Rabiot sparks AC Milans French inspired triumph against Como to trail Inter closely
Adrien Rabiot ensured AC Milan remained just three points off the top of Serie A with a stunning double in their 3-1 victory over ambitious Como on Thursday, a match infused with French flair.
The French midfielder Rabiot unleashed two superb goals in the 55th minute and right at the death to condemn the lakeside side to defeat, after he had also earned the penalty that allowed countryman Christopher Nkunku to draw level against the flow of the game just before the break.
A 19th consecutive league outing without a loss leaves Massimiliano Allegri's squad on 40 points, trailing Inter by three but leading champions Napoli by the same margin, following the latter's draw with Parma on Wednesday evening as they hold third spot.
The loss felt unfair for Como in sixth, who had opened the scoring via Marc Oliver Kempf in the 10th minute, yet they now trail the Champions League spots by five points after Rabiot's decisive showing and an outstanding display from another Frenchman, Mike Maignan.
Milan might have trailed by three before Nkunku's penalty conversion, were it not for keeper Maignan's heroics that enabled the visitors to snatch points from Como.
Just prior to Rabiot securing Milan's spot-kick with a theatrical fall, Maignan produced his finest stop among six, denying Luca Da Cunha's close-range header and leaving the attacker stunned at missing.
Nico Paz was equally frustrated as Maignan tipped the young Argentinian's fierce low shot onto the woodwork, a moment that came seconds before Rabiot's initial precise finish.
Paz also struck the bar on the hour as Como pressed futilely for a merited leveller, but Rabiot sealed the outcome with a powerful shot from distance that beat Como's French keeper Jean Butez in the closing stages.
Earlier, Bologna ended a seven-game drought without a win in a thrilling 3-2 success at Verona, who dropped to the foot of the standings after their 11th loss this term.
Riccardo Orsolini, Jens Odgaard, and Santiago Castro netted excellent strikes as Bologna, fresh from a Super Cup final defeat to Napoli, climbed to eighth, now four points adrift of Como.