AC Milan 2-0 BATE Borisov: Ibrahimovic & Boateng ease Italian giants to comfortable Group H Victory

Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game

Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25

Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200

Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20!

The Italian champions started the match brightly, putting the visitors under heavy pressure early in the game, and in the fourth minute Alberto Aquilani was handed a great chance to open the scoring but the midfielder's close-range effort sailed just over the bar.

Then moments later and Ibrahimovic tried one from just past the halfway line but like Aquilani before him, the giant Swede’s drive flew over the top of the goal.

The hosts were still controlling the game with Aquilani looking particularly lively, as the Italy international saw one effort crash off the post before forcing Aleksandr Gutor into a good save with a drive from the right side of the box.

Just after the half hour mark and against the run of play, the away side should have taken the lead, when a lack of concentration from Mark van Bommel gifted Renan Bressan a great opportunity to open the scoring, but the Brazilian was denied by a great save from Christian Abbiati.

         Ibra-vention | Zlatan Ibrahimovic sets Milan on their way to victory at the San Siro

Ten minutes before the break, Milan took a deserved lead through a great finish from Ibrahimovic. A dangerous cross from Ignazio Abate wasn’t cleared properly, which left the Sweden international with space to drive the ball past Gutor from the just inside the area.

The second half began and the home side were still dominating the game, creating a host of chances before Ibrahimovic missed a good opportunity to get his second of the night, instead blazing his effort into the stands.

With 20 minutes to go Milan doubled their advantage with a thunderbolt from Boateng, as the Ghana international controlled the ball beautifully after an Aquilani corner before unleashing a ferocious drive from the edge of the box that left Gutor with no chance.

Following tonight's victory Milan will now travel to Belarus in November, knowing a win would all but seal their qualification to the knockout stages while BATE will be looking for their first win of the campaign.