MILAN, Italy, October 28, 2026: AC Milan went into halftime leading Bologna 2-1 and apparently in control of a tricky Serie A assignment. By the final whistle, Samuel Mbangula had scored a hat trick, Bologna had won 4-2 at San Siro, and Milan’s unbeaten league start was over. Across the city, Inter needed two late Venezia own goals to win 2-0 and draw level with Lazio at the top of the table.
The contrast was impossible to ignore. Milan surrendered a winning position in a matter of minutes, while Inter collected three points despite struggling to turn possession into clear-cut finishing. Lazio had already scored six against Sassuolo; Roma survived a late Cagliari equalizer; and Como staged a three-goal turnaround in the closing stages at Torino.
These six completed fixtures across October 27 and 28 produced 26 goals. The late Wednesday games between Genoa and Juventus and between Monza and Napoli were still in progress at this report’s cutoff and are deliberately excluded from the completed-results table. The midweek schedule also continues Thursday, according to the official Lega Serie A matchday program. For context, revisit The Sports Encounter’s previous Serie A weekend roundup.
Serie A Matchday 9: Confirmed Results, October 27-28
| Date | Match | Final score | Defining moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 28 | AC Milan vs. Bologna | 2-4 | Samuel Mbangula hat trick overturns Milan’s halftime lead |
| Oct. 28 | Venezia vs. Inter | 0-2 | Two late Venezia own goals |
| Oct. 28 | Parma vs. Udinese | 0-0 | Maduka Okoye saves Adrián Bernabé’s penalty |
| Oct. 27 | Sassuolo vs. Lazio | 2-6 | Tijjani Noslin brace; Sassuolo play with 10 men |
| Oct. 27 | Roma vs. Cagliari | 4-2 | Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen score late |
| Oct. 27 | Torino vs. Como | 1-3 | Como score three times from the 81st minute |
AC Milan 2-4 Bologna: Mbangula Turns a Milan Comeback Into a Collapse
Bologna’s first goal should have warned Milan that there was little margin for careless defending. Mbangula converted Nadir Zortea’s delivery in the eighth minute, but the hosts responded through Alphadjo Cissé, who equalized in the 14th and scored again in the 27th. Milan led 2-1 at halftime. The young forward had done his part; the team around him did not finish the job.
Story at a glance
AC Milan 2-4 Bologna: Mbangula Turns a Milan Comeback Into a Collapse
Bologna’s first goal should have warned Milan that there was little margin for careless defending. Mbangula converted Nadir Zortea’s delivery in the eighth minute, but the hosts responded through Alphadjo Cissé, who equalized in the 14th and scored again in the 27th. Milan led 2-1 at halftime. The young forward had done his part; the team around him did not finish the job.
Venezia 0-2 Inter: Two Own Goals Hide an Uncomfortable Win
Inter eventually got their result at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, but the scoreline does not tell the story of a fluent attacking performance. Venezia kept the defending champions scoreless into the closing stages before Matías Moreno diverted a near-post clearance into his own net around the 80th minute. Redouane Halhal then inadvertently turned a Carlos Augusto header into the net in the 82nd.
Sassuolo 2-6 Lazio: Six Goals, Two Missed Penalties and a Statement of Intent
Lazio’s Tuesday performance provided the most emphatic winning margin of the round so far. Kenneth Taylor scored in the second minute, Gustav Isaksen added another in the 13th and Romano Floriani Mussolini netted in the 16th. Although Sassuolo scored twice in the first half, Kristian Thorstvedt’s dismissal after roughly half an hour left the hosts facing an uphill battle.
Roma 4-2 Cagliari: Two Late Goals Rescue Three Points
Roma nearly dropped points in a match they appeared to have under control. M’Bala Nzola’s early penalty put Cagliari ahead, but Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli scored to give Roma a 2-1 halftime lead. Daniel Maldini equalized for the visitors in the 81st minute, forcing Gian Piero Gasperini’s side to find another response.
Torino 1-3 Como: A Comeback Built in the Final 10 Minutes
Che Adams gave Torino the lead in the 25th minute, and that advantage survived for more than an hour. Como kept pushing rather than accepting defeat. Jacobo Ramón equalized in the 81st, Nico Paz scored the winner in the 87th and Martin Baturina completed the comeback in stoppage time. The sequence is confirmed in Como’s official match report.
The decisive reversal unfolded almost immediately after the hour. Davide Bartesaghi’s own goal in the 60th minute restored parity. Two minutes later, Mbangula struck again, this time after an assist from Juan Miranda. With Milan forced to chase the match, Mbangula completed his hat trick in the 86th minute from Jens Odgaard’s pass.
Why Mbangula Was the Difference
Three goals across three distinct phases of the contest tell a more important story than the final margin. Mbangula struck before Milan established control, punished the hosts immediately after the equalizer, and finished the contest when they had to take risks. His timing mattered as much as his finishing. A team that had appeared to absorb an early setback suddenly had no defensive answer to the same attacker.
