With coach Sinisa Mihajlovic constantly under pressure, he and the team had to meet with club president Silvio Berlusconi yesterday, as well as daughter Barbara and CEO Adriano Galliani. We have all the qualities to keep that average up until the end of the first part of the season.
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After providing the cross for Giacomo Bonaventura’s opener, Niang converted a penalty before halftime then intercepted a pass from Sampdoria’s goalkeeper for another score after the interval.
While Eder would salvage some pride for the away team with an 87 minute penalty, the glory would ultimately go to the home team, who ran out as 4-1 victors.
Vincenzo Montella has picked up seven points in his last three Serie A games as manager against AC Milan at the San Siro.
It was Niang’s second brace in Italy, having also scored two while on loan with Genoa last season.
“I am very happy, as I’d been waiting a long time for a night like this”, the 20-year-old said.
“I played as a centre-forward, the position I prefer and I think that along with our win over Lazio this was our best display this season”.
Antonio Cassano has scored eight goals in 18 Serie A games against AC Milan: only against Fiorentina has he netted more in the top-flight (9).
Niang left Edgar Barreto behind to burst down the right and fire across the bows, but Bonaventura’s first-timer from the six-yard line blasted over.
The win – Milan’s seventh of the season – was the flawless response to last weekend’s 1-0 defeat by rivals Juventus and takes Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side up to fifth in the table on 23 points ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.
Niang came close twice with flicks that inched wide of Viviano’s post just after the restart.
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Earlier, Torino beat visiting Bologna 2-0 with late goals from Andrea Belotti and Giuseppe Vives.
