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AC Milan held prime spot in Serie A on Saturday regardless of falling 3-0 at dwelling in opposition to Atalanta after nearest rivals Inter have been held to a goalless draw at Udinese.
Stefano Pioli’s Milan noticed their lead on second-placed Inter minimize to 2 factors however maintain pole place on the half-way stage of the season for the primary time since they final received the title in 2011.
“Being winter champions means nothing to me, now now we have to react,” mentioned Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Now the tough section begins.”
Milan have been outplayed at dwelling with Atalanta’s Cristian Romero heading within the first aim after 26 minutes within the San Siro.
Josip Ilicic added a second from the penalty spot eight minutes after the break after receiving a Franck Kessie elbow within the face.
Ibrahimovic missed an opportunity to equalise simply earlier than half time with the veteran Swede sending aspect.
Milan’s new signing Mario Mandzukic got here off the bench for the ultimate 20 minutes however couldn’t discover the online on his debut regardless of testing Atalanta keeper Pierluigi Gollini.
Colombian striker Duvan Zapata linked with a Romero cross to seal the three factors with quarter of an hour to go within the San Siro.
For the primary time this season Milan failed to attain a aim, falling to their second defeat this marketing campaign after shedding to Juventus earlier this month.
Atalanta transfer fourth into the Champions League locations, seven factors behind the leaders, and two factors adrift of Roma who went third after a 4-3 win over Spezia.
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini hailed “one among our greatest performances in recent times”.
“Tonight we have been a bit superior on every part, an ideal satisfaction to play like this within the San Siro.”
– Conte sees purple –
Antonio Conte’s Inter didn’t comply with on from their win over Juventus final weekend, and the prospect to go prime with a victory in Udine.
Possibilities have been few for Inter with Lautaro Martinez having a aim dominated offside and Nicolo Barella volleying vast within the rain.
Frustrations boiled over with Conte banished from the sidelines on the finish of the sport for arguing with the referee.
“I believe that extra time may have been added on. I made the purpose to the referee and he despatched me off,” he mentioned.
In Rome, Lorenzo Pellegrini scored a last-gasp winner as Roma bounced again after their Italian Cup defeat by Spezia with a 4-3 win over the promoted aspect.
Pellegrini blasted dwelling in damage time, minutes after Daniele Verde had pulled Spezia stage, with relieved Roma coach Paulo Fonseca racing to hug the midfielder.
The capital aspect have been in turmoil since their chaotic 4-2 extra-time loss to Spezia on Tuesday.
The official scoreline was modified to 3-0 on Friday, as Roma made six substitutions, with simply 5 allowed, in the course of the last-16 conflict which they completed with 9 males.
Captain Edin Dzeko was disregarded of the staff on Saturday, formally due to a muscular damage, however amid reviews of a fall-out with Fonseca.
Borja Mayoral scored a double for the hosts, netting the primary after quarter of an hour, just for Roberto Piccoli to tug 14th-placed Spezia stage seven minutes later by pouncing on a mistake by dwelling goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
Actual Madrid loanee Mayoral slotted dwelling his second on 52 minutes, earlier than Rick Karsdorp tapped in to make it 3-1 three minutes later.
Diego Farias once more responded for the guests simply earlier than the hour, scoring the third aim of a dramatic six-minute spell on the Stadio Olimpico.
An error from Chris Smalling allowed former Roma winger Verde to equalise within the ninetieth minute, firing dwelling left-footed after the England defender missed his tried clearance.
Pellegrini had the ultimate say, although, drilling the ball into the roof of the online from shut vary after Bruno Peres’ unselfish cutback.
It was a primary league win in three video games for Roma, after final week’s defeat by Lazio within the Rome derby and a draw with title rivals Inter Milan.
“The staff has come by way of a very powerful week the place we misplaced two video games that we should not have,” Pellegrini mentioned.
“This could deliver a little bit of calm.”
Fiorentina, in twelfth, eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 win over all-time low Crotone, due to first half targets from Giacomo Bonaventura and Dusan Vlahovica.
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