Despite the absence of its coach and star striker AC Milan maintained its unbeaten start to the Serie A season by beating Fiorentina 2-0 on Sunday to ensure it would end the weekend at the top of the table.
An Alessio Romagnoli header and a Franck Kessié penalty in the first half secured the victory in front of the watching Zlatan Ibrahimović, who was injured but cheering his teammates on from the stands.
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Despite the absence of its coach and star striker AC Milan maintained its unbeaten start to the Serie A season by beating Fiorentina 2-0 on Sunday to ensure it would end the weekend at the top of the table.
The Rossoneri moved five points clear of Inter Milan and Sassuolo, which both played on Saturday. Roma can move into second, three points below Milan, if it wins at Napoli later in what will be an emotional match. It is Napoli’s first Serie A game since former player Diego Maradona died on Wednesday in his native Argentina.
Dušan Vlahović almost equalized shortly after but his effort was tipped onto the post by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Milan could have extended its lead early in the second half but Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s strike came off the post.
Tolgay Arslan, Ignacio Pussetto and Fernando Forestieri scored for Udinese before a late Ciro Immobile penalty.
Fiorentina's head coach Cesare Prandelli gestures during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
AC Milan's Franck Kessie, left and Fiorentina's Patrick Cutrone embrace at the end of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
Milan coach Stefano Pioli was also still absent after testing positive for the coronavirus.
AC Milan's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrates after AC Milan's Franck Kessie, scored his side's second goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
The Rossoneri moved five points clear of Inter Milan and Sassuolo, which both played on Saturday. Roma can move into second, three points below Milan, if it wins at Napoli later in what will be an emotional match. It is Napoli’s first Serie A game since former player Diego Maradona died on Wednesday in his native Argentina.
There was a tribute to Maradona at San Siro, as there was in all the Serie A matches this weekend. That included a minute’s silence for the former Napoli player, while his image was also projected on the stadium screens again in the 10th minute, in honor of his shirt number.
Milan took the lead in the 17th minute when Romagnoli was left unmarked to head in a corner at the back post.
Squad observe a minute of silence for Diego Maradona ahead a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
Dušan Vlahović almost equalized shortly after but his effort was tipped onto the post by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Instead, it was Milan that doubled its lead in the 28th when Kessié converted a penalty after Alexis Saelemaekers was tripped by Germán Pezzella.
Kessié had another penalty saved by Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski five minutes from time following a foul by Martín Cáceres on Theo Hernández.
AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with AC Milan's Ante Rebic during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
Milan could have extended its lead early in the second half but Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s strike came off the post.
OTHER MATCHES
Udinese was missing a number of players because of the coronavirus but managed to win 3-1 at Lazio.
AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli, not seen, scores his side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
Tolgay Arslan, Ignacio Pussetto and Fernando Forestieri scored for Udinese before a late Ciro Immobile penalty.
Bologna beat bottom club Crotone 1-0. Cagliari was playing Spezia later.
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AC Milan's Franck Kessie scores his side's second goal from a penalty shot during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
Fiorentina's head coach Cesare Prandelli gestures during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)
AC Milan's Franck Kessie, left and Fiorentina's Patrick Cutrone embrace at the end of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Fiornentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)