AC Milan 3-1 Roma: Olivier Giroud, Junior Messias and Rafael Leao on course as Rossoneri see off nine-man guests in ill-tempered conflict to slim the hole on leaders Inter to 1 level
- Giroud scored from the spot and Messias doubled Milan's benefit
- Abraham lowered the deficit with a backheel earlier than Karsdorp was despatched off
- Leao added the third and Mancini noticed pink earlier than Ibrahimovic missed a penalty
AC Milan put COVID-19 issues to 1 aspect as they beat AS Roma 3-1 in Serie A on Thursday to shut the hole on leaders Inter Milan to 1 level because the guests completed with 9 males.
Rising COVID instances disadvantaged Milan of a number of key gamers forward of their first recreation because the winter break, however the hosts began effectively, racing into 2-0 lead inside 17 minutes due to Olivier Giroud's penalty and a high-quality Junior Messias end.
Roma coach Jose Mourinho, making his first return to the San Siro since he guided Inter to the treble in 2010, noticed his aspect reply effectively, with striker Tammy Abraham getting the guests again into the match 5 minutes earlier than the break.
There have been probabilities at each ends of an entertaining second half, earlier than Milan's job turned extra manageable after Roma's Rick Karsdorp was despatched off for a second reserving within the 74th.
As the ten males pressed for an equaliser, substitutes Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rafael Leao mixed to place the sport to mattress eight minutes from time, with the Brazilian arrowing residence his aspect's third purpose.
Roma went all the way down to 9 gamers when Gianluca Mancini was despatched off in stoppage time when he conceded one other penalty and though Ibrahimovic didn't convert from the spot, it mattered little because the hosts noticed out the win.
Inter's conflict at Bologna was deserted nL1N2TM11P earlier on Thursday as a result of variety of COVID-19 instances within the hosts' camp, permitting Milan to place strain on the champions as they reached 45 factors from 20 matches, whereas Roma are seventh on 32.
Thursday's matches have been held on a nationwide vacation in Italy, the Epiphany. One other full slate of 10 matches is scheduled for Sunday.
Stadium capacities have been lowered from 75% to 50% following a authorities decree geared toward combatting the newest outbreak, and spectators should now put on masks.
