Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring his side's seconf goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Milan and Lazio at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 12
Seven minutes.
That’s all that Zlatan Ibrahimović required after four months out for a left knee injury — including surgery — before he scored in his first match back Sunday.
Ibrahimović came off the bench on the hour mark then quickly redirected a cross from Ante Rebić from close range for AC Milan’s second goal in a 2-0 victory over Lazio.
The win extended Milan’s perfect start and moved the Rossoneri atop the Serie A standings through three rounds.
Ibrahimović, who turns 40 next month, missed a chance to play for Sweden at the European Championship when he was injured in May during a win over Juventus.
Rafael Leão opened the scoring for Milan just before the break following a give-and-take with Rebić.
Franck Kessié missed a penalty for Milan in first-half added time when he banged his attempt off the crossbar.
Milan is level on points with Napoli but ahead on goal difference after Napoli's win over Juventus on Saturday.
INTER MISSTEP
Inter Milan made the first misstep of its title defense with a 2-2 draw at Sampdoria.
The result left the Nerazzurri two points behind the leaders.
With nine goals in its opening three matches, Inter has not had trouble scoring after Romelu Lukaku’s departure to Chelsea. But the team missed reliable center back Alessandro Bastoni, who was out with a left thigh injury that he picked up on international duty with Italy.
It remains unclear if Bastoni will return in time for Inter’s Champions League opener against Real Madrid on Wednesday at the San Siro.
“It's regretful, because we should have and could have won a game like that,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, who replaced the departed Antonio Conte. “We took the lead twice and we should have closed it out.”
Inter played the final minutes with 10 men due to an injury to midfielder Stefano Sensi, who appears doubtful for the Madrid game.
Homegrown talent Federico Dimarco opened the scoring for Inter by curling a free kick around Sampdoria’s wall and into the top left corner for a memorable first goal with the senior club.
Maya Yoshida equalized for Sampdoria after the half-hour mark with a shot that was deflected in off Inter striker Edin Džeko.
Lautaro Martinez restored Inter’s advantage with an expert volley to conclude a counterattack started by Nicolò Barella, who provided a laser-like cross.
Barella, a key member of the Italy squad that won the European Championship, has provided assists in all three of Inter’s matches this season.
In a match full of spectacular goals, Sampdoria’s Tommaso Augello made it 2-2 with a volley similar to Lautaro’s.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Promoted Salernitana was routed 4-0 at Torino and has now conceded 11 goals and scored only two in three consecutive losses on its return to Serie A for the first time in nearly a quarter century.
Originally owned by Lazio president Claudio Lotito, the Italian Soccer Federation ordered a change in ownership for Salernitana due to conflict of interest rules that prevent multiple teams in the top division from having the same owner.
In June, control of Salernitana was handed over to a trust that must find a new owner by the end of the year.
Elsewhere, an 89th-minute goal from Lazar Samardžić earned Udinese a 1-0 win at Spezia to extend the Friuli club’s unbeaten start; and Genoa came back from two goals down for a 3-2 win at Cagliari.