For Bologna coach Raffaele Palladino, the result was another indication that his side can cause problems beyond simply frustrating opponents. Bologna had previously lost 3-1 to Inter, a match examined in our Matchday 7 analysis of Inter, Bologna and Milan. This time Bologna kept creating decisive attacking moments after falling behind.
Milan’s Bigger Problem Was Game Management
Cissé’s two goals ought to have put Ruben Amorim’s side in position to protect three points. Instead, Milan conceded twice in three minutes and could not stabilize the match after losing their lead. The own goal was a costly incident, but the failure to recover from it became the more serious concern.
The defeat ended Milan’s unbeaten Serie A start and left them on 18 points from nine matches. More urgently, it came just before the October 31 derby against Inter. Milan now enter that contest seven points behind their city rivals. The gap is not insurmountable at this stage of a 38-game season, but another defeat would increase the cost of this week’s collapse.
Venezia 0-2 Inter: Two Own Goals Hide an Uncomfortable Win
Inter eventually got their result at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, but the scoreline does not tell the story of a fluent attacking performance. Venezia kept the defending champions scoreless into the closing stages before Matías Moreno diverted a near-post clearance into his own net around the 80th minute. Redouane Halhal then inadvertently turned a Carlos Augusto header into the net in the 82nd.
The two-goal margin therefore came from Venezia errors rather than two clean Inter finishes. Inter had applied pressure and made the opposition defend repeatedly, yet Venezia also created chances. A late save by goalkeeper Ivan Provedel helped prevent a nervy finish.
The distinction matters when assessing Cristian Chivu’s team. Champions must often win matches in which their attacking rhythm is imperfect. Inter did exactly that, taking a fourth consecutive league victory and moving to 25 points from nine matches, level with Lazio. But the reliance on late deflections also shows why converting pressure into better chances remains a relevant test.
Inter were the early benchmark when the champions opened the season with a 4-1 victory over Monza. Their consistency has largely survived into Matchday 9, even when the performances have looked less convincing. It is the kind of resilience that made them preseason favorites in our Serie A 2026-27 season preview.
Now comes a derby with entirely different emotional stakes. Milan need a response, while Inter can turn a seven-point lead over their rivals into a far more imposing advantage.
Sassuolo 2-6 Lazio: Six Goals, Two Missed Penalties and a Statement of Intent
Lazio’s Tuesday performance provided the most emphatic winning margin of the round so far. Kenneth Taylor scored in the second minute, Gustav Isaksen added another in the 13th and Romano Floriani Mussolini netted in the 16th. Although Sassuolo scored twice in the first half, Kristian Thorstvedt’s dismissal after roughly half an hour left the hosts facing an uphill battle.
Mattia Zaccagni struck before halftime, and Tijjani Noslin added two more in the 55th and 65th minutes. Remarkably, Lazio could have scored even more: Sassuolo goalkeeper Stefano Turati saved two second-half penalties.
What Lazio’s Attack Is Doing Differently
Six goals from five different scorers is an indicator of breadth rather than dependence on one finishing specialist. Lazio attacked early, punished the numerical imbalance and continued creating after the result was effectively settled. The red card undeniably shaped the scale of the victory, so the score should not be interpreted as six goals against an evenly matched 11-man side.
Still, Gennaro Gattuso’s team have reached 25 points unbeaten through nine rounds. That sustained performance contrasts with the volatility seen earlier in Lazio’s 2-2 draw with Milan in September. Lazio now have sufficient evidence of consistency to be taken seriously in any title-race discussion.
Roma 4-2 Cagliari: Two Late Goals Rescue Three Points
Roma nearly dropped points in a match they appeared to have under control. M’Bala Nzola’s early penalty put Cagliari ahead, but Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli scored to give Roma a 2-1 halftime lead. Daniel Maldini equalized for the visitors in the 81st minute, forcing Gian Piero Gasperini’s side to find another response.
Rodrigo Mora headed Roma back in front in the 85th minute before Donyell Malen sealed the win two minutes later. Roma’s reaction was decisive, but the pattern also exposed how little protection a one-goal lead offers when an opponent can change the match late.
The victory took Roma to 21 points and kept them in contact with the leaders. Their earlier 2-2 draw with Inter, covered alongside Cagliari’s strong early-season run and Bologna’s first match under Palladino, showed their ability to compete with the champions. The next step is to sustain that quality while limiting the defensive openings that turned this game into a six-goal contest.
Torino 1-3 Como: A Comeback Built in the Final 10 Minutes
Che Adams gave Torino the lead in the 25th minute, and that advantage survived for more than an hour. Como kept pushing rather than accepting defeat. Jacobo Ramón equalized in the 81st, Nico Paz scored the winner in the 87th and Martin Baturina completed the comeback in stoppage time. The sequence is confirmed in Como’s official match report.
