AS Roma 1-2 AC Milan: 5 talking points as Rossoneri earn a hard-fought win | Serie A 2020-21

#3 Edin Dzeko's absence keenly felt by AS Roma

Edin Dzeko was a big absence for AS Roma against AC Milan.

Borja Mayoral's scoring form over the last couple of months has lured a few Giallorossi faithful into believing they can dispense with the services of their Bosnian talisman Edin Dzeko. But the truth is that the Spaniard offers very little in comparison to Dzeko.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Jordan Veretout created a fair few chances for Mayoral, but the on-loan Real Madrid striker couldn't capitalise. Dzeko's ability to bring teammates into play was also sorely missed, especially when AC Milan pressed aggressively.

Paulo Fonseca may have patched things up with Dzeko out of necessity. But he has his work cut out if his experienced striker does not recover from his ankle injury in time, as games come thick and fast at the business end of the season.

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#4 Paulo Fonseca's big-game hoodoo continues against AC Milan

Paulo Fonseca will reflect on a missed opportunity.

AS Roma's record against the top teams this season does not make for pretty reading, and yet expectations were high coming into the game against AC Milan.

The Giallorossi look an effervescent side against the lesser lights of Serie A, full of verve and pizazz in high-scoring wins. Yet, true to form, AS Roma looked anxious and a shadow of their attacking self in the first half when AC Milan harangued them into mistakes that could've ended the game as a contest.

There is some hope for Fonseca, though, as his team's second-half performance showed that AS Roma could take the game to the top sides. Yet, this is a results business, and the sooner Fonseca earns that win, the better for his chances to stay on as AS Roma manager.

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#5 Stefano Pioli's AC Milan stay in the title race

Stefano Pioli's decisions were vindicated against AS Roma.

The pressure was right on AC Milan ahead of this game after Inter Milan made short work of Genoa to win 3-0 and move seven points clear.

A trip to the Olimpico was always going to be a tough task for AC Milan, especially given the Rossoneri had only won once in their last eight games away at AS Roma.

It was all the more brave that following a couple of mediocre performances against Inter Milan and Red Star Belgrade in their last two games, Stefano Pioli decided to leave out AC Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli in favour of on-loan Chelsea youngster Fikayo Tomori.

Pioli was rewarded with a fine performance, as Tomori bailed out his fellow defenders multiple times and thwarted AS Roma from scoring with some last-ditch blocks as well.

Fikayo Tomori made more passes (60) and made more clearances (6) than any other player on the pitch during Milan's 2-1 away win vs. AS Roma.Thomas Tuchel, take note. 📝 pic.twitter.com/qls5f8ZhAU

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 28, 2021

AC Milan have answered the challenge thrown down to them by Inter Milan, but it promises to be a thrilling Scudetto race for once.