Zlatan Ibrahimović scored twice to help AC Milan beat Bologna 2-0 in Serie A on Monday and keep the Rossoneri optimism alive at the start of the new season.
Ibrahimović broke the deadlock 10 minutes from halftime with a powerful header on a Theo Hernández cross.
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Zlatan Ibrahimović scored twice to help AC Milan beat Bologna 2-0 in Serie A on Monday and keep the Rossoneri optimism alive at the start of the new season.
Ibrahimović, who turns 39 in less than two weeks, also had chances for a hat trick.
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AC Milan's Theo Hernandez, right, fights for the ball with Bologna's Roberto Soriano during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, right, controls the ball by Bologna's goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
AC Milan's Sandro Tonali controls the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
The veteran forward doubled his tally from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half after Ismaël Bennacer was brought down on the edge of the area by Bologna defender Riccardo Orsolini.
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, second from left, celebrates with his teammates his second goal on a penalty against Bologna during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
Ibrahimović, who turns 39 in less than two weeks, also had chances for a hat trick.
Bologna hit the woodwork late on through Federico Santander, and defender Mitchell Dijks was sent off following a second yellow card.
Milan was one of the in-form teams when Serie A resumed during the coronavirus pandemic and its remarkable upturn in results saw the Rossoneri win nine of their 12 matches after the restart, drawing the other three.
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores with penalty against Bologna during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic controls the ball by Bologna's Jerdy Schouten during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
AC Milan's Theo Hernandez, right, fights for the ball with Bologna's Roberto Soriano during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, right, controls the ball by Bologna's goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)
AC Milan's Sandro Tonali controls the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (AP PhotoAntonio Calanni)