Milan 2-1 Genoa: Player ratings as Ante Rebic strike helps Rossoneri keep slim title hopes alive

AC Milan battled to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Genoa on Sunday afternoon, keeping their slim hopes of winning the Serie A title alive.

I Rossoneri started on the front foot and got their breakthrough on 13 minutes, when Ante Rebic hammered home a brilliant strike from the edge of the box to give Mattia Perin no chance in the Genoa goal.

But the visitors hit back completely against the run of play on 36 minutes when Mattia Destro beat Fikayo Tomori in the air to powerfully head home to stun the giants. Milan pushed to get back in front, with Simon Kjaer heading wide from a corner.

It was from a corner that Milan regained the lead, when Hakan Calhanoglu's in-swinger hit Gianluca Scamacca and dribbled into his own net.

Simon Kjaer and Tomori had to be at their best to block two efforts on the line, but Stefano Pioli's men saw out the final minutes to clinch all three points and cement their place in Serie A's top four.

Right, let's check out the player ratings.

AC Milan

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) - 6/10 - Repelled Gianluca Scamacca's vicious shot at the front post. Should be saving it, but did so well. No chance in stopping Destro's powerful header. Almost cost Milan the game with a late spill - saved by the defence.

Pierre Kalulu (RB) - 6/10 - Inadvertently assisted the opening goal. Not in his strongest position but not afraid to get up and down the flank, either. Solid defensively but his lack of attacking instinct did hinder the team.

Simon Kjaer (CB) - 8/10 - Took a huge kick to the goolies, but lived to tell the tale. Defended competently against little threat. Headed centimetres wide from a corner. Brilliant block on the line to save the win.

Fikayo Tomori (CB) - 7/10 - Defended on the front foot, pressing the life out of Gianluca Scamacca. Beaten all ends up by Destro for the equaliser though. Needs to be stronger in those situations. Second brilliant block on the line to keep them level.

Theo Hernandez (LB) - 6/10 - Hit the free-kick into the wall which resulted in the opening goal. All part of the plan. Dragged another couple of shots wide. Not at his best.

2. Midfielders

Franck Kessie (CM) - 8/10 - Continued his form as one of the best midfielders in Serie A. Good at everything, and didn't give Genoa a sniff. Tidy on the ball, intelligent off of it and a driving force. Class.

Ismael Bennacer (CM) - 7/10 - Brought so much stability to the midfield. Allowed Kessie the platform to play his game, and kept it simple in the middle. No surprise that Milan panicked when he left the field.

Hakan Calhanoglu (AM) - 6/10 - Should have got an assist, but Leao wasted his inch-perfect through ball. Dispossessed far too often and far too easily.

3. Forwards

Alexis Saelemaekers (RW) - 7/10 - Neat on the ball, linking up nicely with Calhanoglu and making the right decision, more often than not. Curled wide from the edge of the box. Close. Subbed in the second half.

Rafael Leao (ST) - 6/10 - Drifted onto the left flank and ran the channel well. Should have done better when played through in the first half, but fired straight at Perin. Struggled to make an impact as Genoa dropped deep.

Ante Rebic (LW) - 7/10 - Opened the scoring with a thunderous left-footed strike from distance. How did he generate so much power on that? Another match-winning performance.

4. Substitutes

Diogo Dalot (RB) - 7/10

Brahim Diaz (AM) - 6/10

Mario Mandzukic (ST) - 6/10

Sandro Tonali (CM) - 6/10

Rade Krunic (CM) - N/A