AC Milan's Algerian defender Ismael Bennacer (center) vies with Udinese's Brazilian midfielder Walace (left) and Udinese's Spanish forward Gerard Deulofeu during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Udinese on Aug 13, 2022 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. (MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

ROME - Ismael Bennacer's curler saved AC Milan from an away defeat against Atalanta on Sunday, as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in a highly-anticipated Serie A game.

Milan went into Sunday's game without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Sandro Tonali returned to action.

It was a breathless fixture, as Rafael Leao hit the side netting one minute into the game, while Ruslan Malinovskyi missed the target before Duvan Zapata's solo effort was denied by Mike Maignan

It was a breathless fixture, as Rafael Leao hit the side netting one minute into the game, while Ruslan Malinovskyi missed the target before Duvan Zapata's solo effort was denied by Mike Maignan.

The home side broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when unmarked Malinovskyi's first-time strike took a slight deflection to go beyond Maignan.

The Rossoneri were more aggressive after the break and got an equalizer in the 67th minute when Bennacer moved into the box before unleashing a curler that swerved into the net.

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Elsewhere, Napoli enjoyed another comfortable victory by beating newly-promoted Monza 4-0 after having opened the season a 5-2 win over Hellas Verona. New arrival Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bagged a brace while fellow summer signing Kim Min-jae collected his maiden goal.

Also on Sunday, Empoli held Fiorentina in a goalless draw, while Bologna shared the spoils with Verona at 1-1.