Stefano Pioli, the manager of AC Milan, has opted for no real surprises in his first line-up of the 2020-21 Serie A season with defensive trio Alessio Romagnoli, Mateo Musacchio and Andrea Conti all injured, while Rafael Leao returned to Milanello on Monday having been in quarantine.
Ante Rebic did return from suspension though, and he slotted straight back into the XI on the left, with Samu Castillejo preferred to Alexis Saelemaekers on the right.
Bologna started better - pressing Milan well high up the
pitch, and Ismael Bennacer was almost punished for a giveaway on the edge of
his own box as a Soriano shot was blocked wide by Kessie following a ricochet.
AC Milan started to gain the momentum and had an early handball shout turned down as Calhanoglu attempted to flick the ball back past the defender.
In the 12th minute Milan generated their first clear chance. Some lovely combination play down the right side involving Calabria and Ibrahimovic saw the latter find some space to shoot from inside the area, but his effort was deflected narrowly wide of the far left post.
The Rossoneri cut through Bologna through the left - Theo
Hernandez finding Calhanoglu with a pass infield, though Hakan have done better
than dragging his effort wide from the edge of the box in space.
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s came into action in the 22nd
minute as Rossoblu’s first real counter of the game ended with Dominguez firing
a shot towards the top right corner that Donnarumma pulled in.
Matteo Gabbia had a big chance to open the deadlock a few
minutes later as a free-kick swung in from the byline was hit back into the box
by Rebic, but the young Italian spun and skewed his effort wide first time from
around six yards out.
The chances kept coming, and Franck Kessie became the latest
player to shank a shot wide from just outside the box when he could have taken
a touch.
Just seconds later, the 1,000 spectators allowed inside the stadium and those watching at home were stunned as Ismael Bennacer missed a sitter. Ibrahimovic did well to hold the ball up inside the area and the Swede fired a low cross into the box that Skorupski parried straight to Bennacer, who somehow managed to fire the ball over and wide with the goal gaping.
Milan gave the impression of scoring any moments, but the lack of neat-finishing undermined their efforts.
The Lion from Sweden – Ibrahimovic has had enough and yet again, decided to take matters in his hand.
The breakthrough came just before the half time.
An impressive spell of controlled possession inside the Bologna third ended with Theo Hernandez whipping in an inch-perfect cross to the far post, where none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic was waiting to tower above his man and headed inside the post.
Who else, but, Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
Indeed, and he was not finished yet!
Pioli opted to make a change at half time, with the struggling Castillejo making way for Alexis Saelemaekers, and he should have had an assist within two minutes - dropped a ball back to Ibrahimovic on the break but Ibra saw his effort turned away for a corner when he should have done better.
Milan were quickly handed a chance for their second, though,
when VAR spotted Orsolini's foul on Bennacer, which had been given as a
free-kick, actually took place in the box and Ibrahimovic slammed the penalty
high into the right corner.
A perfect hat-trick looked a certainty when Ibrahimovic rounded Skorupski, but the Swede sliced his effort over.
But the two-goal of Ibra was enough to bag full points despite being sloppy in the quarter of the game.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored a Serie A brace at the San Siro for the first time in 3065 days.
In opening games of a season within the top five European leagues, Ibrahimovic has now been involved in 16 goals in as many appearances, scoring 12 times and providing four assists. He has now scored in 23 top-flight seasons. He's scored a league goal in four separate decades.
Ibra just keeps getting better and better.
Perhaps, the best is yet to come!
Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on Zlatan Ibrahimovic gives Ac Milan the right start
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