Milan: AC Milan won their first Champions League game of the campaign and stayed level with Barcelona at the top of Group H, after putting on a dominant second-half performance to down Czech side Viktoria Plzen 2-0 at San Siro on Wednesday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a penalty in the 53rd minute, then provided the pass for Antonio Cassano to double the lead in the 66th at the San Siro.
A second-half penalty from the former Barcelona hitman, and a delicate Cassano chip was enough for the Serie A holders to prosper on the night, but they had to first overcome a resolute Plzen side, who were not prepared to back down and lose their unbeaten record in Europe this season without a fight.
Ibrahimovic hadn't played since September 9 due to a thigh injury, and Milan were glad he returned - since fellow forwards Alexandre Pato, Robinho and Filippo Inzaghi were all unavailable.
Pato and Robinho are both injured, while Milan left the 38-year-old Inzaghi - one of the most prolific scorers in European history - off the squad list for the Champions League.
The only other forward available was Cassano.
Milan are also missing several key midfielders - Kevin-Prince Boateng, captain Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso and Mathieu Flamini - and the absences have contributed to a slow start for the Italian champions, who only got their first win in Serie A last weekend, edging last-place Cesena 1-0.
"We've been playing with the same players for a month, and you could see some fatigue tonight," Allegri said.
Plzen, meanwhile, have had a memorable start to the season, beginning an excellent qualifying run in July with a squad that contains exclusively Czech and Slovak players.
The match began very openly, with Plzen setting their stall from the first minute. The visitors had started their Champions League campaign in reasonable fashion, drawing 1-1 against BATE Borisov on the first matchday, and they looked to capitalise on the break at every opportunity.
Meanwhile, Massimiliano Allegri's side seemed buoyant with the return of Ibrahimovic in their ranks, but his comeback possibly overshadowed the impact of his teammates initially, as the talismanic Swede was central to virtually every attack at the Czech's goal.
However, it was Plzen who had the game's first chance, and it needed a save of the top drawer from Christian Abbiati to deny Vaclav Pilar's bullet header inside the third minute.
Unsurprisingly, Milan began to dominate the possession, as their contrasting playing styles made for a fascinating state of affairs.
Cassano then produced a series of chances for Milan as Milan continued to search for a breakthrough. They came mightily close through the feet of Ibrahimovic in the 32nd when he received the ball unmarked inside the area, profiting from Cassano missing his header at the far post. However, his powerful strike could only manage the hands of Marek Cech, who stuck his hand up at the last second and pulled off a marvellous stop from close range.
Plzen proceeded to have an equally-perilous opportunity of their own, as Pavel Horvath blazed over a free shot at goal inside the Milan box near the end of the first half, with Abbiati seemingly in no-man's land.
However, the second half was a stark contrast to the first 45, as Milan stepped up several notches and broke the deadlock on 53 minutes, after Marian Cisovsky's handball lead to a penalty, and Ibrahimovic netted the spot-kick with ease, sending Cech the wrong way.
The Italian champions doubled their lead through a counter-attack 13 minutes, as Ibrahimovic once again lead the way with a inch-perfect through ball to Cassano, who finished with aplomb, cutely lifting the ball over an on-rushing Cech.
A late raid of sorts at the Milan goal ensued by Pavel Urba's men, but the wall of Nesta and Silva continued to stand for the remainder of proceedings, coupled with the hosts' impressively cohesive football on display, as Milan earn the first three points of their Champions League Group H campaign.
Barcelona and Milan have four points each, while Plzen and BATE Borisov have one apiece.
Barcelona beat BATE 5-0 in the other group match on Wednesday.
Milan drew 2-2 at Barcelona in their opener, while Plzen drew 1-1 at home against BATE in their first ever match in the top European competition.
"It was important to win and get the three points and follow up the match in Barcelona," said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Milan next host BATE on October 19, while Plzen visit title-holders Barcelona.
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