A brace from M'Baye Niang has guided AC Milan to a 4-1 victory over Sampdoria in their Serie A clash this evening.
The visitors threatened in the first minute of the game when Roberto Soriana raided to the edge of the box and drilled an effort towards the bottom corner, but Gianluigi Donnarumma made the stop.
Milan went ahead in the 16th minute when Giacomo Bonaventura latched onto Niang's low ball across the face of goal at the back post to steer his effort into the net from close range.
Niang could have doubled his team's lead when he was allowed to raid to the edge of the box before sending a low strike towards the bottom corner that curled just wide of the post.
The home side were handed the chance to double their advantage when they were awarded a spot kick when Bonaventura was brought down by Lorenzo De Silvestri. Niang took the penalty and sent his strike past Emiliano Viviano.
In the second half, Niang notched his second goal of the match when he capitalised on a mistake from Viviano to take possession on the edge of the box, and the forward held his composure to send the ball into the bottom corner.
Bonaventura came within inches of adding a fourth for the home side after Carlos Bacca was brought down on the edge of the box, but the midfielder sent his curling effort from the set piece wide of the target.
Luiz Adriano did find the net to score his team's fourth goal when he collected Alessio Cerci's pinpoint cross from the right and took a touch before firing a volley past Viviano.
Milan should have made it five as they broke upfield and Adriano laid the ball into the path of Bacca six yards from goal, but the forward could only fire his effort straight at Viviano, who blocked his shot before recovering the ball on the line.
Sampdoria notched a consolation goal when they were awarded a penalty as Eder was brought down by Andrea Poli in the box. The striker took the spot kick himself and calmly placed the ball into the net, sending Donnarumma the wrong way.
The result lifts Milan into fifth in the table, while the visitors remain in 12th place.
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