Resurrected Milan makes it through Ranieri's trap

Derby della Madonnina calvary is a distant past for AC Milan, just like that disappointing Champions League goalless draw against Newcastle. The life goes on, just like the Serie A, and the defending champions have proven quality and ability to bounce back from the abyss.

The Rossonerri have defeated Cagliari 3-1 at Southern Italy on Wednesday night after coming from behind. Claudio Ranieri's side was more than a decent rival, forcing them to sweat for the victory, but the obvious gap between the two teams resulted in a deserved away win for the giants.

The visitors didn't lack possession nor determination from the start - the only thing missing were the chances and goals, of course.

Okafor launched his left inside the box, but the shot was too sloppy to endanger Cagliari's keeper Boris Radunovic. Alas, Luvumbo, on the other side, didn't have such problems just a minute later, knocking it angrily into the back of Milan's net for a shocking 1-0 home lead.

Unfortunately for the underdogs, the Rossonerri didn't take long to respond. Pulisic cruised through the left flank, crossed it to Okafor, and although Radunovic got a hold of it, the ball suddenly slipped through his fingers, making it too easy for Okafor to level the score.

Five minutes later, in the dying seconds of the first half, Stefano Pioli's set-pieces miniature left Ranieri's defence in shambles. Unmarked Reijnders had all the time in the world to make a perfect, sharp pass straight to the six-yard box, and Tomori was just in time to make it 2-1 before the interval.

And albeit the hosts were eager to restore the stalemate straight after the break, the favourites were to strike first and, subsequently, kill the game. Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired meticulously from mid-range, with the ball getting away from Radunovic on its way to the back of the net.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 6

Tuesday

Juventus - Lecce 1-0 (0-0)

/Milik 57/

Wednesday

Cagliari - Milan 1-3 (1-2)

/Lovombo 29 - Okafor 40, Tomori 45+2, Loftus-Cheek 60/

Empoli - Salernitana 1-0 (1-0)

/Baldanzi 34/

Verona - Atalanta 0-1 (0-1)

/Koopmeiners 13/

21.45: (1.35) Inter (5.30) Sassuolo (8.00)

21.45: (2.25) Lazio (3.35) Torino (3.50)

21.45: (1.38) Napoli (4.80) Udinese (8.50)

Thursday

19.30: (3.90) Frosinone (3.60) Fiorentina (2.05)

19.30: (2.50) Monza (3.40) Bologna (3.00)

21.45: (3.90) Genoa (3.30) Roma (2.15)

***odds are subject to change