Serie A: Title wait practically over for AC Milan after 2-0 win over Atalanta

Second-half targets from Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández noticed Milan beat Atalanta 2-0 on Sunday and it now solely wants one level from its remaining match to safe its first Serie A title since 2011.

The Rossoneri may even have clinched the title on Sunday however defending champion and fierce rival Inter Milan received 3-1 at relegation-threatened Cagliari to maintain its fading title hopes alive.

Milan was two factors forward of Inter and has the higher head-to-head report, which is the primary tiebreaker in Serie A. Stefano Pioli’s Milan performs at Sassuolo within the remaining spherical subsequent weekend, and Inter hosts Sampdoria.

There was a heady ambiance at San Siro, with Milan followers understanding their crew is on the point of ending the 11-year wait.

However, Atalanta managed to frustrate Milan and nearly took the lead within the thirty first minute however Rossoneri goalkeeper Mike Mignan pulled off a great save to maintain out Luis Muriel’s effort.

Milan upped the tempo within the second half and followers had been on their toes 9 minutes after the restart as they thought Hernández’s free kick had gone in nevertheless it landed on the surface of the facet netting.

They solely needed to wait two minutes, nonetheless, earlier than Leão used his tempo to run onto a ball excessive from Junior Messias — who had solely simply come on — and drilled it into the underside left nook within the 56th.

And Milan all however sealed the match quarter-hour from time with a shocking purpose from Hernández, who mazed his approach from the sting of his space all the best way into the opponents’ space earlier than firing into the underside proper nook.

NOT OVER YET

Two extra targets from star striker Lautaro Martínez stored alive second-place Inter’s hopes of retaining the Italian league title.

Martinez’s targets got here within the second half as Inter confronted a stern check in Cagliari, which remained two factors from security.

Inter thought it had taken an early lead when Milan kriniar’s first try hit the left publish earlier than he bundled within the rebound. However, a video assessment dominated it out for handball from the Inter defender.

The Nerazzurri did take the lead within the twenty fifth when Matteo Darmian outleaped his marker for a looping header on a splendid cross from Ivan Perišic to the again publish.

Inter nearly doubled its benefit on the stroke of halftime however Martinez’s first effort got here off the publish and Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno tipped his second try over the bar.

Martinez bought his purpose six minutes after the break as he sprung the offside lure to run onto a protracted ball and held off his defender earlier than firing into the far backside nook.

But Cagliari pulled one again three minutes later with a fierce effort from Charalampos Lykogiannis that took a slight deflection off kriniar.

However, Martinez sealed the end result together with his second of the match and twenty fifth of the season.

EMOTIONAL FAREWELL

Lorenzo Insigne bid farewell to Napoli and netted a penalty in a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Genoa.

It was the ultimate dwelling recreation for Insigne, who’s leaving Napoli on the finish of the season after 15 years to affix Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, and he gave an emotional speech to the followers earlier than kickoff.

Insigne initially fired his spot kick onto the publish with Giovanni Di Lorenzo netting the rebound. However, it was ordered to be retaken because of encroachment and Insigne thumped his second try into the highest nook.

The 30-year-old Insigne was given a standing ovation when he was substituted within the remaining minutes and did a lap of honor after full time.

Earlier, Sassuolo received 3-1 at Bologna.