Pazzini treble restores Milan pride

AC Milan bounced back from a disappointing opening-day defeat by UC Sampdoria with a 3-1 win against Bologna FC courtesy of a hat-trick from Giampaolo Pazzini.

Having sold Zlatan Ibrahimović and suffered injuries to forwards Robinho and Alexandre Pato, Milan needed their summer signing from city rivals Internazionale Milano FC to find his feet quickly. After 16 minutes against the Rossoblu he was handed the chance to forget his goalless debut in Genoa, as Nicolò Cherubin felled him inside the area. Pazzini finished the resulting penalty with aplomb, firing into the bottom left corner.

Bologna fought level before the break, when the skilful Alessandro Diamanti was sent tumbling by Antonio Nocerino after a clever turn. He too converted his spot-kick equally emphatically.

A draw looked likely as a tight second half wore on, until Pazzini was presented with his second of the night 13 minutes from time, Federico Agliardi spilling a cross at the striker's feet. Eight minutes later Pazzini brilliantly redirected Nocerino's dragged shot with a bottom-corner backheel to put Milan out of sight.

Elsewhere, goals from Alessandro Sgrigna, Matteo Brighi and Rolando Bianchi earned Torino FC a 3-0 win at home to Pescara, extending the promoted side's unbeaten start.