Milan are the new Serie A leaders, as an early Rafael Leao goal on Mike Maignan’s assist proved enough to get the better of Sampdoria.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Milan 1-0 Sampdoria

After Napoli and Inter drew 1-1 yesterday evening, the Rossoneri knew a win here would allow them to leapfrog both teams, although the Nerazzurri do still have a game in hand. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Matteo Gabbia and Simon Kjaer were still injured, with Theo Hernandez suspended and Fode Ballo-Toure not fully fit, so Alessandro Florenzi filled in at left-back. Samp missed Manolo Gabbiadini, Mikkel Damsgaard, Maya Yoshida and Kristoffer Askildsen, while new signing Sebastian Giovinco wasn’t available yet.

Milan took the lead with a pure Route One goal, as Mike Maignan’s very long clearance found Rafael Leao down the left flank, he cut inside Bartosz Bereszynski and placed the right-foot finish into the far bottom corner. It was a fine way to mark the striker’s 100th appearance in the Rossoneri jersey.

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Wladimiro Falcone made a sensational one-handed save to deny Junior Messias with a strike from the edge of the box.

Messias also drilled just wide of the far post straight after the restart, while Antonio Candreva stung Maignan’s gloves from distance and hit the side-netting.

Falcone was forced into another extraordinary reaction save on the acrobatic Giroud volley, then flew to fingertip the Frenchman’s header over the bar.

Alexis Saelemaekers dribbled past three in the box, but tried to take on a fifth and that was too much, while Ante Rebic tested Falcone.

Milan 1-0 Sampdoria

Leao 8 (M)

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