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Verona 1 AC Milan 3: Birthday boy Tonali’s double fires Milan above rivals Inter to top of Serie A in comeback thriller

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BIRTHDAY boy Sandro Tonali hit a brace to put AC Milan back on top of Serie A in their fiercely contested title race with rivals Inter.

Milan had to come from behind to overcome Verona as the hunt for the Italian crown looks set to go down to the wire.

Rafael Leao played a crucial role in AC Milan’s comebackCredit: Getty
Sandro Tonali’s two goals have put AC Milan back in the lead of a compelling Serie A title raceCredit: Getty

Stefano Poli’s side had the pressure on them after Inter came from two goals behind to beat Empoli to move to the top of the table.

But AC Milan responded in fashion, despite falling a goal behind.

Verona drew first blood in the 38th minute when an incisive pass found Darko Lazovic, whose cross was headed home by his fellow wingback Davide Faraoni.

But Milan came to life just before the break when Rafael Leao – fired up after receiving a yellow card – danced into the box and cut the ball back for Tonali to score from point-blank range.

The pair combined again four minutes after the break on a Milan counter-attack, with the lightning-quick Leao sprinting past the backtracking Verona defence before his low cross was turned into an empty net by Tonali.

Alessandro Florenzi, who came on as a late substitute, sealed all three points when the full-back found space to run into the box and fired a thumping half-volley past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

AC Milan host 7th-placed Atalanta next, who are still hunting down Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the hunt for European football next season.

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They then go to Sassuolo on the final day of the season.

Trailing by two points, Inter go to Cagliari next before hosting Sampdoria on the final day.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

Tagcloud: FootballSerie A

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