Emotional night in Florence: Milan edges Fiorentina 2-1

FLORENCE, Italy: AC Milan secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Fiorentina away at the Artemio Franchi stadium, reaffirming their grip on second place in Serie A. The match marked Fiorentina’s first game since the passing of director Joe Barone, adding an emotional layer to the encounter.

With 65 points, Milan now sit comfortably six points clear of third-placed Juventus, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lazio. Inter Milan, the league leaders, hold an 11-point advantage over Milan, awaiting their clash against Empoli on Monday. Meanwhile, Fiorentina occupies the 10th spot in the table with 43 points.

The game remained deadlocked at halftime, but the intensity surged in the second half. Ruben Loftus-Cheek broke the stalemate for Milan within two minutes of the restart. However, Fiorentina swiftly responded in the 50th minute, as Alfred Duncan netted a long-range effort to level the score.

Milan didn’t dwell on conceding, as Rafael Leao found the back of the net just three minutes later, restoring their lead and ultimately securing the victory.

Before kickoff, a poignant moment ensued as both sets of fans impeccably observed a minute’s silence in honor of Joe Barone, who passed away on March 19. His absence was felt as his seat in the stands remained empty, adorned with flowers and a Fiorentina jersey bearing his name.(Reuters)