AC Milan responded well to Atalanta’s win over Genoa by handling their own business with a 1-0 win away at Fiorentina.
In what was an encounter devoid of much quality, Hakan Calhanoglu got the decisive goal for the Rossoneri in the 36th minute.
Milan had their backs to the wall for parts of the second half but missed chances to kill the game, however they heap the pressure back on to Roma and Atalanta, who each play Juventus in their next games.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the first goalkeeper to be called into action as he saved down low to his left from a bobbling Luis Muriel shot.
Milan had a pair of opportunities in the 21st minute as Hakan Calhanoglu forced Albin Lafont into a save, before moments later a low cross found Suso but the Spaniard hit his effort straight at the Fiorentina stopper.
The Rossoneri continued to turn the screw, and two minutes after Suso’s shot Calhanoglu tested Lafont with a low driven effort that was again well saved.
With just 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Milan took a deserved lead. Suso and Calhanoglu were once again instrumental, with the former whipping in a perfect ball towards the penalty spot, where the latter provided a deft glancing header which nestled in the bottom corner.
GOOOAAALLLLLLL! HAKAN! pic.twitter.com/qKDjj3Xyhd
— MilanGifs (@MilanGifs) May 11, 2019
The home side did have appeals for a penalty early in the first half as Calhanoglu slid in to block a low cross, but he got all of the ball before his forward momentum meant he caught the Viola man with his trailing leg.
Federico Chiesa gave Milan a reminder of what he’s capable of five minutes later when he beat Tiemoue Bakayoko and curled an effort narrowly over the bar.
There were yet more warning signs moment later as Kevin Mirallas was left alone inside the box, but the former Everton man dragged his shot near post and into Donnarumma’s grateful clutches.
Donnarumma was called into action again in the 63rd minute as a whipped ball was inadvertently turned towards his own goal by Franck Kessie, though it was palmed behind for a corner.
The hosts continued to pile the pressure on as Milan sunk deeper and deeper. Kessie lost the ball in midfield allowing Chiesa to break, though he saw his low shot well saved by Donnarumma and Romagnoli’s heroic challenge prevented an easy rebound.
Substitute Patrick Cutrone did have a golden chance to double the advantage inside the final ten minutes when Borini found him on the break, however he dragged his effort just wide of the far post.
