The Italian runner-up AC Milan have caught up with city rivals Inter in the battle for the Serie A title. The team of coach Stefano Pioli won the first home game of the year against AS Roma 3-1 (2-1).
With 45 points, AC is now just one point behind leaders Inter, whose game at FC Bologna had to be canceled by the hosts due to several corona cases.
Olivier Giroud with a hand penalty (8th) and Junior Messias (17th) gave the Rossoneri an early lead, Rafael Leao (82nd) followed suit late. Tammy Abraham (40.) met the interim connection for the Romans, where Rick Karsdorp saw the yellow-red card in the 74th minute after repeated foul play.
Shortly before the final whistle, Rome’s Gianluca Mancini caused another penalty and also saw yellow-red (90 + 4). Goalkeeper Rui Patricio (90 + 5) saved the penalty from the Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
In advance, a total of four of the games scheduled for Thursday had to be postponed due to too many COVID-19 infections. The local health authorities ordered several teams to be quarantined.
Despite requests from some clubs, the league initially refused to postpone matches. This only changed with the order of the health authorities.
On Thursday, the league also decided that a club must compete in the future if it has at least 13 field players and a goalkeeper available.
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