AC Milan inch closer to the title as Inter keep their title hopes alive

(Football news) AC Milan inched closer to the title after they won 2-0 against Atalanta at the San Siro. Now the distant dream is becoming a reality for the Rossoneri as they are aiming to win their first title since 2011. Stefano Pioli’s team started off the match very nervy and devoid of ideas in the first half, failing to create a clear-cut chance in the first 45 minutes. The quality eventually came through in the second half, from a fine finish from Rafeal Leao and a superb solo goal from full-back Hernandez saw Milan take all three points, much to the relief of a full house San Siro. Inter did manage to beat Cagliari later in the day which meant that the title race is going to the final day of the season, but Milan know a draw against Sassuolo in the final will see the Scudetto return to the red half of the city.

Yesterday’s win was Milan's fifth league win in a row and they stretched their unbeaten Serie A run to 15 matches. Substitute Junior Messias came on and brought the much needed freshness in the side as he supplied a fine pass into Leao’s path, who took a touch before scoring his 11th league goal of the season in the 56th minute. Eighth-placed Atalanta, who still had a slim chance of qualifying for Europe next season, rarely threatened an equaliser. Hernandez then put the final nail in the coffin when he produced a stunning solo effort that could be a goal-of-the-season contender. Theo Hernandez picked the ball up in his own half and then ran the entire field, bypassing several challenges before drilling into the net to seal a crucial victory in Milan's final home game as the scudetto inches closer to them.

"I had to say goodbye to the fans, it's a year that excites me," Pioli said after the match. "It's not over yet, we must be determined and calm.

"I am very satisfied, because we played against a strong team that created difficulties for us. We did well in the attacking phase and we found solutions. We never lost our clarity and we always believed in it, so the victory is a well-deserved reward.

"I'm living very normal weeks, because I see the positive attitude of my players. We have an important background, derived from two years together. The boys make me proud."

Inter Milan kept the title race alive as they beat relegation-threatened Caligari 3-1 and ensured the Serie A title race will go to the final weekend. Inter had to win in order to keep the title race alive as they went in front in the 25th minute through Matteo Darmian. Martinez added a second six minutes after the break for Inter, this was his 20th goal of the season as he became the sixth player in Inter's history to score 20 goals in a single Serie A season before turning 25. They appeared on course for their ninth win in 10 matches in all competitions, before Charalampos Lykogiannis produced a screamer out of nowhere to get Cagliari back in it. Inter suffered some nervy moments in the dying moments of the match before Martinez's quality shone ensured the three points, as his classy finish six minutes from time finally ended Cagliari's hopes of a comeback and probably relegated them to Serie B. The victory ensured Inter remained two points behind Milan going into the final match day weekend.

"It wasn't easy after Milan's win, but the team played really well against an opponent who is problematic on their own ground," Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said. "I congratulate my team, because this was by no means to be taken for granted, especially after playing 120 minutes on Wednesday [in the Coppa Italia final].

"Naturally, we are behind, so we need a victory and for them [Milan] to lose. It's happened before, I won with Lazio when we were two points behind and Juventus lost to Perugia [in 2000], so it can happen again."

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