<
>

AC Milan miss out on Serie A top spot after Genoa defeat

AC Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A as they were beaten 3-0 at Genoa.

The visitors had won five of their past six, including Saturday's impressive win against champions Juventus, but were soundly beaten by Genoa, who moved up to seventh.

Nikola Ninkovic gave his side a first-half lead and, after Milan defender Gabriel Paletta was dismissed early in the second, an own goal from Juraj Kucka was added to by Leonardo Pavoletti's third goal of the season.

The hosts took the lead with their first real attack in the 11th minute. Midfielder Tomas Rincon cut in from the right and floated a cross to the far post where an unmarked Ninkovic's diving header beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Milan struggled to create chances at the other end, with M'Baye Niang volleying over the crossbar from 20 yards their best opportunity in the first period.

Their hopes of a second-half turnaround were dented when defender Paletta was shown a straight red in the 56th minute for a two-footed lunge on Luca Rigoni.

Vincenzo Montella's men still had their opportunities, but Andrea Poli poked wide at the far post from Giacomo Bonaventura's ball while lively substitute Suso was denied by home goalkeeper Mattia Perin.

But they were undone on the break in the 79th minute when Lazovic's cross from the right was turned into his own net by Kucka.

And Pavoletti added a third with four minutes left, turning Alessio Romagnoli on the edge of the area before slotting past Donnarumma.