AC Milan secured a crucial victory against second-placed Lazio, winning 2-0 and regaining their spot in the top four of Serie A on Saturday.
The win serves as a timely confidence boost ahead of the highly-anticipated Champions League semi-final clash with city rivals Inter next week.
Ismael Bennacer opened the scoring for Milan in the 17th minute with a powerful shot from a loose ball in the Lazio area. Just twelve minutes later, Theo Hernandez doubled Milan’s lead with a stunning 30-metre shot past Ivan Provedel.
Lazio struggled to create chances throughout the match, with Toma Basic scuffing their best opportunity in the dying seconds. Milan overtook Inter, who played against the other Rome team later that evening, to retake fourth place in the league table.
Milan withdrew Rafael Leao in the tenth minute, with the winger signalling to the bench that he had a thigh problem. The win keeps Lazio in second place behind newly-crowned champions Napoli but they could drop to third if Juventus win against Atalanta on Sunday.
In other Italian football news on Saturday, Genoa secured an immediate return to the top flight after beating Ascoli 2-1 in Serie B. With two rounds of games left, Genoa moved eight points clear of third-place Bari who drew 1-1 at Modena.
Leaders Frosinone, who had secured promotion the previous week, won 3-1 at Pisa. The third promotion place will be determined in a playoff involving six teams.
Genoa, who are coached by ex-international Alberto Gilardino, could replace neighbours Sampdoria who are currently bottom of Serie A and 10 points from safety.
Genoa won the first two Italian league titles in 1898 and 1899 and the last of their nine crowns almost a century ago in 1924.
