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

| 20 December 2020

European roundup: Leao creates history as Milan overcome Sassuolo

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.

⚡️ @RafaeLeao7 ⚡️#SassuoloMilan #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/BIZkCQBdVd

— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 20, 2020

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.