Matteo Gabbia's crucial strike lifts AC Milan to victory in Serie A

Matteo Gabbia's crucial goal was enough to lift AC Milan to a hard-fought win over Sampdoria at the San Siro on Sunday afternoon.

The Rossoneri had struggled against the visiting Ligue 1 side in recent seasons, but they were determined not to let that result repeat itself this time around.

And it was Matteo Gabbia who delivered the decisive blow with a stunning free-kick from distance that found the back of the net.

The Italian defender had been on target earlier in the game, hitting the crossbar with a powerful effort that looked like it could have given his team an early lead.

But Sampdoria refused to go down without a fight and came back strongly in the second half, creating several chances before Gabbia's late winner sealed their victory.

AC Milan now sit top of the Serie A table once again, just one point ahead of Inter Milan, while Sampdoria remain in fourth place.

It was a tough test for the Rossoneri, who had to play the full 90 minutes without injured key players such as Franck Kessie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But Gabbia's strike will provide a much-needed boost of confidence for the team heading into what promises to be another busy period of fixtures.

Overall, it was a remarkable performance from AC Milan, who showed their class against a strong opponent and left Sampdoria disappointed with their defeat.