Milan rolls as Ibrahimovic nets hat trick

Palermo, Italy – Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned from a three- 0 AC Milan win over Palermo on Saturday at the Renzo Barbera.

Ibrahimovic scored all three of his goals in a 14-minute span in the first half with Thiago Silva netting the fourth goal for Milan, which moved three points clear of second-place Juventus after Juve was held to a 1-1 draw by Chievo on Saturday.

The Sweden international started the scoring barrage in the 21st minute when he was played into the penalty area by Robinho and finished with a left-footed shot.

Milan's lead was doubled 10 minutes later when Ibrahimovic collected a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and waited for a gap to open up before driving a low shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

Ibrahimovic completed the hat trick in the 35th minute when he was given too much space 25 yards from goal and curled a brilliant right-footed shot into the upper corner of the net to put the Rossoneri in complete control.

Palermo was well on its way to a third defeat in five games when Silva added a fourth goal after the break as Stephan El Shaarawy took a short corner kick and served the ball into the area for Silva to head home.

Juventus 1, Chievo 1

Turin, Italy - Juventus fell three points back of leaders AC Milan on Saturday after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Chievo.

The Old Lady got off to a good start when Paolo De Ceglie put the hosts ahead after 18 minutes, but Boukary Drame's goal inside the final 15 minutes doomed Juve to a fourth draw in seven games.

Giorgio Chiellini's glancing header from an Andrea Pirlo free kick crashed against the post and De Ceglie reacted quickly to nod home the rebound from six yards.

But Juve threw the lead away in the 76th minute as defender Leonardo Bonucci failed to block a low shot from Drame and allowed it to go in off his foot.

Pirlo tried to steal the win late for Juve but Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino did well to parry the effort at full stretch.