Pato brace sends Milan top

A brace from Brazilian forward Pato sent Milan top of Serie A for the first time this season following a 3-1 victory over Chievo at the San Siro yesterday.

In the late match, Roma earned a crucial 2-1 win over Genoa thanks to goals from Marco Borriello and Matteo Brighi before Gergely Rudolf’s consolation for the visitors.

Milan are a point clear of previous leaders Lazio, although the Romans can regain the lead today.

Pato took his tally to four goals in four league games with two well-hit strikes inside the opening 30 minutes before a Zlatan Ibrahimovic own goal gave Chievo hope 20 minutes from time.

But Robinho, sent clear by fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho, scored his first goal for the Italians to secure the victory in injury time.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri was frustrated that his team had needed such a late goal to finish the game.

“We could have been more dangerous, we had several chances but we messed up the final ball and we gave away too many chances,” he told Sky Sport.

“For the moment we’re top and that’s always important but we should have been more comfortable at the end.

“In the last few minutes of the first half we could have killed the game but in the second we were a bit too relaxed and tried to just contain them without threatening ourselves.”

Milan lost centre-back Thiago Silva to an ankle injury early in the second half and that’s a worry for Allegri ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.

“We hope he won’t miss it but we’ve got (Daniele) Bonera who’s ready to play,” he said.

“He’s got a sprained ankle which our doctors will evaluate. But our squad is certainly ready to play an important game such as Tuesday’s against Real Madrid.”

In Rome the hosts climbed out of the bottom three as Borriello scored against his former employers to leave Roma just six points off Milan.

Having already hit the post, Borriello opened the scoring on 34 minutes as he got across his marker to poke home Francesco Totti’s deflected cross from close range.

Brighi doubled the lead on 53 minutes as he slid into to win a loose ball on the edge of the box and it deflected off a defender and over goalkeeper Eduardo.

Hungarian substitute Rudolf scored a scrappy consolation 12 minutes from time as Roma’s defence opened like a can of sardines.

Serie A results

Milan 3
Pato 18, 30; Robinho 90;
Chievo 1
Ibrahimovic 70 og;

HT: 2-0. Att: 49,710

Roma 2
Borriello 34; Brighi 53;
Genoa 1
Rudolf 78;

HT: 1-0. Att: 30,000

Today – 15.00
Bari vs Lazio - 20.45
Brescia vs Udinese
Cagliari vs Inter - 12.30
Catania vs Napoli
Cesena vs Parma
Juventus vs Lecce
Palermo vs Bologna
Sampdoria vs Fiorentina

Next Fixtures
Saturday, Oct. 23: 20.45 Fiorentina vs Bari.
Sunday, Oct. 24: 12.30 Parma vs Roma. 15.00 Bologna vs Juventus; Chievo vs Cesena; Genoa vs Catania; Lazio vs Cagliari; Lecce vs Brescia; Udinese vs Palermo. 20.45 Inter vs Sampdoria.
Monday, Oct. 25: 20.45 Napoli vs Milan.