Two caviars from Rafael Leao, converted by Tonali, author of a double (45 + 3rd, 50th) on his 22nd birthday, put the Rossoneri back in the saddle after the opener of Hellas Verona, on a header by Davide Faraoni (38th).

Then Florenzi ensured the success of a clear strike (86th), two minutes after his entry.

Milan, in search of a first scudetto since 2011, remains two steps ahead of Inter.

And shows that he knows how to keep his nerves strong as he approaches the finish line, in a fine response to Inter who, on Friday, also displayed his character by coming up two goals to beat Empoli (4- 2) and temporarily take the lead.

But character, Tonali does not lack either.

Not beaten down by a goal disallowed at the start of the match due to offside, this Gennaro Gattuso fan threw himself to equalize on the reception of a center from Leao, passed on a kidney kick on the left side.

AC Milan players Sandro Tonali (l, author of a double) and Junior Messias at the end of the match on the field of Hellas Verona, May 8, 2022 MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

And as soon as the recovery, Tonali did it again on a new acceleration of the Portuguese racing car, then allowing Milan to manage more quietly.

The 19th scudetto is getting closer for Milan which, in addition to its two-point lead, also has a particular favorable difference in the event of a tie with Inter.

Suspense for maintaining

For maintenance too, the suspense remains intact after the draw (1-1) between Salernitana (17th and first non-relegation) and Cagliari (18th) and the victory of the last, Venice, over Bologna (4-3), after that Genoa (19th) ahead of Juventus (2-1) on Friday.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the field of Hellas Verona, May 8, 2022 MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

The Salernitana, joined in the 9th minute of added time by the Sardinians, retains a point lead over their opponent of the day, two over Genoa and five over Venice.

The Grenats, however, thought they had done the hardest part by opening the scoring thanks to a penalty signed Simone Verdi (68th).

A goal followed by scuffles in front of the benches which earned a red card for Franck Ribéry, yet a substitute.

But Cagliari never gave up.

And a few seconds after having believed to obtain a penalty, granted before being canceled by the VAR (90 + 2nd), the equalization of hope arrived on a whim from Giorgio Altare (90 + 9th).

"Coming back like this is an important signal. This refused penalty would have killed most people", savored Alessandro Agostini, who arrived at the start of the week on the Cagliari bench after the ousting of Walter Mazzarri.

This equalizing goal also offers a small respite to Venice, which would have been officially condemned in the event of success of the Salernitana.

The Venetians won the right to hope by snatching victory - after ten consecutive losses - in added time against Bologna (4-3), thanks to a goal from Dennis Johnsen (90 + 3rd).

Sinisa Mihajlovic, on her return to the Bologna bench after her recent hospitalization to treat her leukemia, however denounced the "inexplicable" penalty which allowed Venice to come back to 3-3 shortly before the decisive goal.

© 2022 AFP