MILAN: AC Milan snapped a six-match winless run in all competitions with a crushing 5-1 Serie A victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari on Saturday.

The win moves Stefano Pioli’s side closer to securing second place. They have 74 points and are seven ahead of third-placed Bologna, who beat Napoli 2-0 earlier in the day, and eight clear of Juventus.

“It was very important to return to winning ways, we were not used to being so long without victories. We suffered this situation, well done to the guys for their determination,” coach Pioli told Sky Sport.

“No team has managed to maintain the level of Inter and we were not able to have continuity to stick with them. Ours is a strong team, but one that failed to overcome decisive moments at a certain time during the season.”

Ismael Bennacer opened the scoring after 35 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the centre of the box before Christian Pulisic extended their advantage after a fast break in the 59th minute.

Nahitan Nandez pulled a goal back in the 63rd for Cagliari, but Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan’s third with a superb long-range effort in the 74th.

Rafael Leao got on the scoresheet seven minutes from time before Pulisic sealed the rout three minutes later with his second of the night and 12th league goal this season.

Cagliari remain in 15th place with 33 points, three points above the relegation zone.

“It hurts to have conceded five goals, in the first half we did well defensively, but we were timid,” Cagliari coach Claudio Ranieri said. “Coming here to San Siro against an angry Milan side after the last results was difficult ... the last two matches will determine whether it will be salvation or relegation. Now we cancel everything and think about the next ones.”

Meanwhile, Bologna took a huge step towards Champions League qualification by winning at Napoli, whose miserable season as Serie A titleholders nears its end.

Early headers from Dan Ndoye and Stefan Posch were enough for Thiago Motta’s Bologna to move seven points ahead of sixth-placed AS Roma, with a top-five finish enough for a spot in Europe’s top club competition.

Roma’s victory against fifth-place Atalanta — who have a game in hand — will guarantee Bologna a place in the Champions League.

“More than the Champions League I’m happy about the squad who once again put in a really good performance against a good team,” Motta said to DAZN. “I’m putting all my energy into enjoying the moment because the boys were great.”

The only negative note on a great evening for Bologna was star forward Joshua Zirkzee limping off in tears with what looked like a thigh injury.

Dutchman Zirkzee, who is yet to claim a senior cap for his country with Euro 2024 around the corner, was consoled by team-mates in the Bologna dug-out.

Napoli were loudly booed off at half-time and at the final whistle by livid fans who have watched their team slump from Scudetto winners last season to eighth this term.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2024