AC Milan lose captain Leonardo Bonucci in goalless draw against Genoa

AC Milan's unhappy run continued when they had Leonardo Bonucci sent off for elbowing and were held 0-0 at home by Genoa.

AC Milan vs Genoa, AC Milan, Leonardo Bonucci, Bonucci red card video, Serie A, Football news, Indian Express

Leonardo Bonucci lashed out at Aleandro Rosi with his elbow at a Milan corner. (Source: AP)

Big-spending AC Milan’s unhappy run continued on Sunday when they had captain Leonardo Bonucci sent off in the 25th minute for elbowing and were held 0-0 at home by lowly Genoa in Serie A.

Hapless Benevento became the first side in Serie A history to lose their first nine games of the season as they were sunk 3-0 at home by Fiorentina while AS Roma beat Torino 1-0 to clock up their eleventh successive away league win, a run which began in February.

Milan had lost their previous three Serie A games before being held to a dismal 0-0 draw at home by AEK Athens in the Europa League on Thursday and Sunday’s result will put even more pressure on coach Vincenzo Montella.

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The seven-times European champions are eleventh with 13 points from nine games despite spending more than 200 million euros ($235.66 million) in the transfer market in the summer.

Milan were already struggling to break down Genoa when Bonucci lashed out at Aleandro Rosi with his elbow at a Milan corner, leaving the Genoa player with a deep cut on his face and needing treatment which took several
minutes.

During that time the referee consulted the video replay and showed Bonucci the red card.

To their credit, Milan continued to take the match to Genoa even after they were a man down, creating numerous openings, and their spirited performance could just be enough to save Montella.

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But it could also have been much worse for the hosts if Genoa had taken one of several chances at the other end.

Roma moved up to fifth with 18 points after Aleksandar Kolarov scored with a 25-metre free kick in the 69th minute.

Marco Benassi, Khouma Babacar and Cyril Thereau, from a penalty, scored Fiorentina’s goals as they added to bottom club Benevento’s misery.

Chievo hit back to beat 10-man Verona 3-2 in their derby after their opponents had Bruno Zuculini sent off before halftime, having already given away a penalty.

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Daniele Verde fired promoted Verona ahead after six minutes but Roberto Inglese equalised in the 23rd minute, heading in from a free kick, and fired Chievo ahead from a penalty seven minutes later after Zuculini tripped Perparim Hetemaj.

Zuculini, who had already been booked for giving away the free kick which led to Chievo’s first goal, was sent off in the 40th minute for a reckless tackle on Valter Birsa.

Verona equalised with a Giampaolo Pazzini penalty 10 minutes after the re-start but Sergio Pellissier bundled home the winner for the Flying Donkeys in the 73rd minute.