Milan level with leaders Napoli after cruising past dismal Juve

MILAN: AC Milan bounced back from their midweek humbling at Chelsea by comfortably seeing off Juventus 2-0 on Saturday (Oct 8) and moving level on points with Serie A leaders Napoli.

Italian champions Milan showed no signs of a European hangover as they beat fierce rivals Juve in front of a packed San Siro thanks to goals either side of half-time from Fikayo Tomori and Brahim Diaz.

"We were timid in London... today we were more of a team and we worked really hard together. That's what we need to do in all our matches," said Pioli.

Stefano Pioli's team are one of three on 20 points with Napoli and also Atalanta, who travel to Udinese on Sunday afternoon with the chance to claim the outright lead.

Milan sit third after a dominant display which should give them some cause for optimism ahead of Tuesday night, when they try to gain revenge on Chelsea in Champions League Group E.

For Juve it was yet another poor performance and result, a second league defeat of the campaign which leaves them in eighth, seven points off the pace.

"I think there's little to say after a match like that," said Juve coach Massimilano Allegri.

"We played all right in the first half and then we capitulated. There were too many basic errors."

- Hernandez key -

Theo Hernandez, who missed Milan's Stamford Bridge hammering, was key to Milan taking the lead.

His challenge on Cuadrado led to a corner which the France full-back took, and Tomori lashed in his first goal of the season after Olivier Giroud's effort thwacked him in the chest.

It was as much as Milan deserved. Rafael Leao had already struck the post twice for the hosts, and although Juve did look menacing on the break they lacked the delicate touch of suspended Angel Di Maria.

Dusan Vlahovic was