AC Milan 2- Atalanta: Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets to be the club’s oldest-ever Serie A look maker at 41 as the reigning champions of Italy continue on their sizzling operate of form in search of a best-two league end
AC Milan have moved degree on details with next-positioned Inter MilanAn possess goal combined with Junior Messias’ late strike to make certain victoryWhile Zlatan Ibrahimovic grew to become the club’s oldest-at any time visual appearance maker
Serie A champions AC Milan defeat Atalanta 2- in the Italian major-flight on Sunday, consolidating their situation in the leading four as they extended their profitable streak and ultimately confirmed their top quality as reigning title holders.
Milan have now received their last three outings and celebrated today’s continuation of great fortune with the return of veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Swedish centre forward underwent knee surgery in Might last calendar year amid fears at the time that Ibrahimovic could connect with it a day on his stellar vocation.
The 41-year-old was welcomed again to the San Siro courtesy of a standing ovation as he replaced Olivier Giroud and broke Alessandro Costacurta’s report of getting to be the oldest player in the club’s heritage to feature in Serie A.
Milan took the direct in the 25th minute by an personal aim by Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso, right after the ball went in off his again as he tried out to help you save a extensive-vary shot by Theo Hernandez.
![Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his long-awaited return for AC Milan after undergoing knee surgery last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/26/22/68107797-0-image-a-57_1677451876823.jpg)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his very long-awaited return for AC Milan right after going through knee surgical procedure final calendar year
![AC Milan moved level on points with second-placed Inter Milan after their latest win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/26/22/68107799-0-image-a-58_1677451881744.jpg)
AC Milan moved level on details with 2nd-put Inter Milan just after their hottest acquire
![Junior Messias (red top) wrapped up a brilliant win with this 86th-minute chipped finish](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/26/22/68107817-0-image-a-60_1677452015197.jpg)
Junior Messias (crimson best) wrapped up a good acquire with this 86th-minute chipped finish
Midfielder Junior Messias then doubled Milan’s guide shortly before fulltime when he chipped Musso following using a pass from ahead Rafael Leao in his stride.
Milan moved up to third in the league standings on 47 details, amount with 2nd-positioned Inter Milan and a few points apparent of AS Roma, who visit bottom facet Cremonese on Tuesday.
Atalanta remain sixth on 41 points amid a torrid operate of kind that has now noticed them drop three of their past 4 fixtures.
Milan boss Stefano Pioli praised his star’s in the aftermath of victory for ‘finally’ playing with ‘energy’ following a time of frustrations, telling DAZN: ‘We experienced won the other a few game titles 1-, but can not generally hope to continue to keep a clean up sheet, so we should’ve completed it previously,’ Pioli told DAZN.
![Atalanta were largely managed out of the game by AC Milan as they failed to register a shot on target](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/26/22/68107821-0-image-a-62_1677452024618.jpg)
Atalanta ended up mainly managed out of the video game by AC Milan as they failed to sign-up a shot on focus on
![Messias celebrates scoring late on as AC Milan extended their winning streak to three games](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/26/22/68107795-0-image-a-61_1677452019201.jpg)
Messias celebrates scoring late on as AC Milan extended their winning streak to a few game titles
![Milan boss Stefano Pioli (left) praised his stars at full-time for showing 'energy'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/26/22/68107835-0-image-a-63_1677452067682.jpg)
Milan boss Stefano Pioli (left) praised his stars at comprehensive-time for showing ‘energy’
‘It was a wonderful overall performance and at last we played with the electrical power I recognise from my gamers. That is the most critical component.
‘We necessary to have a feeling of consistency, as we had never ever won four in a row this time, and we know the problems of experiencing a facet like Atalanta.
‘We worked as a workforce, played with intensity, sacrificed ourselves and saved the ball properly much too.
‘I saw only positives currently, but it is a lengthy season nonetheless and we need extra details to protected a best four location.’