Milan pip Atalanta in nervy finish, keep Napoli in sight
ROME: Sandro Tonali said on Sunday that the Serie A title is AC Milan’s only goal for the season after he helped the Rossoneri stay in touch with leaders Napoli in a 3-2 win at Atalanta which underlines their Scudetto credentials.
Milan came out on top in a frenetic encounter to stay two points behind Napoli, whose 2-1 win at Fiorentina was their seventh in as many games so far this season, after a nervy ending in Bergamo which saw Atalanta pull back two late goals after going three down with 12 minutes remaining.
And asked if he remembered Milan winning the league in 2003-04, the last time they had 19 points from their first seven games, the 21-year-old said: “No, I really was young back then”.
But then he added: “We don’t talk about these things but it [the league title] is the only aim Milan have this season.”
Having heard Tonali speak while waiting for his own interview, Milan coach Stefano Pioli praised the midfielder for his positive attitude as he delighted in his team’s victory.
“We played really well with intensity, energy and quality. It’s a brilliant end to a difficult set of fixtures and the team is improving both in Serie A and the Champions League,” said Pioli.
There are signs that a three-way title race is taking shape with Inter Milan a further two points back in third, while Roma are also lurking in fourth on 15 points following their 2-0 win over Empoli earlier on Sunday.
Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli have a perfect 21 points thanks to their comefrom-behind victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, which came through strikes from Hirving Lozano and Amir Rrahmani either side of half-time.
It was a tough defeat for Fiorentina, who lost in a similar fashion to how they fell at home to Inter a few weeks back after deservedly taking the lead through Lucas Martinez Quarta.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side stay fifth on 12 points, nine behind Napoli and three away from Roma in fourth.
“We suffered a bit after we went ahead, but we also had situations where we could have put ourselves 3-1 ahead which we didn’t manage to exploit,” said Spalletti. AFP