AC Milan returned to form with a thumping 4-1 victory over previously unbeaten Lazio at the San Siro on Sunday to ease the pressure on under-fire coach Carlo Ancelotti.
He had been feeling the strain after his team lost their first two Serie A encounters. But a midweek UEFA Cup success against FC Zurich restored Milan’s self-confidence and goals from Clarence Seedorf, Gianluca Zambrotta, Pato and Kaka earned them a much-needed first three league points of the season.
But despite the victory, Ancelotti is not about to start relaxing.
PHOTO: AP
“I’m not sure the crisis is over yet,” he warned before praising his side’s attacking endeavor.
Milan went in front as Seedorf tried to play a pass to Marco Borriello on the edge of the box only to see the ball rebound to him off a defender’s chest before finishing with aplomb.
Lazio forward Mauro Zarate restored parity after running through a gaping hole in the Milan backline but fullback Zambrotta netted a howitzer from 30m to give Milan a 2-1 lead at the break.
Pato converted a Marek Jankulovski cross soon after the restart with a diving header before Kaka curled home a sumptuous fourth.
Earlier in the day, Jose Mourinho continued his fine start to life at Inter Milan as his side won 3-1 at Torino to go top.
An own goal by Marco Pisano, a fierce drive from Maicon and a clever finish with the outside of his boot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic provided further proof that the marriage between Inter and Mourinho is quickly bearing fruit.
Torino’s Elvis Abbruscato scored a consolation goal 14 minutes from time.
The top of the tree is taking on a familiar look with Juventus moving up to second after their 1-0 success at Cagliari. Juve were without injured forward David Trezeguet but new signing Amauri proved he is more than an ample replacement as he volleyed home Vincenzo Iaquinta’s flick-on after 39 minutes.
In Florence, Antonio Gilardino scored for Fiorentina against Bologna in a 1-0 victory, thumping home a header from Mario Santana’s cross eight minutes before the break.
Serie A
Team P GD PTS
1 Inter 3 3 7
2 Juventus 3 2 7
3 Lazio 3 2 6
4 Palermo 3 1 6
5 Catania 3 1 6
6 Atalanta 3 1 6
7 Napoli 3 1 5
8 Roma 3 1 4
9 Torino 3 1 4
10 Siena 3 1 4
11 Udinese 3 1 4
12 Fiorentina 3 0 4
13 Chievo 3 -1 4
14 Lecce 3 -1 4
15 AC Milan 3 0 3
16 Genoa 3 0 3
17 Bologna 3 -1 3
18 Sampdoria 3 -2 2
19 Reggina 3 -4 1
20 Cagliari 3 -6 0
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