AC Milan responded from their Champions League setback by securing a 3-1 victory against Frosinone, narrowing the gap to Serie A leaders Juventus to four points.

Despite a midweek defeat to Borussia Dortmund, Milan found their footing with goals from Luka Jovic, Christian Pulisic, and Fikayo Tomori, clinching a crucial win amidst an injury-plagued squad. The absence of key players like Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao challenged Milan, pushing Theo Hernandez to play alongside Tomori in a makeshift defense.

Coach Stefano Pioli praised Hernandez’s adaptability and emphasized the team’s resilience despite nine significant absentees. Milan currently sits third in the league, trailing Juventus and three points behind Inter Milan.

Pioli acknowledged the necessity for consistency to contend for higher standings and highlighted the importance of regaining sidelined players to bolster their options and rotational capabilities.

The return of midfielder Ismael Bennacer and Jovic’s impactful goal marked positive moments for Milan, with Pulisic’s brilliant display extending their lead. Tomori’s late goal sealed the victory, rendering Marco Brescianini’s late free-kick for Frosinone inconsequential.

Meanwhile, Frosinone’s sixth defeat saw them drop to 11th place, trailing Lazio, whose narrow 1-0 win over 10-man Cagliari sparked discontent among their supporters. Despite an early lead courtesy of Pedro, Lazio faced criticism for their slim victory, with the home crowd expressing their dissatisfaction through boos and jeers.

Cagliari suffered a setback as Antoine Makoumbou’s red card left them a man down early in the game. Despite late attempts to equalize, including a remarkable save by Ivan Provedel, Cagliari couldn’t salvage a point, leaving them just above the relegation zone.

Lazio’s assistant manager, Giovanni Martusciello, acknowledged the challenging nature of the match, citing fatigue from their recent Champions League clash with Celtic. The defeat pushed Cagliari closer to the relegation zone after Empoli secured a 1-1 draw against Genoa earlier in the day.