Tijjani Reijnders hands AC Milan much-needed Serie A victory

AC Milan claimed a much-needed Serie A success by winning 1-0 at lowly Hellas Verona.

Tijjani Reijnders struck a fine winner after 56 minutes – his fourth league goal of the season and eighth in all competitions – as Milan claimed only their second victory in six Serie A games.

Milan move above Bologna into seventh place, but remain five points adrift of the Champions League places and 11 behind leaders Atalanta.

The Rossoneri had won their previous seven league meetings against Hellas Verona but the hosts began brightly and Tomas Suslov dragged an early effort wide.

There was a check for a possible handball from Rafael Leao’s cross but no penalty was awarded to Milan.

Suslow dispossessed Samuel Chukwueze to force a fine low save from Mike Maignan, but Milan began to exert pressure in the closing stages of the first half.

Chukwueze, Tammy Abraham and Filippo Terracciano tested Lorenzo Montipo with the Hellas Verona goalkeeper equal to everything that came his way.

Montipo denied Matteo Gabbia straight after the restart but had no answer when Youssouf Fofana threaded a pass through for Reijnders to rifle home an excellent first-time finish.

Darko Lazovic set up Suslov in response and Maignan reacted well to stop Hellas Verona from equalising.

Milan went close to a second goal with Fofana again the provider and Alex Jimenez bringing the best out of Montipo.

Reijnders steered Theo Hernandez’s pass wide in the final quarter but the Dutchman had provided the telling moment of the contest.

Hellas Verona remain 17th, just one point above the relegation zone.

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