(ANSA) – ROMA, 18 GEN – Milan, with goals Zlatan Ibrahimovic, beat Cagliari 2-0 as a visitor at the close of the 18th date of Serie A and secured in advance the title of “winter champion” of the “Calcium”
The experienced Swedish striker opened the scoring at 7 ‘with a penalty sanctioned after the foul suffered by the Greek Charalampos Lykogiannis
The 39-year-old Ibrahimovic himself put definitive figures for the victory of the red-black team at 52 ‘with great left-handed definition and after an assist from Davide Calabria, who crashed a left-footed shot against the post at 36’
Ibrahimovic indulged Cagliari by scoring in nine consecutive games in which he started as a starter for the first time in his prolific career
Also, the double against Cagliari allowed him to reach 12 goals in the tournament, the same as the Belgian Romelu Lukaku (Inter) and that Ciro Immobile (Lazio), all behind the Portuguese star of Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo (15)
Ibrahimovic, recovered days ago from a muscle injury suffered on November 22, when Milan beat Napoli 3-1 as a visitor for the eighth date of the tournament, was decisive for DT Stefano Pioli’s team
The Swede was even able to celebrate a triplet, but Alessio Cragno prevented him at 64 ‘, while at 87’ a left-footed shot from Ibrahimovic was opportunely deflected to the corner
Thirteen minutes before, Milan was sent off for a double warning by Belgian Alexis Saelemaekers, but thanks to his defensive solidity, supported by Gianluigi Donnarumma, he kept the goal undefeated
Donnarumma covered a hand in hand to the Argentine Giovanni Simeone at 63 ‘and nine minutes later he sent a header from Alberto Cerri to the corner
Instead, Donnarumma could only watch how the ball was barely deflected after a header from Luca Ceppitelli in the 86th minute.
The triumph allows Milan to secure first place at the end of the first round of Serie A, as they reached 43 points, three more than their classic rival, Inter, who beat Juventus 2-0 the day before (33)
Milan will finish at the top of the table even before a defeat against Atalanta and if Inter beat Udinese on date 19 by the sporting advantage of the result against each other
The red and black team, which will face Inter in the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup on Wednesday 27, won the Milan derby 2-1 on the fourth date
The problem for Pioli is that against Atalanta, who has 32 points and a duel against Udinese (16) is pending, he will suffer the loss of captain Alessio Romagnoli for reaching the warning limit
Likewise, Pioli replaced Danish defender Simon Kjaer at the break of the duel against Cagliari with Frenchman Pierre Kalulu and his presence against Atalanta is in doubt
More worrying is the situation of Cagliari, which lined up Brazilian Joao Pedro and has 14 points, one more than Torino and Parma, both in the relegation zone with bottom side Crotone (12)
Cagliari also featured Simeone (substituted at 80 ‘) and Uruguayans Diego Godín (booked) and Gastón Pereiro (replaced at 57’), whose compatriot Christian Oliva entered at 69 ‘. (ANSA)
