AC Milan Back to Winning Ways with Slender Victory over Struggling Verona

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders (14) celebrates a goal during an Italian Serie A soccer match against Verona Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Verona, Italy. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders (14) celebrates a goal during an Italian Serie A soccer match against Verona Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Verona, Italy. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)
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AC Milan Back to Winning Ways with Slender Victory over Struggling Verona

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders (14) celebrates a goal during an Italian Serie A soccer match against Verona Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Verona, Italy. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders (14) celebrates a goal during an Italian Serie A soccer match against Verona Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Verona, Italy. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Tijjani Reijnders got the only goal and Milan got a much-needed three points in a 1-0 win away at lowly Verona in Serie A on Friday.
The Dutch striker finished superbly after a Youssouf Fofana pass opened the Verona defense early in the second half, The Associated Press reported.
The win was Milan’s eighth consecutive league win against Verona and got it back to winning ways after losing to Atalanta and drawing with Genova.
It should ease some pressure on under-fire coach Paulo Fonseca. His side was up to seventh place in Serie A.
Verona sat a point above the relegation zone.



Bundesliga Sees Quickfire Scoring Record as Bayern Puts Dive Past Dismal Leipzig

Bayern Munich's German midfielder #42 Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich's German forward #10 Leroy Sane and Bayern Munich's Canadian defender #19 Alphonso Davies celebrate a goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in Munich, southern Germany, on December 20, 2024. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP)
Bayern Munich's German midfielder #42 Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich's German forward #10 Leroy Sane and Bayern Munich's Canadian defender #19 Alphonso Davies celebrate a goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in Munich, southern Germany, on December 20, 2024. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP)
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Bundesliga Sees Quickfire Scoring Record as Bayern Puts Dive Past Dismal Leipzig

Bayern Munich's German midfielder #42 Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich's German forward #10 Leroy Sane and Bayern Munich's Canadian defender #19 Alphonso Davies celebrate a goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in Munich, southern Germany, on December 20, 2024. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP)
Bayern Munich's German midfielder #42 Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich's German forward #10 Leroy Sane and Bayern Munich's Canadian defender #19 Alphonso Davies celebrate a goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in Munich, southern Germany, on December 20, 2024. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP)

Bayern Munich crushed Leipzig 5-1 and they broke a long-standing Bundesliga record for quickfire goals on Friday.
Two teams had never scored in the opening two minutes of a Bundesliga match until Jamal Musiala gave Bayern the lead after 28 seconds and Benjamin Šeško equalized barely 60 seconds later, The Associated Press reported.
The pace slowed after that frenetic start but not for long. Konrad Laimer put Bayern ahead against his old club in the 25th. Michael Olise found space on the right side and Laimer gave Péter Gulácsi no chance with a crisp volley.
Nine minutes later, Joshua Kimmich lashed home from almost 30 meters to make it 3-1.
Leroy Sané added the fourth with 15 minutes remaining and Alphonso Davies got his first league goal of the season to complete the rout three minutes later.
Harry Kane returned and looked rusty after missing two games with a hamstring injury but played 87 minutes of a match that helped Bayern get back on track after a rocky run.
After winning eight games in a row from late October to late November, the Bavarian giant lost two and drew one of its next five, including a 2-1 defeat to Mainz last week, its first loss in the Bundesliga.
Friday’s result bumped its lead over titleholder Bayer Leverkusen to seven points. Leverkusen plays Freiburg on Saturday.