Cagliari, March 20 (BUS): In the midst of a tight race for the Serie A title, Milan have shown more consistency than their rivals.
On a night when defending champions Inter Milan drew 1-1 at home with Fiorentina, Milan beat relegation-threatened Cagliari to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches, the Associated Press reported.
Milan stayed three points ahead of Napoli, who came from behind to beat visiting Udinese 2-1 earlier on Saturday.
On a rainy night in Sardinia, Ismael Bennacer scored a long-distance ball for Milan near the hour mark. The goal was set up by Olivier Giroud, who failed to exploit an excellent opportunity early on when he missed from close range.
Also in the first half, Milan midfielder Frank Kessie hit the post from a distance.
Cagliari almost equalized in the 90th minute with a shot from Leonardo Pavoletti that hit the crossbar.
Milan won its host Napoli two weeks ago, while Inter got only seven points from its last seven matches.
OSIMHEN AGAIN
Victor Osimhen scored twice for Napoli again
After Gerard Deulofeu gave Udinese an early advantage, Osimene equalized after the break with a header and then won it with a one-touch pass by redirecting a cross from Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Ochemin, who also scored a brace in Napoli’s 2-1 win over Hellas Verona last weekend, will miss the team’s next game due to a pile of cards.
Udinese was eventually reduced to 10 men when Pablo Mari was sent off in red for a major foul on Pyotr Zelensky.
Torreira degrees, lose teeth
Third-placed Inter lost ground in the title race after their 1-1 draw with Fiorentina at San Siro.
The defending champions have won only one of their last seven matches. The Nerazzurri trail Milan with six points but have a game in hand.
Lucas Torreira put Fiorentina ahead after the break, defeating Nicolo Parilla in a cross.
Denzel Dumfries equalized for Inter after five minutes with a header.
And Torreira, loaned from Arsenal, played despite losing one of his teeth in the match. The Uruguay international also scored in the previous Fiorentina match.
Fiorentina is eighth.