AC Milan 3-3 AS Roma: 5 Talking Points as Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabs historic brace | Serie A 2020-21

#3 Rafael Leao rises to the occasion yet again

Rafael Leao

While Zlatan Ibrahimovic will walk away with most of the headlines and plaudits, his much younger teammate turned in yet another fantastic night of football. Leao struggled in the centre-forward role last season for Milan, but the Portuguese youngster always kept toiling away.

Stefano Pioli has worked out that he's best deployed in the left wing/channel, with Leao proving him right in the Derby della Madonnina 10 days ago. The 21-year-old was at the races yet again, toying with Rick Karsdorp throughout the game and setting up two goals in a wonderful performance.

Rafael Leão vs AS Roma72 minutes2 assists17 passes82% pass accuracy2 key passes2 big chances created3/3 successful dribbles 1 aerial won21 years of age. Getting better and better with every game. Crazy potential. 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/8MBOfaJJAs

— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) October 26, 2020

With Zlatan alongside to mentor Leao, Milan could very well have another gem of a forward on their hands.

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#2 Referee and VAR lose the plot

Referee Piero Giacomelli

While the game was entertaining for the neutral, it was surely agony for both sets of fans as referee Piero Giacomelli turned in an astonishingly bad performance. Even prior to the controversial penalties awarded, the on-field referee got plenty of minor decisions wrong and completely missed two very obvious foul throws.

The penalties awarded to both Roma and Milan were far from justifiable, and the VAR seemed to barely take a look at them as well. Pedro was fortunate to even get the foul with replays showing him to be the culprit, while Gianluca Mancini was penalised for.... kicking air with a high boot.

Giacomelli followed all of this by dishing out a flurry of yellow cards - 5 in a 12-minute spell - surely a symptom of a referee realising he was not having the best of nights. The officiating in Serie A doesn't have a very high bar to begin with, but tonight was an abject low.

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#1 Milan's winning run comes to an end, but the title challenge continues

Stefano Pioli

Stefano Pioli had plenty of doubters prior to the resumption of football following the COVID-19 break last season, especially after Milan were linked with Ralf Rangnick during that period. Yet, Pioli has overseen an incredible 22-match unbeaten run since football resumed in Italy.

Milan were the only team left in Europe's Top 5 leagues with a perfect start to the season prior to this game, and while the Rossoneri faithful will be disappointed to see that run come to an end, there are huge positives to take away from this run.

11 - #Milan have scored 2+ goals for 11 consecutive games in all competitions, equalling their own such record of 1959. Plenty.#MilanRoma

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 26, 2020

That Milan are challenging for the title seems a bold claim to make with the season so young, but Pioli's charges have looked impressive every time they take to the pitch. With Juventus having a stuttering start in the Andrea Pirlo era, this may be the ideal time for a welcome surprise to befall long-suffering Milan fans.

Make no mistake, this Milan is the real deal.