Milan moved up to seventh in the Serie A table, but are still 11 points off the top four. "It was important to win and we did it, we're happy," Bonaventura told Milan's website. "I struggled at the start of the year because I was not fit, but now I'm slowly starting to reach 100 percent."?️"Happy but well aware we still have a lot of work to do". Read Rino Gattuso's words: https://t.co/l9F9gZaqIQ?️ "Soddisfatto ma consapevole che la strada è ancora lunga". Leggi le dichiarazioni di Mister Gattuso a @MilanTV: https://t.co/VeGKnUg2uA#MilanBologna pic.twitter.com/DQC8nXtIdz
— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 11, 2017
Bonaventura wasted little time in putting the hosts ahead at the San Siro, as he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area to slot past a wrong-footed Antonio Mirante in the Bologna goal. Ninth-placed Bologna, who were level on points with Milan heading into the game, equalised midway through the first half as Verdi hammered a left-footed shot into the top corner. But Bonaventura, who scored his first goal of the season last weekend at Benevento, got Gattuso off the mark by meeting Fabio Borini's 76th-minute cross with a powerful downward header.It was tough, but in the end, we can celebrate! Relive this thrilling game through the best ?'s ?? https://t.co/P7mQIpsYncAbbiamo sofferto, ma alla fine abbiamo gioito. Rivivi le emozioni di #MilanBologna attraverso la foto gallery del match ??? https://t.co/Jojvl4A1Zt pic.twitter.com/d6yGzHIhhp
— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 10, 2017
Earlier on Sunday, title hopefuls Napoli and Roma were both held to goalless draws by Fiorentina and Chievo respectively, leaving Inter Milan still ruling the roost at the top of the table. Inter held six-time defending champions Juventus to a 0-0 stalemate on Saturday to stay one point clear of Napoli at the summit. Juve are third, one point further adrift, with Roma five points off top spot but with a game in hand. Roma were frustrated at Chievo, whose veteran goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino made several magnificent saves to deny the dominant away side. Napoli surrendered first place to Inter after losing at home to Juve last time out, and Sunday's was another uninspiring home display that did not live up to their reputation as Serie A's most attractive side.? @pipogonzalez88 admits that #MilanBFC defeat is a tough one to swallow. ? https://t.co/2b1uNWMslr#WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/j0tZhQq99h
— Bologna FC 1909 (@BolognaFC1909en) December 10, 2017
The draw comes after Wednesday's dispiriting Champions League defeat at Feyenoord, which sent Napoli into the Europa League. "We only have to worry when we don't create chances, but now we are creating them," coach Maurizio Sarri said. "I was worried by Wednesday's performance, not this one. "It's the kind of game where if you win 1-0, everyone says Napoli have found themselves again."? @dries_mertens14: "We had chances to score but we couldn't put them away. We lacked that bit of good fortune." ➡️ https://t.co/2joeT3mRKg⚽ #NapoliFiorentina 0-0 ?? #SerieATIM? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/eLTOLB8cPw
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) December 10, 2017
Roma stayed in touch with the top three but can also be caught by local rivals Lazio, whose game with Torino in Rome on Monday is one of their two games in hand on the top three. Chievo keeper Sorrentino blocked everything Roma threw at him, denying Patrik Schick and Gerson with a superb 24th-minute double save and making a string of other stops. But the 38-year-old's best moment came with seven minutes remaining when Schick, making his full Roma debut, bore down on goal looking for the winner.? #Sarri: "It was a good performance. We were better in the second half - we played well and created some big chances." ⚽ #NapoliFiorentina 0-0 ?? #SerieATIM? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/uj2JyXG5WU
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) December 10, 2017
The Czech ripped a shot that was sharply deflected, and Sorrentino, already diving one way, stuck out a leg to save what looked a certain goal and a point for his team. "It was one-way traffic," bemoaned Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco. "We had opportunities in both the first and second half. We deserved a goal, but we didn't score and that is our fault. We need to be more clinical in front of goal."More from the forward after today's game...#ASRoma #ChievoRoma #Schickhttps://t.co/dI3JLL5n9j
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 10, 2017
Rock-bottom Benevento returned to losing ways with a 2-0 loss at Udinese, whose goals came from Antonin Barak and Kevin Lasagna.RESULTSChievo 0 Roma 0Napoli 0 Fiorentina 0SPAL 2 (Paloschi 86, Antenucci 88-pen) Verona 2 (Cerci 55-pen, Caceres 69)Udinese 2 (Barak 5, Lasagna 41) Benevento 0Sassuolo 2 (Goldaniga 49, Politano 61) Crotone 1 (Acerbi 66-og)AC Milan 2 (Bonaventura 10, 76) Bologna 1 (Verdi 23)? | The boss gives his instant reaction to today's draw...#ASRoma #ChievoRoma pic.twitter.com/DXJNmTKdvn
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 10, 2017