Brescia 0-1 AC Milan

In a nervy encounter the visitors had to wait until virtually the end of the match for that much-needed strike, with the celebrations betraying relief as much as joy. Meanwhile the crestfallen hosts have a lot of work on their hands if they are to avoid the same fate as Bari, who were today consigned to Serie B status.

Milan signaled their intentions early in the match, Mathieu Flamini’s fierce right-footed shot hitting the net, but unfortunately for the Rossoneri, it was the side netting only.

In fact Brescia were unable to cope with their visitors’ passing. Flamini, Seedorf and Cassano were linking up in the final third at will, and it seemed only a matter of time before Milan took the lead.

Robinho hit a volley over the bar when he should have done better, before Clarence Seedorf did almost the same thing – his first-time shot going narrowly over – while Antonio Cassano put it wide when he was clean through midway through the first half.

The league leaders should have had the game sewn up before Brescia had a chance. The home side, after some comical defending began to look more solid at the back and Eder had arguably one of the best chances of the opening period, forcing a smart save from Abbiati at his near post.

After a quieter spell, Milan began to create chances again in the closing part of the second half. Robinho blasted a shot from a well worked corner into Michele Arcari’s hands, Cassano missed a free header from within the six yard box, but Milan were unable to make their possession and chances count.

Indeed, missing chances appeared to be Milan’s curse for the day. After good work from Seedorf, Cassano had another free header inside the Brescia area, but sent it wide when he should have buried it.

Brescia almost made the visitors pay again just after the hour mark as Andrea Caracciolo glanced a header which produced a great save from Abbiati moments before Robinho came close to breaking the deadlock with a thirty yard shot which Arcari did excellently to parry behind.

The hosts, emboldened by this chance, continued to threaten Abbiati’s clean sheet. They came the closest to breaking the deadlock ten minutes from time as Alessandro Diamanti’s superb left-footed free kick struck the bar.

But Milan’s breakthrough finally came after 82 minutes, and Brescia’s defense were suspect again as Seedorf played a long ball through to Cassano, who passed to Robinho. The Brazilian was free to run on goal to put it past Arcari, the entire Brescia back line absent.

Brescia weren’t giving up. Abbiati made a superb save to deny Diamanti once more as the former West Ham player cut inside to curl the ball right footed across the stopper’s body. Despite this and other chances, they couldn’t take advantage of the four minutes of stoppage time.

With this result, AC Milan edge ever closer to winning the league that they have led all season, while Brescia must realistically take all three points from their relegation scrap next week against Sampdoria if they are to stand any chance of staying up.