Milan beat Borisov to keep pace with Barca

AC Milan breezed to a comfortable 2-0 victory over BATE Borisov at the San Siro on Wednesday to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of Champions League Group H.Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin Prince Boateng ensured an easy nights work for the rossoneri.It also means both they and the Spanish defending champions can qualify for the knock-out stages with victory in their next matches in two weeks time.It means the crucial clash between the pair at the San Siro on November 23 should decide who tops the group.Such was Milans comfort zone that they even managed to give French centre-back Philippe Mexes a short run-out on his injury comeback.Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri had said the day before the game that a win was vital to keep on Barcas heels and his side seemed to have taken note.They poured forward from the get-go, determined not to let things become nervy, as they had in the 2-0 success against Viktoria Plzen three weeks ago.From a half-cleared Antonio Cassano corner Alberto Aquilani volleyed wide from 15 yards.Ibrahimovic then had a crack from fully 45 yards on the half-volley with goalkeeper Aleksandr Gutor off his line, but saw his effort fly over.Ibrahimovic gave the hosts the lead as he latched onto a rebound from Aquilanis scuffed shot to finish low inside the near post on 33 minutes.He almost had a second but clipped wide of the far post from Cassanos pass.BATE started the second period with a flurry of activity, the most alarming of which for Milan was a Maxsim Bordachev chance that Abbiati had to turn behind.Ibrahimovic was still proving dangerous but after he showed good control with his chest, Marko Simic blocked his shot.But from the resulting corner Boateng hit a rasping, rising shot from 25 yards that crashed in off the underside of the bar.Borisov probably should have had a consolation goal late on but Maxsim Skavysh shot straight at Abbiati when well placed.