Luka Modric marked his 40th birthday in style, scoring the decisive goal to hand AC Milan a 1-0 victory over Bologna in Serie A on Sunday and join an elite list of scorers past that age.
Having turned 40 on Tuesday, Modric became only the sixth player to find the net in Italy’s top flight after that milestone, following the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Quagliarella.
“I hope someone next time will not remind me of my age anymore," Modric said with a smile.
The match also saw Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri sent off late on for dissent after a penalty awarded to his side was overturned following a video review. In typical scenes reminiscent of his Juventus days, Allegri threw off his jacket in frustration and sarcastically applauded officials as he was led away.
“At that moment I had some things to say to the fourth official, fortunately the jacket saved me,” Allegri remarked, while also showering praise on Modric. “Luka is an extraordinary player and it’s a pleasure to watch him, but he is also a really humble guy, and that’s a demonstration of what a great champion he is. He knows a minute before where the ball will go, and he has such extraordinary technique.”
Pervis Estupiñán struck the post for Milan in the first half as the Rossoneri initially struggled to break down Bologna. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute, when Modric initiated a move from deep in his own half, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alexis Saelemaekers combining before the veteran midfielder arrived to finish clinically from the edge of the area.
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Samuele Ricci, just off the bench, hit the post for Bologna, and Milan rattled the woodwork twice more, including through Santiago Giménez. The game also featured Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe meeting again after a locker room clash last month at Marseille, with Rabiot starting for Milan and Rowe appearing as a second-half substitute for Bologna.
Elsewhere in Serie A
Giovanni Simeone netted his first league goal in over a year as Torino stunned Roma 1-0 at the Olimpico, handing new coach Marco Baroni his maiden win. The Argentine forward, son of Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone, finished a brilliant counterattack in the 59th minute.
Atalanta, under new coach Ivan Juric, claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 rout of Lecce, powered by Nicola Zalewski’s goal, assist, and near-miss off the bar. Sassuolo finally got off the mark by edging Lazio 1-0, while Udinese stayed unbeaten with a narrow victory at promoted Pisa.
Source: Agency