Serie A leaders AC Milan lost 1-0 to AS Roma after striker Marco Borriello burst his former club’s bubble and put his new side back in the title picture at a freezing San Siro on Saturday.
The Rossoneri had surged six points clear at the top last weekend, but Juventus, SS Lazio and Napoli could all cut the gap back to three points if they win their matches this weekend, with last term’s runners-up Roma now just seven points away in fifth.
Borriello, who joined Roma from Milan in August to make room for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was fortunate to score on 68 minutes when home defender Ignazio Abate kicked a Jeremy Menez cross against his former teammate and the ball rolled into the goal.
PHOTO: AFP
He was later substituted and boos rang out from Milan fans as he applauded the small cheering Roma contingent, who were witnessing Milan’s first Serie A defeat since Oct. 30.
Milan started brightly with the same urgency and direct play that has been the hallmark of their good form under Massimiliano Allegri, in stark contrast to the slow, patient build-up seen under previous bosses Leonardo and Carlo Ancelotti.
Robinho, preferred to substitute Ronaldinho for the ninth straight Serie A game, shot wide early on after showing off some trickery, before Ibrahimovic, among other Milan chances, missed a glorious opportunity when one-on-one with goalkeeper Doni.
PHOTO: AFP
Former Barcelona and Inter striker Ibrahimovic has been the catalyst for Milan’s resurgence this term as they bid for a first scudetto since 2004, but the giant Swede was slightly off the pace after a busy few months spearheading the side.
He will be glad of a near three-week break now to recharge his batteries before Serie A resumes on Jan. 6, by which time Milan may have bought Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano if former owners Real Madrid negotiate a sell-on clause.
Midfielder Andrea Pirlo will also need the recovery time after limping off with a thigh injury midway through the first period, which led to Milan dropping their intensity slightly against Claudio Ranieri’s team’s solid defense.
In Saturday’s other Serie A clash, Chile’s former Inter midfielder Luis Jimenez struck on 17 minutes to give third-bottom Cesena a 1-0 win over Roberto Donadoni’s Cagliari.
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