Despite being a man down for over an hour, Serie A leaders AC Milan recorded a 2-0 win over Benevento at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito.

Sandro Tonali got the marching order after just 33 minutes, but the Rossoneri survived a missed Gianluca Caprari penalty. Stefano Pioli’s men pulled through and stayed on top of the log to displace Inter Milan that had earlier in the day moved to the top of the log after walloping another promoted side, Crotone 6-2.

They did this without their 39-year-old talisman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ismael Bennacer, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Matteo Gabbia are on the treatment table while Theo Hernandez was out of the action due to suspension.

Having ended 2020 with back-to-back 2-0 wins over Genoa and Udinese, Le Streghe was expected to give the leaders a run for their money, especially when they were one man less. Benevento had taken points off Juventus and Lazio in recent weeks.

Milan opened the scoring from the penalty spot through their usual taker, Franck Kessie, on his return from suspension. This was a gift from the host from a poor back-pass that led Alessandro Tuia into a clumsy attempt against Ante Rebic.

The host had the chance to restore parity after waves of opportunities were created, but the Rossoneri defended their lead with Gianluigi Donnarumma repeatedly on his toes.

Milan later doubled their lead four minutes into the second half through a stunner from Rafael Leao, and that put the points in the bag.

In another development, Roma got maximum points against Sampdoria through a solitary strike from Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian striker tap-in in the 72nd minute was enough to break Sampdoria down in Roma’s continued pursuit of a Champions League spot.

Dzeko got the final pass from Rick Karsdorp’s cross and made no mistake in front of Omar Colley to prod in from six yards.

Meanwhile, the clash between Lazio and Genoa ended in a 1-1 draw. Lazio went ahead through a spot-kick from Ciro Immobile after Cristian Zapata pushed Sergej Milinkovic-Savic inside the area.

The hosts then got the equalizer after a flurry of attacks. Substitute Shomurodov ran through a classic counter-attack from his half to set up Mattia Destro for the equalizer in the first half.

The second half was wide open, with chances for both sides to find the back of the net.

After ending the first half 2-2, Inter went on a rampage in the second half at the San Siro against Crotone, with Lautaro Martinez netting his first hat-trick.

The Nerazzurri eventually got their eighth consecutive Serie A victory. But they had to do this via a come back as Crotone took the lead from a short corner. An unmarked Niccolò Zanellato’s header from the back post gave the visitors the lead.

Inter responded with a Romelu Lukaku’s through ball, which found Martinez, who fired a right-footed shot from inside the area.

Inter went ahead through an own goal Nicolò Barella’s pulled back from the by-line hit Marrone, who accidentally turn it into his net as anticipate Martinez from six yards.

Crotone restored parity after Vidal mistimed the tackle on Reca, making the referee award a penalty. In the absence of Nigerian striker Nwankwo Simy, who was on the bench, Vladimir Golemic converted past Handanovic.

After the restart, Inter restored their lead through Marcelo Brozovic, who released the final pass to Martinez from Lukaku’s back-heel flick.

Lukaku finally got a goal in his 50th Serie A appearance after controlling a long Alessandro Bastoni ball over the top and turned Sebastiano Luperto before drilling home the fourth.

Martinez then completed his hat-trick from a rebound after Perisic’s strike was beaten away by Cordaz.

Inter scored the sixth when Matteo Darmian rolled across to Achraf Hakimi, who bend it low into the far bottom corner. Juventus also defeated Udinese 4-1.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed