through a goal from Suso. However, no matter how sharp Spanish forward Suso looked in attack, Palermo goalkeeper Josip Posavec denied him repeatedly. When Alessandro Diamanti assisted Ilija Nestorovski to equalize, Milan found themselves in trouble again. That’s when coach Vincenzo Montella’s substitution made all the difference—enter Gianluca Lapadula.
Lapadula, like a bolt from the blue, needed just 2 minutes and 26 seconds on the pitch to make his mark. In the 82nd minute, Suso unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box. Positioned near the six-yard line, Lapadula made a clever backheel flick to redirect the ball into the net, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. It was Lapadula’s very first Serie A goal for AC Milan—his first touch of the match, no less.
In that moment, fans felt a wave of nostalgia, as if Filippo Inzaghi had returned to the pitch. The same number 9 jersey, the same killer instinct on the offside line, the same match-winning presence—Lapadula seemed to channel Inzaghi’s spirit and became the hero Milan desperately needed. While it was his first official goal for the club, his tireless performances in previous games, such as against Chievo, had already turned heads. Though denied by brilliant goalkeeping before, his persistence finally paid off.
Last season, Lapadula scored 30 goals in 46 appearances for Pescara—proof of his natural talent. With Carlos Bacca failing to score in five consecutive matches and increasingly clashing with Montella, Lapadula’s energy, intelligent movement, and selfless running could make him San Siro’s new favorite. One goal might just be the beginning of his rise.
As AC Milan’s journey continues, Bangla Cricket Live will be watching closely to see if Lapadula can truly step into the legendary boots of Inzaghi and lead the Rossoneri back to glory.