AC Milan thrash Bologna in ongoing Serie A

MILAN: AC Milan secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Bologna in the ongoing Serie A in Milan on Sunday.

With this win, AC Milan have boosted their Europa League hopes, consolidating its sixth place on the table with 56 points in the league, just one point away from Roma, who currently occupy fifth place.

AC Milan's thumping victory saw Alexis Saelemaekers, who broke the deadlock, and Ismael Bennacer, who made it 3-1 at the start of the second half.

Ante Rebie and Hakan Calhanoglu, and Davide Calabria also got on the scoresheet.

Coach Stefano Pioli's men dominated the first half, giving the away side no room to play with their perfectly implemented pressing game. Bologna's only goal was scored by Takehiro Tomiyasu, just before the conclusion of the first half.

Pioli has brushed off Zlatan Ibrahimovic's angry reaction to being substituted in the 5-1 win over Bologna, saying only that the 38-year-old needs to avoid over-exerting himself amid a crowded fixture list.

The Swede was clearly annoyed at being taken off in the 62nd minute of Saturday's match at San Siro, the third time in four games he has been replaced around the hour mark, and ignored a fist bump from Pioli as he left the field.

AC Milan will next take on Sassuolo on July 22.

Atalanta dropped points for only the second time since the season's restart after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona.

Atalanta, who drew 2-2 with Serie A leaders Juventus last weekend, are tied on 71 points with second-placed Inter Milan, who play away at AS Roma on Sunday, and six points behind Juve who also have a game in hand.

Duvan Zapata gave Atalanta the lead when he forced Koray Guenter into an error five minutes into the second half. Despite the defender's best efforts to deny Zapata a run on goal, the Colombian striker calmly slotted the ball past Marco Silvestri.

Verona responded nine minutes later when Matteo Pessina, on loan from Atalanta, made a late run into the box to pounce on Pierluigi Gollini's parry and fire home emphatically his fourth goal since the restart and seventh of the season.

Atalanta, who would have wrapped up Champions League qualification with victory, nearly took all three points in stoppage time when Mario Pasalic's effort from a cross went inches wide of the post. Agencies 

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