AC Milan bounced again from its first Serie A loss by beating relegation-threatened Torino 2-0 and increasing its lead within the standings.
Milan, which is bidding for a primary league title in a decade, was firmly in management at halftime following a Rafael Leao strike and a Franck Kessie penalty on Saturday.
Stefano Pioli’s facet moved 4 factors forward of metropolis rival Inter Milan, which faces a doubtlessly difficult go to to third-placed Roma on Sunday.
Milan hosts Torino once more on Tuesday, within the Italian Cup.
Defeat to Juventus midweek was Milan’s first in Serie A since March and the Rossoneri had been nonetheless with out a number of injured gamers together with Zlatan Ibrahimovic — though the ahead was despatched in for the ultimate jiffy.
Milan led from the twenty fifth minute when Theo Hernandez surged ahead from midfield and located Brahim Diaz, who despatched a by way of ball in for Leao to prod into the underside proper nook.
Diaz gained a penalty 10 minutes later when he was tripped by Andrea Belotti and Kessie transformed.
Torino defender Ricardo Rodriguez virtually scored in opposition to his former membership however his free-kick got here off the crossbar.
Torino additionally thought it had a penalty early within the second half when midfielder Sandro Tonali appeared to foul Simone Verdi however the referee modified his thoughts after viewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Tonali was injured in that incident and brought off on a stretcher.
SUPER ILICIC
Josip Ilicic seems to be again to his greatest after inspiring Atalanta to a 4-1 win at Benevento.
Ilicic scored Atalanta’s opener, hit the submit, and had a hand in one other two objectives — for Rafael Toloi and Duvan Zapata — after Marco Sau’s equalizer. Luis Muriel netted a spectacular fourth for Atalanta.
Luis Muriel’s final 5 Serie A appearances:
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Half of these objectives have come as an alternative. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Pr3eaZ9dkF
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 9, 2021
Atalanta moved into fourth spot, 9 factors behind Milan. Benevento remained tenth. Atalanta has made an excellent begin to 2021, having scored eight objectives in its two matches and conceded only one.
Ilicic placed on a masterclass at Benevento and he arrange a few possibilities earlier than opening the scoring within the thirtieth minute. The Slovenia midfielder gathered the ball on the appropriate and lower inside, dribbling previous three defenders earlier than firing into the underside close to nook.
Benevento leveled 5 minutes after the break as halftime substitute Christian Pastina, who was making his Serie A debut, lifted a ball excessive for Sau to slip in on the again submit.
Atalanta all however secured the win with two quickfire objectives supplied by Ilicic. In the 69th, Ilicic burst into the field following a fast one-two and though his effort was parried by Lorenzo Montipo, Toloi turned within the rebound.
Two minutes later, a counterattack down the appropriate noticed Ilicic cross in for Zapata to volley into the underside left nook.
Muriel was despatched on shortly after and he curled a unbelievable strike into the highest proper nook for his sixth aim in 5 matches.
