Fiorentina 1-2 AC Milan: Ruben Loftus-Cheek nets his 10th goal of the season as Rossoneri narrow the distance to Inter in Serie A.

AC Milan’s English midfielder, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, was the hero of the match as he celebrated scoring AC Milan’s first goal during their 2-1 victory against Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A. Rafael Leao also found the back of the net, helping AC Milan solidify their hold on second place in the league.

The match began with an emotional tribute to Fiorentina’s late GM Joe Barone, who tragically passed away earlier in the month. However, despite the heartfelt tribute, Fiorentina couldn’t muster a positive result against the in-form Rossoneri.

Loftus-Cheek opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a goal assisted by Leao’s delightful back heel. Fiorentina quickly responded with Alfred Duncan’s stunning strike from distance, leveling the score. But Leao wasn’t finished yet, as he made it three goals in six crazy minutes of the second half with a powerful run and cool finish, putting Milan back in charge.

Fiorentina’s Andrea Belotti came close to rescuing a draw, but AC Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, stood strong and denied him. The victory for AC Milan now sees them move six points clear of Juventus in third place, although they still trail league leaders Inter by 11 points.

Fiorentina currently sits in 10th place but has a game in hand on their closest rivals for the final European spots. AC Milan’s next match will be against Lecce before their all-Italian UEFA Europa League quarter-final clash with AS Roma. Fiorentina, on the other hand, will face Atalanta in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final.

This match was always going to be a challenging one for AC Milan, considering the tragic circumstances surrounding Fiorentina’s GM’s passing. However, the Rossoneri proved their worth as they continued their fine form and took advantage of Juventus’ loss to secure their hold on second place.

Rafael Leao was the standout player of the match, with his lively performance and contribution of a goal and an assist. The 24-year-old winger celebrated his 200th appearance for AC Milan in style.

Player Ratings:
Fiorentina: Terracciano 7, Biraghi 6, Martinez Quarta 6, Milenkovic 7, Dodo 7, Duncan 8, Mandragora 6, Ikone 7, Beltran 7, Kouame 7, Belotti 7.
AC Milan: Maignan 8, Calabria 7, Thiaw 6, Tomori 7, Florenzi 7, Bennacer 7, Reijnders 7, Chukwueze 8, Loftus-Cheek 8, Leao 8*, Giroud 7.

The match had its fair share of highlights, including Chukwueze’s dazzling run and Giroud’s missed opportunity in the 8th minute. AC Milan continued to create chances, with Terracciano making impressive saves to deny Chukwueze and Leao. Fiorentina also had their moments, with Belotti testing Maignan’s skills.

Ultimately, AC Milan’s victory showcased their attacking talent and their ability to maintain their fine form. They will be looking to finish the season strong both domestically and in European competitions.