Bonucci red damages Milan, Roma bounce back in Serie A
The newly-promoted side from outside Naples have scored just two goals, with 22 conceded
MILAN (AFP) - Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for elbowing as AC Milan s stuttering campaign plunged even further on Sunday with a 0-0 draw to Genoa, as elsewhere in Serie A Alexander Kolarov lifted AS Roma past Torino.
Milan coach Vincenzo Montella had already been under huge pressure after three straight Serie A losses and Thursday s 0-0 Europa League draw with AEK Athens in Milan.
And amid reports Montella s days are numbered the team played for over an hour with ten men at the San Siro after Bonucci was sent off.
The video assistant referee confirmed a nasty elbow from Milan captain Bonucci that left Aleandro Rosi with a bleeding face.
"VAR helps but we have to decide if we are in a televisual world or one on the pitch," complained Montella after his team dropped to 11th far below the ambitions of the club s new Chinese owners.
"I m happy to be the coach of Milan, and in my head I m preparing for tomorrow s training session, and I also want to compliment the boys because they have played with spirit," he continued.
"I m convinced that this team can get out, we re paying for episodes that can change the course of the game."
AS Roma bounced back from last weekend s loss at Napoli with a 1-0 win at Torino to build on their midweek 3-3 Champions League draw at Chelsea.
Serbian defender Kolarov s spectacular free kick after 69 minutes gave Roma their record 12th consecutive away victory in Serie A to move up to fifth, with a match in hand.
If Kolarov s move from Manchester City this season has been a huge success for Roma, Bonucci s move from Turin to Milan has proved a spectacular flop.
Already in great difficulty since the start of the season the former Juventus player s nightmare season continued.
His sending off not only damaged Milan s chances on the night but Bonucci will almost certainly receive a two-match ban, ruling him out against champions Juventus next weekend.
Fiorentina overtake Milan after a 3-0 win over tailenders Benevento, who set a new Serie A record by becoming the first club in the history of the championship to fail to score a point in nine games.
The newly-promoted side from outside Naples have scored just two goals, with 22 conceded.
On Saturday, Inter Milan ended Napoli s winning streak in Serie A with a goalless draw despite a hard-fought top of the table clash in Naples.
Napoli -- who suffered Champions League disappointment at Manchester City this week -- now have 25 points from nine games to maintain their two-point advantage on second-placed Inter.
Champions Juventus and Lazio -- joint third on 19 points -- have a golden opportunity to narrow the gap on Sunday when they take on Udinese and Cagliari respectively.
