Audio By Carbonatix
Milan moved within one win of the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Group H minnows BATE Borisov at the San Siro.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic set Milan on the road to a comfortable three points when he benefited from some slack defending in the visiting ranks to slam the ball under BATE goalkeeper Aleksandr Gutor on 33 minutes.
Kevin-Prince Boateng sealed the victory in the second period when his shot from over 20 yards out hit the underside of the bar before nestling in the net with Gutor rendered helpless as he dived in vain at full stretch.
Milan know a repeat scoreline in Belarus in a fortnight will secure their place in the last 16 with two games to spare.
With Barcelona picking up a 2-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen at the Camp Nou, Milan and Barca are well clear in Group H on seven points with BATE and Plzen on one point before the return legs of these fixtures on November 1.
It looks like the match between Milan and Barca on November 23 in Italy will decide who tops the group before the knock-out stages of the competition after Christmas.
BATE are not in the same class as Milan, but they could easily have struck the opening goal seconds before Ibrahimovic netted for the Italian champions.
Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel gave the ball straight to Renan Bressan on 31 minutes, but he failed to slot the ball beyond Milan keeper Christian Abbiati, who dived to make a smart save from eight yards out.
It was little wonder he got a large pat on the back from the relieved Van Bommel.
Milan had dominated the early period of the match without finding a goal as Alberto Aquilani teased a volley over the bar on four minutes before seeing a neat shot crack off a post only to race to safety with Gutor stranded.
Ibrahimovic had tried to drill a shot over the head of Gutor from the halfway line on seven minutes. He knocked a shot narrowly over the bar 11 minutes later before settling the home side's nerves with a fine finish after BATE had failed to clear the danger before the break.
Milan made a sluggish start to the second period, but the visiting side could not find the goal they craved as Bressan hammered a volley over the target.
Maksim Bordachev then saw Abbiati claw a shot wide on 50 minutes before Milan regained control of the match by discovering some fresh energy in the closing 35 minutes or so of a contest that was always likely to end in a home win.
The Belarusian side have never won a Champions League game, registering four draws and fives defeats. On this evidence, the wait could go on for some time yet.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
For President Mahama, every mother must live. What about you?
7 minutes -
OMCs commence fuel price reviews; Star Oil sells petrol at GH¢14.97, diesel kept at GH¢16.97
41 minutes -
Residents of Brekusu-Kwabenya-Kitase protest over deplorable roads
50 minutes -
Genser Energy secures 456m euros to accelerate next phase of growth across West Africa
55 minutes -
COKA visits Kokofu after Ashanti NPP win, calls for unity ahead of 2028
58 minutes -
Bono East crowns Kintampo SHS, Gyarko Community Day SHS for national public speaking finals
1 hour -
GRIDCo completes initial repair works on Ashaiman transmission line
1 hour -
Egyapa Mercer donates hairdryers to graduating hairdressers in Sekondi
2 hours -
Health Ministry hands over 30 ambulances to National Security for refurbishment
2 hours -
Republic Bank deepens commitment to homeownership with nationwide JoyNews Habitat Fair partnership
2 hours -
Archbishop Duncan-Williams links galamsey to Ghana’s wider culture of indiscipline
2 hours -
India’s clean energy leadership in green hydrogen
2 hours -
Ghana’s Road Safety Crisis: We must move from reaction to prevention
2 hours -
Duncan-Williams urges Church to educate Ghanaians on dangers of galamsey and gold smuggling
2 hours -
New Defence Minister pledges technology-led defence posture
2 hours