Milan 2 BATE 0

AC MILAN: Christian Abbiati, Alessandro Nesta (Philippe Mexes 84'), Daniele Bonera, Taye Taiwo, Ignazio Abate, Mark Van Bommel, Kevin-Prince Boateng (Urby Emmanuelson 78'), Alberto Aquilani, Antonio Nocerino, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antonio Cassano (Robinho 62')

BATE: Alesandr Gutor, Marko Simic, Artyom Radkov, Maksim Bordachev, Aliaksandr Valadzko, Aleksandr Yurevich, Dzmitry Likhatrovich (Edgar Olekhnovich 66'), Dzmitry Baha, Artem Kontsevoy, Renan Bressan (Aleksandr Pavlov 77'), Mateja Kezman (Maksim Skavysh 72')

AC Milan remain unbeaten in the Champions League this season thanks to a routine win over BATE Borisov at the San Siro tonight.

They matched Barcelona's three-point haul against Plzen to stay level on points with the reigning champions in Group H, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng scoring their goals.

As a result, both they and Barca lead the way on seven points, meaning qualification to the knockout stage is close to being assured already, with BATE and Plzen well adrift on a point each.

Milan were rarely in trouble here, apart from a game-changing save from Christian Abbiati midway through the first half and, once Ibrahimovic got them going with his third of the season, they did not look back.

The impressive Alberto Aquilani was the first to go close for the Rossoneri, hitting the foot of Aleksandr Gutor's post after Antonio Cassano's lay-off.

The pressure continued as Ibrahimovic pulled an Antonio Nocerino cross out of the sky and volleyed over, before Mark van Bommel appealed for a penalty when he appeared to be brought down by Artem Radkov.

Aquilani then worked Gutor after a Taye Taiwo cross, before BATE wasted what would prove to be their best chance.

Abbiati played a goal-kick short to Van Bommel who, without looking, attempted to find Alessandro Nesta but instead set Renan Bressan free, only for Abbiati to make himself big and turn the ball behind.

Having got out of jail, Milan then took the lead after 33 minutes, Ibrahimovic slotting a finish into the bottom corner after the ball came loose when Cassano failed to get a clean contact on an Ignazio Abate cross.

BATE offered little by way of a response before the break, but had a half-chance to equalise after the restart when Mateja Kezman broke through, but he was well blocked off by Nesta. The wasteful Bressan lashed the loose ball over.

Abbiati then turned an Alexander Volodko grass-cutter around the post and Milan kicked on, with Ibrahimovic jinking his way to the edge of the box before drilling over.

The clinching goal came 20 minutes from time, Boateng taking a touch from 25 yards out and then hammering in via the underside of the bar.

Serie A Preview : AC milan vs Lecce

Stadio San Siro will be full for the presentation of new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic this evening, and afterwards, Milan will play the first match of the Serie A against newly promoted side U.S. Lecce.

Massimo Oddo and Mathieu Flamini are out injured, while Marek Jankulovski, Kakha Kaladze, Oguchi Onyewu, Gianluca Zambrotta, Mario Yepes and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have not been called-up.

In the meantime, new coach Massimiliano Allegri will have all of his players available to face Lecce, with Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato set to start having recovered from a muscular injury.

"I am not 100% but I feel better,'' said Pato. "I believe I will be ready for our first game of the season.

"My aim is always to help the team do well and contribute so that Milan wins everything.''

Rivals Lecce make their anticipated return to Serie A tomorrow but will have to do without injured striker Ernesto Chevanton.

Chevanton, who is returning to the club for a second spell after six years away, was the biggest name in a summer of busy recruitment in Lecce.

Chevanton is recuperating from a muscular problem while Lecce coach Luigi De Canio will also be without suspended midfielder Riccardo Oliveira.


AC Milan Squad List

Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati, Marco Amelia, Flavio Roma;

Defenders: Luca Antonini, Daniele Bonera, Alessandro Nesta, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Thiago Silva;

Midfielders: Ignazio Abate, Massimo Ambrosini, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Rodney Strasser;

Forwards: Marco Borriello, Filippo Inzaghi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho.
U.S Lecce Squad List

Goalkeepers: Giulio Donati, Alberto Giuliatto, Antonio Rosati, Massimiliano Benassi;

Defenders: Simone Sini, Tore Reginiussen, Stefano Ferrario,

Midfielders: Gianni Munari, Djamel Mesbah, Guillermo Giacomazzi, Ignacio Piatti, Giuseppe Vives, Carlos Grossmüller, Davide Brivio

Forwards: Daniele Corvia, Bryan Bergougnoux, Javier Chevantón, Andrea Bertolacci.