To start the season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bologna in Milan Serie A, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a towering header and converted a penalty.
Roberto Soriano had his shot deflected wide within 90 seconds after a defensive mistake, while Takehiro Tomiyasu got a decisive touch to force Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s angled drive inches after the Swede’s spectacular turn past the far post.
Ismael Bennacer wasted a big chance when Ibrahimovic’s pull-back from the by-line shocked Lukasz Skorupski, prodding over an empty net from six yards on the rebound.
Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock on 35 minutes, with a simple towering header on Theo Hernandez’s cross, redirecting it from nine yards in strength and accuracy.
Following the Europa League trip to Ireland, it was his second goal in as many games.
Moments later, on a give-and-go Ibra was about to score with Rebic, prevented by the last-ditch sliding tackle Danilo. Bologna even challenged Theo Hernandez with a vital defensive header, in order to avoid Riccardo Orsolini from tapping in a Rodrigo Palacio cross at the back post.
Alexis Saelemaekers substituted Samu Castillejo, not completely fit for the second half, and immediately set up Ibrahimovic for a strong but central shot over the bar that Skorupski palmed.
Orsolini was initially penalized on the edge of the region for tripping Bennacer, but VAR stated the touch was inside the box, so Ibrahimovic converted the penalty into the top corner with a fierce side-foot.
Bologna threatened again in the final minutes, as Federico Santander thumped the woodwork on a free-kick from a tricky angle and the rebound was fired somehow over the bar.
Milan 2 – 0 Bologna
Goals: 1-0 Ibrahimovic 35’, 2-0 Ibrahimobic 51’
Yellow cards: Dominguez (B), Tomiyasu (B), Sansone (B); Castillejo (M), Krunic (M), Gabbia (M)
Red card: Dijks (B)
Milan: G Donnarumma, Calabria, Gabbia, Kjaer (Duarte 71), Theo Hernandez; Bennacer (Krunic 86), Kessie (Tonali 77); Castillejo (Saelemaekers 46), Calhanoglu (Brahim Diaz 71), Rebic; Ibrahimovic
Bologna: Skorupski; De Silvestri, Tomiyasu, Danilo, Dijks; Schouten, Dominguez (Sansone 57); Orsolini (Skov Olsen 57), Soriano (Svanberg 80), Barrow (Vignato 83); Palacio (Santander 80)