For Cesc Fàbregas, the performance was evidence of a team that can change results without needing an early advantage. For Torino, it was an especially damaging way to lose: what looked like three points became none in less than 12 minutes.
Como’s rise was a major question entering the season, as outlined in our analysis of the 2026-27 title contenders. After nine matches, their 20 points put them immediately behind Roma and ahead of Milan. Torino, meanwhile, must regroup after the promising momentum captured in their 3-2 victory over Monza in Matchday 8.
Continue the Serie A Story
Parma 0-0 Udinese: Okoye Saves a Penalty, but Neither Side Escapes Trouble
The evening’s only goalless match came with substantial pressure attached. Parma and Udinese both entered on four points after eight matches. Udinese fashioned more of the promising attacks, but Parma were handed a major chance to take the lead after a handball decision in the area.
Adrián Bernabé stepped up for the 69th-minute penalty. Maduka Okoye saved it, preserving the draw. Udinese also required timely defending and saves at the other end, but their inability to finish chances left them with a single point rather than the victory they needed. Udinese’s official match account confirms Okoye’s decisive contribution.
Both teams moved to five points after nine games. That may halt a losing sequence, but it does not resolve the underlying problem: points are scarce and opportunities must begin turning into victories. Parma’s earlier progress, explored in our Matchday 5 analysis, has not developed into sustained results.
Serie A Title Race: Inter and Lazio Level, Milan Seven Points Behind
As of the six completed fixtures reviewed here, Inter and Lazio are level on points and goal difference. Inter have scored more goals, while Roma and Como remain in pursuit. The following is a selected comparison of teams already through nine matches, not a complete live Serie A table; Genoa-Juventus and Monza-Napoli were still underway at the reporting cutoff.
| Club | Played | Points | Goal difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter | 9 | 25 | +15 |
| Lazio | 9 | 25 | +15 |
| Roma | 9 | 21 | +15 |
| Como | 9 | 20 | +9 |
| AC Milan | 9 | 18 | +7 |
| Bologna | 9 | 11 | 0 |
The early hierarchy has changed, but the more valuable insight is how differently the teams got there. Inter found a way through an awkward away match. Lazio overwhelmed 10-man opposition. Roma and Como produced late match-winning responses. Milan lost control after leading, and Bologna took advantage. Those are different kinds of results, but they all affect the same championship race.
What to Watch Next in Serie A
- AC Milan vs. Inter, October 31: The Derby della Madonnina is the immediate pressure point. A Milan win would cut the seven-point gap; an Inter victory would extend it to 10, assuming both enter on their current totals.
- Bologna vs. Monza, October 31: Bologna have to show the San Siro victory was more than a single outstanding night. Mbangula’s impact is worth tracking alongside whether the team’s defensive organization holds up.
- Udinese vs. Roma, October 31: Roma have an opportunity to keep pressure on the leaders. Udinese need more than an improved performance after their goalless draw at Parma.
- Thursday’s unfinished round: Frosinone host Lecce and Fiorentina face Atalanta on October 29. Frosinone’s ability to sustain the momentum highlighted in Antonio Raimondo’s historic hat trick against Sassuolo remains worth monitoring.
- Genoa vs. Juventus and Monza vs. Napoli: These Wednesday late fixtures were in progress at cutoff. Their outcomes could alter the wider European qualification picture and should be inserted only after final whistle verification.
Serie A Matchday 9: Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored a hat trick against AC Milan?
Samuel Mbangula scored three times for Bologna, in the eighth, 62nd and 86th minutes, in their 4-2 victory at San Siro on October 28.
What was the Venezia vs. Inter result?
Inter won 2-0 after late own goals by Venezia defenders Matías Moreno and Redouane Halhal.
Who leads Serie A after the confirmed Wednesday results?
Inter and Lazio are level on 25 points from nine matches, both with a +15 goal difference. Inter have scored more goals.
Did AC Milan lose their unbeaten league record?
Yes. Bologna’s 4-2 victory was Milan’s first Serie A defeat of the 2026-27 season.
Is Serie A Matchday 9 finished?
No. At this report’s cutoff, Genoa-Juventus and Monza-Napoli had not finished, while Frosinone-Lecce and Fiorentina-Atalanta were scheduled for October 29.
Serie A
- Serie A: Bologna Stun Milan 4-2, Inter Catch Lazio as Mbangula Hat Trick Shakes Up Title Race
- Serie A: Roma Deny Napoli in Six-Goal Thriller as Inter Strike Twice Late
- Serie A: Venezia Stun Napoli, Inter Extend Unbeaten Run as Milan Survive Atalanta Fightback
- Serie A: Mastantuono Hat-Trick Sparks Fiorentina Revival in 4-2 Win at Venezia
- Frattesi and Guðmundsson Turn Udinese Lead Into Late 2-1 Lazio Comeback
