In a stunning last match at the Olympiastadion on Saturday night, Roma and Milan eventually had to settle for a remarkable 1-1 draw.
With both Italian giants able to start the halftime break without scoring on the scoresheet, the odds were certainly very high in what was often an evasive affair.
However, two teams desperate to claim a decisive top-four spot this season, José Mourinho’s men thought they had snatched away the famous winner on home soil as Tammy Abraham scored his second Serie A goal since early February.
However, with Roma just seconds away from reaching the top four, Alexis Salemakers, who came on as a second-half substitute, was just in time to stun the Olimpico fans.
After all, having equalized in the 97th minute and maintaining their ambitions in the top four, both teams would have been disappointed to have left Rome with just one point for their troubles this weekend.
In a showdown between two Italian icons, we looked at the highlights of Saturday’s exciting 1-1 draw.
Roma upset by victory that could have been decisive in the season
With both Mourinho and the Olimpico stadium supporters left stunned after Salemakers equalized with their last legs, the former Manchester United boss should have known his side had squandered a golden opportunity here.
Having won their spot in the Europa League semi-finals last week with a spectacular 4-2 aggregate victory over Feyenoord, the Giallorossi have made a spectacular comeback from the March international break.
However, stunned at Atalanta on 24 April when they faced a 3-1 away draw, Mourinho’s men know they still have a real uphill battle to reclaim the top four.
With Saturday’s 1-1 draw in which they fell out of the Champions League places, Roma could have missed out on a season-deciding victory.
With Inter Milan’s trip to the Stadio Olimpico on May 6 to play a huge role in deciding who wins the Champions League final, stability is key for Mourinho’s team in the coming weeks.
Belated joy does not cover the internal problems of the Rossoneri
After the Champions League’s real meltdown on 18 April when they overtook fugitive Serie A leaders Napoli thanks to a famous 2-1 aggregate win, Milan will not be blamed for putting all their focus on their European adventure.
However, while Stefano Pioli’s team may have pulled off a stunning last moment here, it’s fair to say that the former Italian champions have shown some lingering domestic problems on both sides of the March international break.
Having had to settle for a couple of boring stalemate games with Empoli and Bologna earlier in the month, the Rossoneri have now won just a couple of victories in any of their last eight Serie A matches. Atalanta on 26 February.
Still looking for internal stability, Pioli will also have a growing headache from his team’s troubles outside of San Siro.
Including 3-1 drumming at the hands of Udinese ahead of the training camp break, Milan have recorded just two Serie A victories on their travels since early January.
The pursuit of the top four in Serie A ends
Although both Roma and Milan could have taken their places in the European semi-finals last week, the pursuit of the top four this season has quickly turned into an intense battle.
Watching Juventus temporarily lift the 15-point deduction at the start of the month, the race for a Champions League place is still hanging in the balance in the past few weeks.
With just six points currently separating Lazio in second place from Atalanta clinging to that last spot in the top six, Saturday’s rivals will have plenty of expectations to deal with.
While Roma and AC C may have all their eggs in the European basket, there is still a lot of work to be done in the last six Serie A fixtures.
Both have made it clear that an automatic place in the Champions League is at the top of their agenda this season and the race for the top four this year looks set to come to an end.
Match report
Roma: Patricio, Mancini, Cumbulla, Ibanez, Spinazzola, Matic, Cristante, Celik, Pellegrini, Belotti, Abraham
Subscriptions: Solbakken, Kamara, Beauvais, El Shaarawy
Milan: Menian, Calabria, Kier, Tomori, Hernandez, Tonali, Krunic, Diaz, Bennacer, Leao, Giroud
Subscriptions: De Ketelare, Salemakers, Thiau, Origi, Kalulu
Goals: Roma: Abraham (90+3) – Milan: Salemakers (90+7)
Yellow cards: Roma: Matic, Cristante, Ibanez – AC Milan: Krunic, Tomori
Red cards: N/A
Judge: Daniele Orsato