Milan 3 Palermo 0 : bravo Pato,bravo Ibra,bravo Binho

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Antonini;
Flamini, Ambrosini, Boateng; Seedorf; Ibrahimovic, Pato.

Palermo:
Sirigu; Cassani, Munoz, Bovo, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Bacinovic,
Nocerino; Pastore, Ilicic; Pinilla.



Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a penalty and made the third goal for Milan as they overcame Palermo at the San Siro. The home side had gone ahead midway through the first half thanks to Pato but Armin Bacinovic equalised just after the break for the away team, before Ibrahimovic stole the points for the Rossoneri at the death.

Both sides started the match at a relatively slow pace as they tried to play keep ball for the opening exchanges, but it was the away side who took the first steps to breaking the deadlock, with Armin Bacinovic making some good runs from deep that encouraged his team forward.

This momentum didn't last too long as Milan worked their way into the game and began to take over the midfield. Clarence Seedorf dropped deep and was orchestrating the midfield, showing off his excellent range of passing, which allowed Kevin-Prince Boateng freedom to bomb forward and test Salvatore Sirigu with a number of long range efforts.

Applying almost constant pressure it wasn't long before Milan broke the deadlock with Seedorf supplying the ammunition for Pato's bullet header that gave the Rossoneri the lead after 20 minutes.

With Milan having such a territorial advantage Palermo's best hope was a counter attack but their talisman Javier Pastore was off colour as he was barely afforded any time on the ball by the home side.

Mauricio Pinilla had most of Palermo's chances but he couldn't make anything of them and other than the Chilean's efforts they were restricted to tame long range shots as the half drew to a close.

But after the break it seemed Palermo had been given a few choice words from Delio Rossi as they came out with a new intent and fire, putting Milan under pressure and asking questions of Mario Yepes and Thiago Silva in defence.

However, they were dealt a blow when Javier Pastore was taken off five minutes after the restart with a knee injury, but he was replaced by club captain Fabrizio Miccoli. Just as Milan thought they had the game under control again, Bacinovic scored from long range, hitting his shot low along the ground from 25 yards.

Christian Abbiati was unsighted, though he will be bitterly disappointed to have let a seemingly tame shot past him, but his blushes were almost spared as Seedorf hit the post from inside the box at the other end.

It was however another member of the old guard that changed the game as Massimo Ambrosini burst forward and as he took the ball across the six yard box, Sirigu brought him down and a penalty was awarded.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic then stepped up to smash the ball, low into the corner and it wasn't long before the Swede was involved once again as he sprinted down the left side straight into the penalty area before playing the ball to an unmarked Robinho who made it three.

The Brazilian then had the chance to return the favour but his pass was poor and Palermo cleared as Ibrahimovic made his way into the box unmarked.

The result takes Milan to the summit of Serie A after Lazio lost to Cesena, while Palermo drop to ninth place after the midweek games and pressure will be on both teams as it's derby day this weekend, Palermo are at home to Catania and Milan are the designated away side at the San Siro when they face Inter.