Milan: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a brace and Ante Rebic propelled AC Milan to return to the top spot in Serie A with a 4-0 scoreline over Crotone at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Sunday (February 8).
Stefano Pioli’s men lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Alessio Romagnoli being paired with Fikayo Tomori at the heart of the defence. Franck Kessié along with Soualiho Meïté formed a double pivot in the midfield. Ibrahimovic led the forward line alongside Alexis Saelemaekers and Rebić with Rafael Leão playing as a no.10 behind them.
The hosts got an early chance when Leao laid a ball backheeling for Calabria who scored but the flag went up for offside. Despite, having a fair amount of possession on the ball the visitors lacked composure in and around the final third.
Zlatan opened the scoring in the 30th minute playing a cheeky one-two with Leao on the edge of the box before slotting it home claiming his 500th goal in club football.
Leao got a great chance in the second-half but his low drive was saved brilliantly by Crotone goalie Alex Cordaz. Ibrahimovic completed his brace shortly after that as Theo Hernandez squared on for the Swedish superstar who was unmarked inside the box.
The visitors tried hard but weren’t unable to cope with the quality of the Milan defence who kept it tight throughout the 90 minutes. Rebic got his reward for having a good game as his thumping header from a corner found the back of the net before he completed his brace striking it on the volley after substitute Hakan Calhanoglu dinked one in for him into the box. The Rossoneri went to the top of the tree two points clear of 2nd placed Inter.
