Pulisic's Injury Woes Continue

After the Winger's Heroics Against Inter, He Missed Out on Milan's Victory Over Lazio

Christian Pulisic's recurring injury problems resurfaced as AC Milan secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Lazio without their American star, moving to the top of the Serie A table in the process.

The 27-year-old United States international was ruled out of Saturday's clash after withdrawing from training on Wednesday due to minor muscular discomfort. Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri expressed doubt about Pulisic's availability during his pre-match press conference, stating the forward was unlikely to feature despite having two days until kickoff.

This latest setback comes just weeks after Pulisic returned from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him for four matches. He suffered a low-grade tear in his right hamstring during the USMNT's 2-1 friendly victory over Australia in mid-October, forcing him to miss crucial fixtures for both club and country. After making his return as a substitute against Parma on November 8, Pulisic appeared to have turned a corner when he started and scored the decisive goal in Milan's derby triumph over Inter the following week.

Despite Pulisic's absence, Milan managed to claim all three points thanks to Rafael Leão's second-half strike. The Portuguese forward converted from close range after connecting with Fikayo Tomori's delivery across the penalty area. The victory proved dramatic, with Lazio denied a controversial stoppage-time penalty after VAR review, while Allegri received a red card during the five-minute deliberation.

The result elevated Milan to one point clear atop the Serie A standings, though their American star's ongoing fitness struggles cast doubt on his availability for upcoming fixtures. After enjoying two relatively healthy seasons following his Chelsea departure, Pulisic's injury demons appear to have returned at an inopportune moment.