Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on target at both ends as AC Milan beat Bologna to go top of Serie A ahead of Napoli away at Roma on Sunday.
The Swedish superstar put through his own net to give the hosts a lifeline in the second half at Renato Dall’Ara but later scored at the right end to cap a 4-2 win for Stefano Pioli’s men.
Rafael Leao had opened the scoring before Davide Calabria made it two only for Ibrahimovic and Musa Barrow to make it 2-2 before Ismael Bennacer and Ibrahimovic’s late efforts.
The victory bumps Milan up ahead of Napoli by one point ahead of a crunch clash with Roma on what is shaping up to be a pivotal Sunday in Italy.
There was also a 4-2 win for Empoli away at Salernitana with Andrea Pinamonti scoring twice as the visitors raced into a 4-0 lead before the hosts pulled two back in the second half.
Patrick Cutrone and Luca Ranieri also scored while Stefan Strandberg and Ardian Ismajli both scored own goals.
Elsewhere, Sassuolo fought back from a goal down to beat Venezia 3-1 with Domenico Berardi, Thomas Henry, and Davide Frattesi all on target for the hosts after David Okereke had given the visitors the lead.
Roma at home to Napoli and then the Derby d’Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus is all coming up on Sunday exclusively on Paramount+ .
Serie A scores and results:
Saturday, Oct. 23
Sampdoria 2, Spezia 1
Salernitana 2, Empoli 4
Sassuolo 3, Venezia 1
Bologna 2, AC Milan 4
Upcoming Serie A schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 24
Atalanta vs. Udinese, 6:30 a.m. (Paramount+)
Hellas Verona vs. Lazio, 9 a.m. (Paramount+)
Fiorentina vs. Cagliari, 9 a.m. (Paramount+)
Serie A pre-match coverage, 11:45 a.m. (Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network)
Roma vs. Napoli, 12 p.m. (Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network)
Serie A pre- and post-match coverage, 2 p.m. (Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network)
Inter Milan vs. Juventus, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network)
Serie A post-match coverage, 4:45 p.m. (Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network)
