Díaz nets 2 as Milan beats Monza 4-1

Milan, October 23 (BUS): Brahim Diaz’s first-half double helped Milan win 4-1 at Monza in Serie A, making an unhappy return to the San Siro for former Rossoneri chief Adriano Galliani on Saturday.

Divock Origi scored his first goal for Milan and substitute Rafael Liao wrapped up the match after Filippo Ranocchia pulled one back for Monza, the Associated Press reported.

Milan’s only negative note was seeing Diaz limping early in the second half clutching his left thigh. He received a standing ovation and Milan hope his injury won’t be too serious, as their last two Champions League group games will take place over the next two weeks.

“When he (Diaz) is in good shape, you can tell he has these sharp little legs, he’s also doing really well because he’s in good physical shape,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said.

“He had a muscle problem, it doesn’t look serious for him or (US defender Serginho) Dest. We have a lot of games coming up, and I hope we can have as many players as possible.”

Dest was affected in his first Serie A game before breaking off in the first half after suffering a minor injury.

Milan drew with Serie A leaders Napoli before the southern team’s match against Roma on Sunday.

Monza, who have won three of their last four league games, are five points above the relegation zone.

Much of the focus before the match was on the return of Silvio Berlusconi and Galliani to the club, winning 29 titles in 31 years.

Berlusconi bought Monza in 2018 and appointed Galliani as CEO – the successful duo reunited in Milan until Berlusconi sold the Rossoneri in 2017.

The former Italian prime minister was not seen at the San Siro but television cameras were on Galliani, who – as promised – managed to contain his emotions during the match.

He moved visibly before kick-off, however, looking around his old house and hugging everyone on the touchline, including former AC Milan player and current manager Paolo Maldini.

Milan led in the 16th minute in spectacular fashion as Diaz hit a goal kick in the center of the circle and exploded in the middle of the field, past several defenders before firing into the lower right corner.

The Spanish midfielder doubled his tally four minutes before the end of the first half as Origi rotated the ball from the right flank and Diaz turned his marker before angling into the far bottom corner.

Origi scored the goal himself in the 65th minute as he received the ball from Junior Messias and hit it in the upper right corner.

Ranocchia brought his team back into the game after five minutes with a superb free kick to the right of the net, but Liao restored Milan’s three-goal lead with six minutes remaining.

Late winner

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in stoppage time to produce a 4-3 victory for Inter Milan, who seemed to be heading to a draw with arch-rivals Fiorentina after giving up a two-goal lead.

Inter entered the match with the goal of reaching a tie with fifth-placed Lazio, five points behind Napoli, and things seemed to be going well when Nicolo Parilla and Lautaro Martinez put the Nerazzurri 2-0 after 15 minutes.

However, Arthur Cabral reduced the difference with a penalty kick in the 33rd minute and Jonathan Iconi equalized after the hour.

Martinez regained Inter’s lead in the 73rd minute, but the Nerazzurri only looked destined to capture a point when Luka Jovic equalized again for Fiorentina in the last minute before Mkhitaryan won in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Salernitana also beat Spezia 1-0.