Alexis Saelemaekers scored a dramatic equaliser inside the final minutes of AC Milan’s crucial Champions League battle with challengers Roma, ensuring the Milanese giants remain inside Serie A’s top-four. With two routes into next season’s Champions League still available to them, José Mourinho’s Roma side welcomed fellow top-four chasers Milan to the Stadio Olimpico looking to make a statement. Instead, it was the visitors, decked in their traditional all-white away strip, who came closest to finding an opener. Arriving late onto Brahim Díaz’s clipped back-post cross, Rade Krunić was unable to guide a looping header towards the Roma goal. However, the Bosnian wasn’t alone in spurning opportunities, with teammate Davide Calabria missing the target with a drilled right-footed effort on the stroke of halftime.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Second best for much of the first period, Roma once again found themselves under the cosh early in the second half. In truth, Milan ought to – once again – have taken the lead, with Saelemaekers this time the man spurning a golden chance from inside the 18-yard box. The Belgian international failed to guide a first-time volley from Rafael Leão’s chipped cutback goalwards, adding to the collective frustration growing among the swathes of travelling fans cooped into the corner of the Olimpico.If Juventus win tomorrow they’ll go five points clear of Milan & Roma. pic.twitter.com/B0MVRpdbSl— Khaled Al Nouss (@khaledalnouss1) April 29, 2023 As the match progressed and the Rome sky melted from dusk into night, the likelihood of a winning goal dwindled with each passing minute. In actual fact, the closing stages felt like a match between two sides fighting to avoid the drop at the bottom of the table, as opposed to one being played out by two top-four chasers. However, as has happened now on seven occasions this season, Roma netted after the clock ticked beyond the 90-minute mark, with Abraham slotting a well-timed finish following a killer counter-attack.YOU CAN WATCH ABRAHAM’S GOAL HERE.It looked as if Roma had performed the ultimate smash-and-grab after what had felt like somewhat of an undeserved victory. Down, but certainly not out, Milan lifted themselves off the canvas to net an added-time goal of their own. Saelemaekers, who missed an almost identical chance earlier in the contest, popped up in the 97th minute to steal the most unlikely of equalisers. It’s as you were in the top-four, with Milan’s city rivals Inter the side benefitting the most.YOU CAN WATCH SAELEMAEKERS’ GOAL HERE.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 32Friday Lecce – Udinese 1-0 (0-0)/Strefezza 62 pen/Spezia – Monza 0-2 (0-1)/Ciurria 21, Carlos Augusto 90+3/SaturdayRoma – Milan 1-1 (0-0)/Abraham 90+4 – Saelemaekers 90+6/21.45: (3.00) Torino (3.35) Atalanta (2.60)Sunday 13.30: (1.89) Inter (3.50) Lazio (4.40)16.00: (1.28) Napoli (6.50) Salernitana (14.0)16.00: (1.84) Sassuolo (3.60) Empoli (4.60)16.00: (3.25) Cremonese (3.25) Verona (2.50)19.00: (1.38) Fiorentina (5.50) Sampdoria (10.0)21.45: (3.50) Bologna (3.25) Juventus (2.35)***odds are subject to change***
