AC Milan have taken a 1-0 lead into the halfway stage of their Serie A encounter with Genoa this evening courtesy of an Adel Taarabt strike.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with the first real opening of the match as Taarabt picked up the ball from Kaka before embarking on a fine solo run and firing an effort past the keeper from just outside the box.

Both sides continued to struggled to find a way through after the goal, with Stefano Sturaro having a rare shot for Genoa in the 25th minute that flew well wide.

The hosts did come closer with eight minutes remaining of the half as Andrea Bertolacci collected a pass on the edge of the box before putting an effort just wide.

Neither side could find another goal in the closing stages, however, as Milan went into the interval ahead.