Zlatan stars as Milan edge Inter

MILAN, Oct 17, (AP): Zlatan Ibrahimović made a winning return after being sidelined with the coronavirus as AC Milan beat Inter Milan 2-1 in an entertaining derby match on Saturday.

Ibrahimović only resumed training this week after recovering from the virus but the 39-year-old Swede scored twice early on. Romelu Lukaku netted for Inter in the 29th minute.

It was Milan’s first win in the derby in the league since 2016 and sent the Rossoneri top of the table. Milan are the only team with a perfect record, having won all four of their matches this season.

Milan are three points above Atalanta, who lost 4-1 at Napoli. Lazio lost 3-0 at Sampdoria.

It was a strange atmosphere at San Siro with only 1,000 fans allowed in the 80,000-seat stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, both teams were welcomed by hundreds of supporters as the team buses arrived at the stadium. Flags were waved, banners unfurled and fans roared their support – through their masks.

The virus had ruled out Inter players Ashley Young, Alessandro Bastoni, Milan Škriniar, Radja Nainggolan,

Roberto Gagliardini and Ionut Radu.

Milan had Ibrahimović back and the forward had an almost immediate impact.

Ibrahimović won a penalty after a reckless tackle by Aleksandar Kolarov and, although his spot-kick was saved by Samir Handanović, the former Inter

SOCCER

forward tucked home the rebound to put Milan in front in the 13th minute.

Milan doubled their lead just three minutes later with a fantastic team move as Hakan Çalhanoğlu sent Rafael

Leão down the left flank and he crossed for Ibrahimović to volley in.

Inter halved the deficit when Ivan Perišić crossed for Lukaku to sidefoot home. It was the first league goal Milan had conceded this season.

Inter, who had fought back from 2-0 down to win 4-2 the last time the two sides met, almost leveled shortly after as Lautaro Martínez’s header looped over Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but Simon Kjær cleared off the line.

The Nerazzurri should have equalized on the hour when Achraf Hakimi was left unmarked but his header flew inches wide of the left post.