Milan continued its successive victories and raised it to five when it honored its guest Lecce with a clean 3-0 on Saturday at the “San Siro” stadium in Milan in the thirty-first stage of the Italian football league, and issued a strong warning to Roma, its opponent in the quarter-finals of the European League “Europa League”. » Who established himself as king of the capital by defeating his neighbor Lazio.
Milan decided the result of the match in the first half by scoring two goals through American international Christian Pulisic (6) and French veteran Olivier Giroud (20), before adding a third goal at the beginning of the second half through Portuguese international Rafael Leao.
It is Milan’s fifth successive win in the league and the 21st this season, strengthening its position in second place with 68 points, reducing the difference to 11 points over its neighbor and traditional rival Inter Milan, which is hosting Udinese on Monday at the end of the stage.
Milan coach Stefan Pioli, whose team won its last seven matches in all competitions for the first time since 2006, said: “Our season was not always great. We suffered, but this team never lowered its head. It is going through a good period, physically and mentally.”
He added, “To finish second in the league and win the European League title would be a great result.”
He continued, “We feel that we are in good condition. We played the match as we planned in training.” Now we need to think about the Europa League quarter-finals, which is a completely different match and a big goal for both teams.”
Milan, which has won 32 points out of a possible 39 since the start of the second leg, issued a stern warning to Roma, which it will host on Thursday at the San Siro Stadium in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Europa League, which is the only competition in which it has a chance to save. Season and winning a title.
Milan also temporarily expanded the gap to nine points over third-placed Juventus, which awaits a hot summit on Sunday against its guest, Fiorentina. The Turin giant may find itself in fourth place before the start of its match against the Florence pole, if Bologna decides its match against its guest, Frosinone, which is scheduled six hours before the match with Juventus. And Fiorentina.
Roma won the capital derby against its neighbor Lazio with a single goal scored by Gianluca Mancini in the 42nd minute.
This is the first time that Roma, led by its coach, former midfielder Daniele De Rossi, has succeeded in winning the derby in more than two years.
De Rossi, the former Roma captain, also managed to win his first derby as a coach in Roma from the first attempt after four matches without a win under the leadership of his Portuguese predecessor, Jose Mourinho.
Roma regained its winning tone after its disappointing goalless draw against its host Lecce, strengthening its position in fifth place with 55 points, while Lazio suffered its thirteenth loss this season and the first after two consecutive wins, so its score froze at 46 points in seventh place.
The Italian League is leading the race for an additional seat in the Champions League next year, which means that finishing the season in the top five will be enough for Roma to qualify for the prestigious continental competition for the first time since 2018.
Roma prepared perfectly to face Milan, even if it did not present a convincing display, and achieved victory with a Mancini header following a corner kick taken by its playmaker Dybala.