AC Milan sweat on Ibrahimovic injury after Napoli heroics

The Rossoneri’s euphoria from a crucial win over Napoli was short-lived after their star man left the match prematurely.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vacated the pitch late into AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Napoli with a suspected muscle injury.

He had once again supplied the goods on Sunday by scoring twice to hand Milan a two-goal lead. The first goal came in the opening half through a bullet header before the Swede bundled in a second after the break. It took his tally up to 10 goals in only six appearances in Serie A.

Dries Mertens pulled one back just past the hour-mark to bring Napoli back into the match. But Tiemoue Bakayoko’s second yellow card left the visitors down to 10 men before Ibrahimovic went down clutching his left leg.

AC Milan will evaluate the severity of a potential injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the Swede needing to be replaced in the 78th minute against Napoli 😓 pic.twitter.com/83KUOSWXx6

— Goal (@goal) November 23, 2020

18-year-old Lorenzo Colombo replaced the veteran striker, who will now undergo further tests on his injury.

Daniele Bonera, who stepped in for absent Milan coach Stefano Pioli, told Sky Sport Italia: “We don’t have much information right now, it looks like a muscular problem, but we have to wait a few days to see the extent of it.”

Substitute Jens Petter Hauge scored a late third to seal the Serie A leaders a convincing victory at the San Siro.

But an update on Ibrahimovic’s condition will be Milan’s primary concern ahead of the congested winter schedule. Nine games await them between now and December 23, and they’ll every man available to handle the strain.

The Rossoneri have already lost Rafael Leao to an injury and Pioli tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.