Milan take advantage of Inter slip, with loud cheers for Ibrahimovic’s comeback

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back. To loud applause, the Swedish striker made his comeback for AC Milan tonight after more than nine months.

A quarter of an hour was given to him, to become the oldest ever goal scorer in the Italian league on his return to the fields. Because at 41, he is still the big booster for Milan, which is shared second in Serie A after a win over Atalanta Bergamo (2-0).

With that, Milan took full advantage of the slip that city rival and rival Internazionale committed earlier in the day at Bologna (1-0).

The difference between leader Napoli and its pursuers has increased to eighteen points:

And there was more good news for Milan, as Mike Maignan also returned to the pitch. The goalkeeper barely had anything to do against Atalanta, which had nothing to say against the reigning champions despite the contribution of Oranje internationals Marten de Roon and Teun Koopmeiners.

Goals by Theo Hernández, through the back of Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso, and Junior Messias were a meager reflection of the balance of power. An ideal opportunity, then, to give Ibrahimovic minutes again since his last appearance, when he played in Milan’s championship match despite a torn cruciate ligament.

Milan will not be champions this year, given Napoli’s street-length lead over the two Milan teams. A lead that has thus increased again after the loss to Inter. Visiting the league number seven, Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries’ team went down 1-0.

Bologna, where former Excelsior player Jerdy Schouten (one international) is a weekly driving force in midfield, saw a goal by Musa Barrow disallowed for offside in the first half and a ball by Roberto Soriano hit the crossbar.

After halftime, Inter improved, but lacked the conviction to really hurt Bologna. The stiff Bologna continued to lurk on the counter and saw their patience rewarded fifteen minutes before time.

Soriano was sent deep and poked the ball past goalkeeper André Onana without hesitation. Inter then hunted for the equalizer, but it did not come.