Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivers 'champion' display to send AC Milan clear at top of Serie A

Swedish striker scores both goals in win at Cagliari on his first start since November

AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diogo Dalot celebrate after the win over Cagliari. Reuters

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring his second during the Serie A match against Cagliari. Getty Images

Radja Nainggolan of Cagliari and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of the match. Getty Images

Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds off a challenge from Cagliari defender Diego Godin. EPA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic stretches to control the ball. AFP

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring AC Milan's second goal. AP

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores AC Milan's second goal. Getty

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores AC Milan's first goal from the penalty spot. Getty Images

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) celebrates after scoring AC Milan's first goal. EPA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring AC Milan's first goal. AP

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli described Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a "champion in everything he does" after the Swedish striker produced another superb display in the 2-0 Serie A win at Cagliari on Monday.

Injury has deprived Milan of Ibrahimovic's services for much of the season but when he has started, the goals have flowed to help Pioli's team climb to the top of the Serie A standings.

"He is a champion in everything he does. With his comeback we have other tactical possibilities and we are very happy to have him," Pioli said.

"He still manages to surprise me, even though I know him well by now. We must expect the best from him, but today he also did something beyond that."

Back in the starting line-up for the first time in a Serie A match since picking up a thigh injury against Napoli on November 22, it took Ibrahimovic less than seven minutes to give Milan the lead as he scored from the penalty spot.

The strike ensured Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his last nine starts for Milan.

The Swede showed no weariness in his legs as he latched on to a long ball over the top to double Milan's lead in the 52nd minute, taking his league tally for the season to 12 goals, which is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo's haul of 15.

Although Milan lost their unbeaten Serie A record while their top goalscorer was sidelined, they won five of their eight league games during the Swede's absence.

Milan top the standings with 43 points from 18 matches, three clear of city rivals Inter Milan and 10 clear of champions Juventus, who are fifth and have a game in hand.

Approaching the halfway point in the season, Milan will be hoping Ibrahimovic continues to keep up the scoring rate – he averages 1.73 goals per game – as they chase a first Serie A title in a decade.