Milan back on top after 3-1 stroll
Milan stormed back to the top of Serie A with a 3-1 win at lowly Cesena yesterday as they made light of the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In two games since the big Swede has been suspended for slapping Napoli’s Salvatore Aronica, Milan have...
Milan stormed back to the top of Serie A with a 3-1 win at lowly Cesena yesterday as they made light of the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
In two games since the big Swede has been suspended for slapping Napoli’s Salvatore Aronica, Milan have won.
Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari, on his debut, and versatile Dutchman Urby Emanuelson both scored their first goals for the club with Robinho adding the third as Milan went a point clear of Juventus, although having played a game more.
The two Italian giants meet next week in a top of the table clash at the San Siro.
Juventus had taken over at the summit on Saturday with a 3-1 win over 10-man Catania.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri praised the contribution of Muntari, a deadline day loan signing from Inter.
“He did well today, not just with the goal but also in getting the ball forward, we’ve made a great signing,” he told Sky.
“I don’t know why Inter weren’t using him, we looked at the situation and it’s a comfortable one for us. When he was at Udinese he had his best season but maybe he left too young (to go to Port-smouth).
“I thought he would have a different career. Sometimes people make mistakes in the moment but you can see that the quality is there.”
Daniel Pudil scored Cesena’s consolation goal and defeat sees them go bottom of the table.
Milan were quick out of the blocks and could have had three goals inside the first 10 minutes.
Muntari turned smartly in the box from Ignazio Abate’s deflected cross but shot just past the upright.
Francesco Antonioli then tipped over an Emanuelson shot from the distance before the two Milan midfielders combined to put in captain Massimo Ambrosini one-on-one but the goalkeeper saved with his legs.
Robinho almost caught out Cesena when nipping onto a deflected cross but he headed wide.
The breakthrough came on 29 minutes as Thiago Silva thumped a free-kick goalwards that Antonioli spilled, allowing Muntari to nip in and score.
And just two minutes later Emanuelson countered with Robinho before cracking in a low shot from outside the post inside the corner.
Cesena did create a pair of chances but Christian Abbiati tipped over Vincenzo Iaquinta’s header while Adrian Mutu headed over from six yards.
And 10 minutes into the second period it was game over as Robinho took a pass from Abate, surged between two defenders and finished into the far corner for his third goal in a week.
Pudil gave the home fans something to cheer about midway through the second period with a precise volley into the far corner
Iaquinta had a couple more chances but couldn’t find the net while Milan substitute Stephan El Shaarawy went through one-on-one with Antonioli but was denied by the goalkeeper.
Udinese took over third place – the final Champions League qualifying position – despite being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Cagliari.
That was because Lazio crashed to a humiliating 5-1 thrashing at Palermo to continue their poor run in 2012, losing six of their 11 games in all competitions.
Palermo’s win moved them within striking distance of the European places.
The game was over by half-time as goals from Edgar Barreto, Massimo Donati and Matias Silvestre had the hosts in total control.
Igor Budan and Fabrizio Miccoli added early second-half strikes before Libor Kozak’s late consolation.
Roma moved up to fifth and sent Inter, who lost 3-0 at home to Bologna on Friday night, down to seventh with a 1-0 win over Parma.
Serie A
Genoa 0
Chievo 1
Thereau 30;
HT: 0-1. Att: 21,000.
Cesena 1
Pudil 65;
Milan 3
Muntari 29; Emanuelson 31; Robinho 55;
HT: 0-2. Att: 20,021.
Lecce 4
Muriel 32; Di Michele 68 pen; Cuadrado 82; Brivio 90+4;
Siena 1
Del Grosso 25;
HT: 1-0. Att: 6,500.
Red card: Blasi (L) 90+1.
Novara 0
Atalanta 0
Att: 9,000.
Red card: Pesce (N) 90.
Palermo 5
Barreto 10; Donati 20; Silvestre 42; Budan 47; Miccoli 51;
Lazio 1
Kozak 85;
HT: 3-0. Att: 18,364.
Red card: Dias (L) 75.
Roma 1
Borini 26;
Parma 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 29,433.
Udinese 0
Cagliari 0
Att: 18,000.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Milan | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 48 | 21 | 50 |
| Juventus | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 36 | 14 | 49 |
| Udinese | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 22 | 42 |
| Lazio | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 29 | 42 |
| Roma | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 37 | 27 | 38 |
| Napoli | 24 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 41 | 24 | 37 |
| Inter | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 34 | 33 | 36 |
| Palermo | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 38 | 35 | 34 |
| Cagliari | 23 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 22 | 24 | 31 |
| Chievo | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 30 |
| Genoa | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 31 | 44 | 30 |
| Fiorentina | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 28 |
| Atalanta | 24 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Parma | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 35 | 28 |
| Catania | 22 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 28 | 32 | 27 |
| Bologna | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 26 | 25 |
| Siena | 23 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 26 | 23 |
| Lecce | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 26 | 39 | 21 |
| Novara | 24 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 20 | 42 | 17 |
| Cesena | 23 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 37 | 16 |
Top scorers
17 goals: Di Natale (Udinese).
15 goals: Ibrahimovic (Milan), Cavani (Napoli).
12 goals: Denis (Atalanta), Palacio (Genoa), Jovetic (Fiorentina), Milito (Inter), Klose (Lazio).
11 goals: Miccoli (Palermo).
Next fixtures
Tomorrow: 18.30 Bologna vs Fiorentina.
Wednesday: 18.30 Siena vs Catania.
Saturday: 18.00 Genoa vs Parma. 20.45 Milan vs Juventus.
Sunday: 15.00 Atalanta vs Roma; Cagliari vs Lecce; Catania vs Novara; Chievo vs Cesena; Siena vs Palermo. 20.45 Bologna vs Udinese; Lazio vs Fiorentina; Napoli vs Inter.
Prima Divisione ‘A’
Lumezzane vs Spal 0-0.
Leading standings: Ternana 51; Taranto 46; Carpi 41; Pro Vercelli 40; Sorrento 39; Benevento 35; Lumezzane 32.
Prima Divisione ‘B’
Piacenza vs Portogruaro 0-0; Prato vs Andria 2-1; Lanciano vs Frosinone 0-0.
Leading standings: Trapani 46; Siracusa 40; Cremonese, Spezia, Barletta, Porto-gruaro, Pergocrema 35; Carrarese 34.