MONZA: AC Milan missed out on the chance to move into second in the Serie A standings when they lost 4-2 at mid-table Monza on Sunday after being reduced to 10 men early in the second half.

Milan remained third in the standings on 52 points, two adrift of second-placed Juventus and 11 behind leaders Inter Milan, who have a game in hand.

The Rossoneri, who beat Stade Rennais 3-0 at home in the Europa League in midweek and travel to France for the second leg on Thursday, suffered their first league loss in more than two months to end their unbeaten run of nine games.

Matteo Pessina and Dany Mota put Monza ahead in the first half before substitutes Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic pulled Milan level in the second. Warren Bondo and Lorenzo Colombo secured the hosts all three points with a goal apiece in the dying minutes.

Milan went down to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Luka Jovic was sent off for violent conduct against Monza captain Pessina, with the referee overturning his original decision to just book the Serbia striker after consulting the VAR screen.

“We made mistakes that ruined the match. When you concede four goals it feels wrong to say our first half-hour was good, but that is true,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN. “Going a man down made it even more difficult. After equalising we should’ve been sharper to defend better. The team felt confident and wanted to go on to win.”

Earlier, Lazio followed their victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League by throwing away an early lead to lose 2-1 at home to Bologna.

Lazio seemed to be building on their momentum when Gustav Isaksen gave them an 18th minute lead.

Bologna fought back with Morocco international Oussama El Azzouzi, making his first start since returning from the African Cup of Nations, levelling in the 39th minute.

Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee earned the visitors victory with his eighth goal of the season in the 78th minute.

Bologna stay fifth but their fourth consecutive victory lifted them level on points with Atalanta who have a game in hand.

Elsewhere, AS Roma registered a comfortable 3-0 win over Frosinone, 15th, and now occupy sixth place on 41 points, five behind Bologna.

Since taking over from Jose Mourinho as coach, Daniele De Rossi has reinvigorated Roma with a haul of 12 points out of a possible fifteen.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024