AC Milan overcame Monza by the narrowest of margins, overcoming Serie A debutants Monza by a 1-0 scoreline to open up a three-point gap inside the UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification zone.
With Monza one of Serie A’s in-form sides since the turn of the year, UCL-chasing AC Milan looked to have their work cut-out if they were to cement their spot in the top-four.
Somewhat against the form book, Milan started brightly and almost asserted their authority on the game in the opening 15 minutes, but in what was a huge let-off for the hosts, Rafael Leão’s wicked strike crashed back off the post.
Brahim Díaz was the next in a long list of Milan players to attempt to find an elusive opener, but this time Monza stopper Michele Di Gregorio didn’t need the help of his woodwork, producing a fine stop to preserve his side’s clean sheet.
But though they were frustrating to see, those missed chances proved inconsequential, keeping Milan well-embedded in the UCL spots.
Losers Monza, meanwhile, lost for only the second time in nine games played under Raffaele Palladino at the U-Power Stadium, and still boast a huge gap above the relegation zone, despite being yet to win on home turf since the start of 2023.
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