MILAN: AC Milan returned to winning ways when Rafael Leao scored in a 1-0 home win over Hellas Verona in Saturday’s Serie A game that was delayed by 25 minutes due to a hailstorm while Juventus fell to their first defeat of the season, 4-2 at Sassuolo

Milan moved level with league leaders Inter Milan on 12 points but their city rivals play Empoli late on Sunday.

Leao gave Milan the lead in the eighth minute when Olivier Giroud pinched the ball from Verona near and released the winger, who sprinted past two defenders scrambling to track back before slipping his shot past the goalkeeper.

At the other end, Milan were rarely threatened by Verona who remain in ninth place, five points behind Stefano Pioli’s side.

Earlier, Andrea Pinamonti’s goal in the 82nd minute, after Wojciech Szczesny patted out Armand Lauriente’s shot to the Italy international, and a stoppage time Federico Gatti own goal made sure of the points for Sassuolo.

Juventus are two points behind the Milan clubs in fourth after falling to an awful, error-strewn defeat at Sassuolo.

It was a bad day for Poland goalkeeper Szczesny as he was at fault for Lauriente’s 12th-minute opener and shown up by a Domenico Berardi strike which restored the hosts’ lead four minutes from the break after Matias Vina’s own goal put the away side level.

Szczesny also gave Gatti a bad pass which the he inexplicably volleyed back into his own goal.

Pinamonti’s strike came four minutes after Federico Chiesa thought he had set up a chance to snatch the points by levelling for Juventus with a deflected strike.

In Saturday’s other fixture, Lazio’s poor start to the season continued with a 1-1 home draw against Monza.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2023