NOVARA – It had to be a win and so it was. Against a Novara side intent on damage limitation, Milan come away 3-0 winners and get to the season’s halfway mark with 40 points. Just like last season when the team lifted the scudetto.
Allegri started with Ambrosini instead of Merkel with Emanuelson behind Ibrahmovic and Robinho. There was only one team in it for the first half. On 12’, Ibrahimovic took the free kick from the edge of the area, Ujkani pushes the ball away and Robinho fails with the resulting tap in. On 23’, another bullet of a free kick from the Swedish striker and this time the keeper pushes it out for a corner. Thiago Silva gets his head to the resulting cross and Caracciolo manages to clear the ball off the line.  The hosts were more or less pinned back with the Albanian keeper working over time. On 26’, he saves once again from Ibra and on 33’, he looks beaten but Nocerino's shot is an inch from opening the scoring. The umpteenth chance to score came 7 minutes later from a corner. Mexes has his chance cleared by Caracciolo. The teams headed to the changing rooms with the score all square. 
Stephan El Shaarawy made his entrance for Antonini for the second half. Amelia made his first save of the game after 2 minutes from a right footed shot by Caracciolo. Just after El Shaarawy had an almost free header go wide after Robinho found him with a perfect cross. The deserved lead was finally taken after 12 minutes of the second half. Ambrosini finds Ibra in the bow with a lob into the area. The Swedish forward takes the ball down on his thigh and volleys it home. Textbook technique. Milan could have doubled their lead on 27’. Robinho and El Shaarawy combined well but the teenager seemed in too much of a hurry and spurned the chance. Shortly after, the Brazilian gets his name on the scoresheet after a half cross, half shot from El Shaarawy. 2-0 and it’s curtains for Novara. A few soft saves for Amelia and then Ibrahimovic made it three with a cheeky goal at the death. Third win in a row away from home without conceding a single goal. Onwards and upwards.