AC Milan seal win over Atalanta as Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns

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Champions AC Milan beat visitors Atalanta 2-0 in Serie A on Sunday, consolidating their position in the top four as they extended their winning streak to three league outings.

Milan took the lead in the 25th minute through an own goal by Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso, after the ball went in off his back as he tried to save a shot from distance by Theo Hernandez.

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Midfielder Junior Messias doubled Milan's lead shortly before full-time when he sent a chipped ball over Musso after receiving a neat pass from forward Rafael Leao.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic came on as a substitute for Olivier Giroud before the second goal, making his first appearance for Milan since undergoing knee surgery in May of 2022. Ibrahimovic signed a one-year deal to stay at Milan on July 18, 2022.

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan also returned after five months out.

Milan moved up to third in the standings on 47 points, level with second-placed Internazionale and three points above AS Roma, who visit bottom side Cremonese on Tuesday. Atalanta remain sixth on 41 points.

"We were [recently] always winning 1-0, but you can't always hope not to concede goals," coach Stefano Pioli, who oversaw his 800th career game as a manager, told DAZN. "We should have closed it earlier, but it was a great performance by the team. We played it with the energy that I recognise in my players.

"[But] It's clear that we still need to score a lot of points to finish in the top four".

Atalanta were under pressure for most of the first half and did not muster an attempt on goal before half-time.

They fired no shots in a Serie A first half for the first time since 2004-05, when Opta started collecting such data.

Milan managed seven shots but seemed far more focused on defending than increasing their advantage.

They kept the pressure on, though, and Musso made a brilliant save to keep out a Leao effort from distance in the 61st minute.

Moments before that, he did well to deny Giroud who, however, was offside.

Atalanta, who lost for third time in their last four Serie A outings, had zero shots on target throughout the game.

They remain sixth in the standings on 41 points and next host Udinese on Saturday. Milan travel to Fiorentina later that day.