Ibrahimovic double gives rampant Milan another win

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:15 am

Veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in the first half to give AC Milan a 2-1 win at 10-man Sassuolo on Tuesday as they remained unbeaten since the restart of the season and guaranteed a place in the Europa League.

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The 38-year-old got in front of his marker to head in from Hakan Calhanoglu's cross in the 19th minute and latched on to a through ball before rounding Andrea Consigli to add the second in first-half injury time.

In between, Francesco Caputo equalised from a penalty for Sassuolo, who had Mehdi Bourabia sent off in first-half stoppage time.

Milan moved up to fifth with 59 points, enough to guarantee them at least a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds next season.

The Rossoneri also announced on Tuesday that manager Stefano Pioli had agreed to a two year extension of his contract that will keep him with the club until 2022.

Milan made the announcement immediately after the team won 2-1 at Sassuolo on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions and guarantee a place in next season's Europa League.

Ibrahimovic, who returned for second stint in January, got in front of his marker to head in from Calhanoglu's cross in the 19th minute.

Eighth-placed Sassuolo, themselves in the middle of an impressive run, levelled three minutes before halftime when Calhanoglu was judged to have handled following a long VAR review and Caputo converted the penalty.

Yet Milan regained the lead in first-half stoppage time when Calhanoglu threaded the ball through to Ibrahimovic.

This time, Ibra calmly flicked the ball past goalkeeper Consigli with his first touch and scored into an empty net.

Sassuolo then had Mehdi Bourabia sent off in first-half stoppage time and were unable to offer much of a threat after the break as Milan comfortably saw out the game.

Ismael Bennacer struck the post for the visitors and Consigli made a stunning double save from Giacomo Bonaventura.