PRIMAVERA START 2026 ON A HIGH

Carate Brianza provided the backdrop for Milan Primavera's winning return to the pitch in 2026, with Giovanni Renna's side beating Federico Guidi's Roma 2-1. After their draw away to Napoli, the Rossoneri began with a few mistakes but gradually found their rhythm, with Plazzotta opening the scoring with a left-footed shot into the corner early in the second half. Roma responded quickly as Di Nunzio bagged an equaliser, before a fragmented finale that Renna resolved with his substitutions: Castiello came on and, in the 89th minute, netted the winner. 

A resilient performance full of character: AC Milan had to dig in when Roma increased the pressure but remained compact, turning the momentum with direct play to their forwards. Special mention for Castiello: an excellent impact from the 18-year-old striker, who shielded the ball with his back to goal to give the team breathing space and went on to score the decisive goal in a crowded box. The win brings the Rossoneri back close to the playoff zone and provides them with momentum heading into the rest of January. Next up is a Primavera Coppa Italia clash against Parma, followed by an away game against Torino in the league.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v ROMA

MATCH REPORT
The game got off to an intense start at the Sportitalia Village, with Roma pressing high and making it difficult for AC Milan to build from the back. However, it was the Rossoneri who went closest first: Scotti delivered a cross from the right for Mancioppi, whose header was straight at the goalkeeper (6'). In the ninth minute, Di Siena mishit a left-footed shot after a challenge and injured his knee, forcing him off. AC Milan continued to press: Lontani ran into the box, cut inside, and fired a right-footed shot just wide (14'). Nine minutes later, Mancioppi went for a second ball in the Roma area and struck towards goal, but De Marzi was equal to it. Roma threatened through high recoveries: in the 25th minute, Forte won the ball and set up Arena, whose effort went over the bar. Then, with 36 minutes on the clock, a switch to the far side found Forte, but his shot went just past the post. 0-0 at half-time.

The second half started with intensity. In the 48th minute, a long ball found Scotti, who laid it off to Plazzotta on the edge of the area, and he picked out the corner to make it 1-0. However, Roma responded immediately. In the 57th minute, Di Nunzio cut inside, combined with Forte, and fired home an unstoppable left-footed shot: 1-1. Just past the hour mark, Roma captain Di Nunzio delivered a cross, and the loose ball fell to Sangaré, who volleyed over. In the 84th minute, Seck ran onto a through ball; his cross, slightly deflected by Lontani, swept across the box but found no one. Three minutes later, Angelicchio unleashed a long-range shot, but De Marzi tipped it over for a corner. In the 89th minute, Tartaglia played it forward to Angelicchio; his cross was intercepted, but it caused a scramble in the six-yard box, with Castiello slotting home the winner. The Rossoneri held on in stoppage time: in the 91st minute, Longoni made an instinctive save from a header, and then De Marzi cleared the final corner to secure the victory.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 2-1 ROMA

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Longoni; Di Siena (12' Nolli), Colombo, Vladimirov, Tartaglia; Mancioppi, Pandolfi, Plazzotta; Scotti (64' Castiello), Lontani (81' Angelicchio), Perera. Subs: Bianchi; Cullotta, Grilli, Piermarini, Vechiu; Cissé, Dotta; Zaramella. Coach: Renna.

ROMA (3-4-3): De Marzi; Marchetti, Terlizzi, Seck; Sangaré (89' Zinni), Panico (31'st Cama), Bah, Litti; Di Nunzio, Arena (89' Morucci), Forte (68' Della Rocca). Subs: Marcaccini; Sarac; Maccaroni, Scacchi; Belmonte, Paratici, Sugamele. Coach: Guidi.

Referee: Diop from Treviglio.
Goals: 48' Plazzotta (M), 57' Di Nunzio (R), 89' Castiello (M).
Booked: 72' Marchetti (R), 74' Seck (R), 85' Plazzotta (M).

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