Rafael Leão leads AC Milan past Fiorentina and atop Serie A; Nico Paz powers Como past Juventus

ROME (AP) — Rafael Leão must have been inspired seeing Stefano Pioli back at the San Siro.

The Portugal winger scored twice in his first start of the Serie A season following an injury layoff and under-strength AC Milan came from a goal down to beat Pioli’s Fiorentina 2-1 and move back atop the Italian league Sunday.

Leão was the Serie A player of the season when Milan won the Italian title under Pioli in 2021-22 but hasn’t performed anywhere near that level since then.

But with Christian Pulisic, Adrien Rabiot and Christopher Nkunku all out injured, Milan needed Leão to step up.

After Robin Gosens put Fiorentina ahead from close range shortly before the hour mark, Leão quickly equalized with a long, low shot. Then he stepped up to the penalty spot for the first time in his Milan career and converted from the spot following a foul on Santiago Gimenez.

“This is the Rafa that we need. He is an amazing talent,” said Luka Modric, who joined Milan in July after 13 seasons at Real Madrid. “For me, he’s one of the best players in the world. And he can still improve.”

Milan moved one point ahead of Inter Milan, Napoli and Roma.

It's been quite a turnaround for Milan under returning coach Massimiliano Allegri after an eighth-place finish last season left the seven-time European champion out of continental competition.

Fiorentina remained winless, piling pressure on Pioli.

At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Real Madrid buys back Nico Paz from Como.

The 21-year-old Argentina playmaker scored one goal and set up another as Como beat visiting Juventus 2-0 in to hand the Bianconeri their first loss of the season.

A product of Madrid’s youth system, Paz was sold by the Spanish power to Como last year with a clause that allows it to re-acquire him by June 2027 — or after this season.

With four goals and four assists, Paz has been involved in eight of Como’s nine scores this season.

The only other players in Europe’s top five leagues with at least four goals and four assists are Vinícius Júnior (five goals and four assists for Real Madrid) and Luis Díaz (five goals and four assists for Bayern Munich).

“I can understand when a player has the hunger and right focus to get to the top — or if it’s just momentary," Como coach Cesc Fabregas said. "Nico can go as far as he wants to. He’s got the talent and the physical qualities.”

Both goals against Juventus were highlight-worthy.

Four minutes in, Paz provided a perfect cross on a set play for Marc-Oliver Kempf to redirect in following a corner.

Then toward the end of the second half, Paz gathered a long ball on a counterattack, cut inside and drilled a curving shot into the far corner without even looking at the goal.

Madrid will certainly have been watching, since it faces Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Also watching, from the stands in Como, were former Arsenal coach and striker Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry, respectively. Fabregas, who was serving the second match of a two-game suspension for protests, played with Henry under Wenger at the London club.

Como moved level on points with Juventus, four points behind Milan.

It was Como’s first victory over Juventus in nearly 75 years — since 1952 — ending a 23-match winless run.

Juventus has not won in more than a month — since edging Inter 4-3 on Sept. 13.

Also, Bologna won 2-0 at Cagliari with goals from Emil Holm and Riccardo Orsolini to move into fifth. Orsolini tops the league list with five goals.

Ten-man Parma drew 0-0 at Genoa with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki saving a penalty from Maxwel Cornet in stoppage time.

Genoa remained winless, adding pressure on coach Patrick Vieira.

Atalanta and Lazio also drew 0-0.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

AC Milan's Luka Modric, center, pases the ball past Fiorentina's Hans Nicolussi Caviglia during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiorentina in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Fiorentina's head coach Stefano Pioli enters to the pitch prior to a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiorentina, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Rafael Leao celebrates scoring his side's first goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiorentina in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Como's Nico Paz celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Juventus in Como, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Juventus in Como, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz controls the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Juventus in Como, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration's massive immigration crackdown.

The threat comes a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle. That shooting further heightened the fear and anger that has radiated across the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely used federal law to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.

Presidents have indeed invoked the Insurrection Act more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush to end unrest in Los Angeles. In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison responded to Trump's post by saying he would challenge any deployment in court. He's already suing to try to stop the surge by the Department of Homeland Security, which says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December. ICE is a DHS agency.

In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.

Demonstrations have become common in Minneapolis since Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. Agents who have yanked people from their cars and homes have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding they leave.

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

Frey said the federal force — five times the size of the city’s 600-officer police force — has “invaded” Minneapolis, and that residents are scared and angry.

Homeland Security said in a statement that federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the U.S. illegally. The person drove off then crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, DHS said.

Officers caught up, then two other people arrived and the three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said. The confrontation took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from where Good was killed.

Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shot man was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury. The two others are in custody, DHS said. O’Hara's account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.

Earlier Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota said what's happening in the state “defies belief.”

“Let’s be very, very clear: this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the bleeding, how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.

Good was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street near her home. Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been criticized by Minnesota officials.

Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment.

Good’s family has hired the same law firm that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground 2020.

Madhani reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporters Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Julie Watson in San Diego; Rebecca Santana in Washington; Ed White in Detroit and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed.

A protester holds an umbrella as sparks fly from a flash bang deployed by law enforcement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Monica Travis shares an embrace while visiting a makeshift memorial for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A protester yells in front of law enforcement after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Protesters shout at law enforcement officers after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Law enforcement officers stand amid tear gas at the scene of a reported shooting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)