Staff Reporter.
AC Milan climbed to the top of the Serie A table with a comfortable 2-0 win over bottom side Salernitana on Saturday, thanks to early goals from Franck Kessie and Alexis Saelemaekers.
The Rossoneri dominated at San Siro to gain a victory that sent them provisionally into first place on 38 points, two clear of second-placed Napoli, who host Atalanta later in the day.
Kessie guided a finish into the bottom corner after five minutes and Saelemaekers struck after 18 minutes to give the hosts a comfortable lead.
The Belgian Saelemaekers showed his support for injured teammate Simon Kjaer, who was ruled out for six months on Friday after knee surgery, by running to the bench and lifting the Dane’s shirt to celebrate his goal.
A statement from Milan on Friday said: “Simon Kjaer underwent arthroscopic surgery today to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament and reinsert the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
“The operation, which was carried out at the Casa di Cura La Madonnina clinic, was a perfect success.”
On Monday, Kjaer, 32, attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where he was named the 18th best player of 2021 and received a round of applause and praise from host Didier Drogba.
During Denmark’s match against Finland in the summer’s Euro 2020, Eriksen, 29, suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch with Kjaer starting the CPR process that helped save his team-mate’s life.
Teams:
AC Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernández (61′ Ballo-Touré); Bakayoko (46′ Bennacer), Kessie (79′ Tonali); Saelemaekers, Díaz, Leão (46′ Messias); Pellegri (15′ Krunić). Subs: Mirante, Tătărușanu; Conti, Gabbia, Kalulu; Ibrahimović, Maldini. Coach: Pioli.
Salernitana (3-5-2): Belec; Veseli, Gyömbér, Bogdan; Zortea (61′ Kechrida), Schiavone, Di Tacchio (46′ Kastanos), L. Coulibaly, Ranieri (79′ Jaroszyński); Ribéry (61′ Djurić), Simy (61′ Bonazzoli). Subs: Guerrieri, Fiorillo; Delli Carri; Capezzi, Obi, Kechrida; Vergani. Coach: Colantuono.
Referee: Giua from Olbia.
Goals: 5′ Kessie (M), 18′ Saelemaekers (M).
Booked: 24′ Bakayoko (M), 30′ Di Tacchio (S), 86′ Djurić (S).