AC Milan extends league lead with win

AC Milan extended their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points, but they found it tough going as they won 2-0 against a luckless Parma.

A goal in either half was enough to earn the Rossoneri all three points, but they could have had no complaints had they been beaten by a Parma side who enjoyed the better of the game but just could not find the back of the net.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Milan the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute and Urby Emanuelson added a second 10 minutes into the second half.

Parma were quick out of the blocks, but a bit too quick for the linesman, who adjudged Sebastian Giovinco to be in an offside position when he was put through on goal in the eighth minute.

Christian Abbiati then gifted Giovinco another chance with a poor clearance, but the angle was tight and the Parma forward lifted his shot high and wide.

Valdes had Parma's next chance as he skipped past two players before curling it wide of the far post.

Milan's first attack of the evening resulted in their first goal with Cristian Zaccardo blocking Emanuelson's shot with his hand.

Ibrahimovic stepped up to convert the penalty and give Milan a somewhat fortunate lead against the run of play.

They almost scored again three minutes later when Ibrahimovic's free-kick was saved by Antonio Mirante and the ball fell to Emanuelson, who volleyed the loose ball over from close range.

Parma still created chances, though, and a well-worked corner in the 40th minute provided Sergio Floccari with a good chance, but his shot was too weak.

From another corner just minutes later, Gabriel Paletta headed the ball towards goal and Thiago Silva deflected it onto his own crossbar.

Ibrahimovic should have punished Parma on another counter-attack just before the interval, but his control let him down as he played the ball too close to Mirante with only the Parma goalkeeper to beat.

Parma made a ferocious start to the second half, but just like in the first 45 minutes they came undone with Milan's first attack.

Emanuelson was put through with only Mirante to beat and he touched the ball past the Parma goalkeeper before sliding it into the open goal.

Emanuelson went through again in the 60th minute, but this time he lost full control of the ball and shot wide with only Mirante to beat.

Floccari's shot against the crossbar summed up Parma's misfortune in stoppage time as the home side did not even get a consolation at the Stadio Tardini.