AC Milan appear to be on the brink of reclaiming Italy’s champions for the first time since 2011. The league-leader of the Serie A won the difficult home game against Atalanta on Sunday on the penultimate match day, 2-0.
If the only remaining title rival Internazionale loses points at Cagliari on Sunday evening, then the first ‘scudetto’ in eleven years will be a fact. The kick-off of that game is at 8.45 pm.
With a win by Internazionale, AC Milan will have the chance to get the job done on their own next week. The team of trainer Stefano Pioli will visit Sassuolo next Sunday. Because in Italy it goes above the goal difference, AC Milan has enough of a draw.
AC Milan made the difference with Atalanta in the second half Rafael Leão opened the score after an hour of play, Theo Hernandez made it 2-0 after a nice rush from his own half fifteen minutes before time.
At Atalanta, Marten de Roon and Teun Koopmeiners played the entire match. Hans Hateboer, who was also in the starting line-up, was replaced ten minutes before the end. Atalanta is eighth in the Serie A and most likely misses a European ticket.
Leading the way in Serie A
- 1. AC Milan 37-83
- 2. International 36-78
- 3. Naples 37-76
- 4. Juventus 36-69
Koopmeiners cannot prevent goals against
AC Milan seemed to suffer from the tension in the first half and hardly had any opportunities. The home team did claim a penalty after a push from Olivier Giroud, but did not find a response from the referee.
Leão managed to break the spell in the 56th minute with a great goal. The Portuguese was sent into the depths by Junior Messias, stayed ahead of Koopmeiners’ tackle and shot through the legs of goalkeeper Juan Musso.
Koopmeiners also failed to intervene adequately in the second goal. Hernandez started a sprint from his own half with the ball, ran the Dutchman out, and then hit the far corner.
AC Milan know that it should not underestimate Sassuolo in the possible championship game next week. The middle engine booked a surprising 1-3 victory in San Siro earlier this season.
Watch AC Milan’s 2-0 after a nice rush by Theo Hernandez.