AP, Milan :
AC Milan lost 2-0 at home to Palermo and failed to move back level with third-place Sampdoria, which beat Fiorentina 3-1 earlier Sunday in Serie A.
Cristian Zapata scored an own goal and was at fault for Paulo Dybala’s second as two goals in as many minutes consigned Milan to its second loss of the season.
Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez also had to pull off a string of fine saves in his first appearance since mid-September.
“This is football,” Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi said. “You grow also through games like this. The team gave everything it had. … We started really well. But everything will help us grow.”
Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved a penalty to help his side move three points ahead of Milan and Udinese, which lost 4-2 to Genoa. Lazio can move level with a win at home to Cagliari on Monday night.
Sassuolo was held to a scoreless draw at bottom club Chievo Verona and Atalanta also drew 0-0 at Torino.
Diego Lopez returned from a hamstring injury and was called into action right from the start at San Siro, making a tough one-handed save to deny Franco Vazquez.
Milan also welcomed back young midfielder Riccardo Saponara, but Alex was injured in the third minute and had to be replaced by Zapata, who headed a corner into his own net in the 24th minute.
The Sicilian side almost doubled its lead immediately but Diego Lopez pulled off a fantastic stop to deny Dybala from point-blank range.
However, Palermo and Dybala did have their goal moments later when the Argentine striker shook off Zapata and fired across Lopez and into the far side of the net.
