Zlatan Ibrahimović stole the show as AC Milan went three points clear of Inter and 10 ahead of defending champions Juventus at the top of the table.
The Swede had been out with a muscle injury since November and returned with a brace against Cagliari in his first Serie A start. As Milan have now seized control of the title race.
Although he missed most of the crucial winter schedule, his return is a timely boost to Milan who only lost their long unbeaten run to Juventus this month.
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The 39-year-old’s early penalty set the tone against relegation-threatened Cagliari before sealing the points and defending the clean sheet after going a man down in the second half.
Ibrahimović is now just two short of 500 club goals as he set some records on the night.
9 – Zlatan #Ibrahimovic has found the net in nine successive starts for the first time in his Top-5 European leagues career. Titan.#CagliariMilan #SerieA pic.twitter.com/6tZMRezgEf
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 18, 2021
Record breaker
The Swedish star has scored in nine successive starts in a top-five league for the first time in his two-decade-long career; as he scored for the 23rd calendar year of his career.
Additionally, Ibrahimovic’s 12-goal haul from his first eight games is the most for an AC Milan player since Marco van Basten in 1992-93.
“I believe in me, I believe in Zlatan.” The former Inter and Juve star said.
“Difficult game. Today it went well and with one less [player on the pitch], it’s not easy to play,” he said.
“These young people are motivating me, they play against me and make me run more and I don’t give up.”
Having now equaled their best unbeaten streak away from home in Serie A since 1994-95 (16). Milan are primed to lift the Scudetto in 2021 with Inter having knocked Juve’s chances following their astonishing 2-0 defeat of the Old Lady.
Indeed, the title might well be on its way back to the city of Milan.
In control and getting back-up
The Rossoneri are looking to consolidate their place at the top of the log with new additions to the squad, details of which you can follow in our transfer centre among others.
Par for the course, Ibrahimović has expressed his approval and excitement ahead of the arrival of Croatian goalscorer, Mario Mandžukić, to bolster the squad.
“I am very happy,” the striker told Sky. “There will be two of us to scare the opponents now!”
Speaking of scares, Serie A defences would be more than worried by Zlatan’s return now he is only three short of the top goalscorer.
