Milan beat Genoa to maintain 2-point lead after Inter win

MILAN: AC Milan maintained their lead in Serie A after beating relegation-threatened Genoa 2-0 on Friday.

Rafael Leao and Junior Messias helped Milan move back two points ahead of Inter after the defending champion won at Spezia 3-1 hours earlier.

Inter have played a match less than Milan as they still have to play a postponed match against Bologna.

The two Milan teams also meet on Tuesday in the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals.

Genoa remained three points from safety.

Milan were again going through an injury crisis and struggling for goals ahead of the match against Genoa. It went in on the back of two straight goalless draws and only scoring four goals in its last seven matches

Veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic was out with a knee problem, the latest in a series of injuries this season.

Milan took the lead in the 11th minute when Pierre Kalulu put in a tantalizing cross from the right to the back post where Leão volleyed into the bottom far corner.

The Rossoneri had few more real goal-scoring opportunities but should have doubled their lead in the 57th when Olivier Giroud fired a cross from Alexis Saelemaekers over the bar from close range.

Milan sealed the result three minutes from time. Genoa goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu parried Messias’ initial shot with a brilliant one-handed save but the Rossoneri forward fired in the rebound.

Substitute Lautaro Martínez returned from suspension to score one goal and set up another as Inter kept up the pressure on its city rival.

The Nerazzurri struggled to get going on a balmy day in Spezia and almost conceded early but Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanović rushed off his line and grabbed the ball following a wayward interception from teammate Ivan