MILAN: AC Milan bounced back from their first Serie A loss by beating relegation-threatened Torino 2-0 and extending their lead in the standings on Saturday.

Milan, bidding for a first league title in a decade, were firmly in control at halftime following a Rafael Leao strike and a Franck Kessie penalty.

Stefano Pioli’s side moved provisionally four points ahead of city rivals Inter Milan.

“I expected this response, because the players are young but strong and knowledgeable,” Pioli said. “We had a very high-level first half, then we controlled the match but also suffered a little bit, but that’s normal.”

Defeat to Juventus midweek was Milan’s first in Serie A since March and the Rossoneri were still without several injured players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic although the forward was sent in for the final few minutes.

Milan led from the 25th minute when Theo Hernandez surged forward from midfield and found Brahim Diaz, who sent a through ball in for Leao to prod into the bottom right corner.

Diaz won a penalty 10 minutes later when he was tripped by Andrea Belotti and Kessie converted.

Torino defender Ricardo Rodriguez almost scored against his former club but his free kick came off the crossbar.

Torino also thought they had a penalty early in the second half when midfielder Sandro Tonali appeared to foul Simone Verdi but the referee changed his mind after viewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Tonali was injured in that incident and taken off on a stretcher.

Torino slip to 19th place, with Genoa moving out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Bologna. Midfielder Miha Zajc and Mattia Destro scored.

Atalanta moved provisionally up to fourth ahead of Juve after Josip Ilicic scored and set up two other goals in a 4-1 win over midtable Benevento.

The Slovenia striker was impressive throughout, with Atalanta captain Papu Gomez still frozen out after clashing with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

Ilicic gave the visitors the advantage after half an hour, embarking on a solo run up the right flank, dribbling past three defenders and firing in at the near post, through centre-back Kamil Glik’s legs.

Marco Sau pulled Benevento level five minutes after the break but Ilicic had a role in Atalanta’s next two goals, as Benevento goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo pushed his 69th-minute effort into the path of Rafael Toloi who scored on the rebound.

Two minutes later, Ilicic was again the creator with a brilliant cross for Duvan Zapata to tap in the third from close range.

Substitute Luis Muriel curled in from the edge of the area four minutes from time for his 10th league goal this campaign, and sixth in five games.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2021