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European roundup: Rafael Leao creates history as AC Milan overcome Sassuolo

European roundup: Leao creates history as Milan overcome Sassuolo
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The Portuguese striker found the back of the net after just six seconds.

Rafael Leao scored the fastest goal in Serie A history as AC Milan maintained their lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 win at Sassuolo.

The Portuguese striker found the net after just six seconds, breaking a 19-year-old record held by Paolo Poggi, who scored after eight seconds for Piacenza against Fiorentina.

Milan burst forward straight from kick-off and Hakan Calhanoglu's pass split the defence and found Leao who fired into the corner of the net.

Alexis Saelemaekers doubled Milan's lead ahead of half-time before Domenico Berardi's 89th-minute free-kick gave a glimmer of hope to the home side.

Second-placed Inter stayed a single point behind their city rivals despite a sluggish 2-1 win over Serie A newcomers Spezia.

Antonio Conte's men had to wait until the 52nd minute before Achraf Hakimi broke the deadlock, and Romelu Lukaku's 71st-minute penalty all but wrapped up victory despite Roberto Piccoli's strike in stoppage time.

Italy Soccer Serie A
Inter Milan edged a 2-1 win over Spezia (Luca Bruno/AP)

Struggling Genoa are now winless in 12 Serie A games after crashing to a 2-0 defeat at Benevento, for whom Roberto Insigne's 57th-minute effort and a late Marco Sau penalty ended their own run of four without a win.

Roberto Soriano scored a late goal to snatch a 1-1 for Bologna at Torino, who led through Simone Verdi, while Cagliari and Udinese also drew 1-1.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atalanta BCAtalanta17131342192340
2Napoli17122326121438
3Inter Milan16114142152737
4Lazio1711153224834
5Fiorentina1694329131631
6Juventus17710028131531
7Bologna167722318528
8AC Milan167542516926
9Udinese177282126-523
10Roma175482323019
11Empoli174761619-319
12Torino175481722-519
13Genoa173771426-1216
14Lecce174491129-1816
15Parma173682333-1015
16Como173681830-1215
17Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1750122140-1915
18CagliariCagliari173591628-1214
19VeneziaVenezia1734101730-1313
20Monza171791523-810


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