Zagreb, Oct 26 (AP) Seven-time European champion AC Milan is on the verge of returning to the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in nine years.

A second-half goal from Rafael Leão helped Milan to a dominant 4-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday to move into second spot in Group E. The Rossoneri now just need to avoid defeat at home to Salzburg next week to secure their spot in the last 16.

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“It was an important victory, one that counts a lot,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said.

“We are aware of our quality, but the decisive match will be against Salzburg, because that will allow us to do better than last season.

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“I don't know if being able to draw as well as win is a double-edged sword, but we're not mentally or tactically built to try to manage matches in that way, we have to play to our best to win.”

Matteo Gabbia gave Milan the lead before Leão's solo effort and a penalty by Olivier Giroud. Dinamo midfielder Robert Ljubicic had conceded the penalty and he also scored an own goal as his side fell to its first home defeat of the year.

Chelsea beat Salzburg in the other match in the group to secure its spot in the next round.

Before Gabbia opened the scoring he saved Milan at the other end, with a goal-line clearance to keep out Sadegh Moharrami's header with goalkeeper Ciprian Tataru?anu stranded.

Milan was dominating and finally found its way through via an unlikely source, six minutes before halftime. Gabbia had only scored one club goal in his professional career — in the Italian third division, more than four years ago — but got his second with a diving header at the back post after a free kick by Sandro Tonali.

Milan doubled its lead four minutes after the break. Leão gathered the ball in his own half and raced down the left, beating four defenders before slotting into the near bottom corner.

Leão has scored five goals in Serie A this season but it was his first in Europe this campaign.

And Milan was out of sight by the 59th minute when Tonali was brought down by Ljubicic and Giroud converted the resulting penalty.

Matters got even worse for Ljubicic 10 minutes later as he tried to clear Leão's cut-back but the ball ricocheted off him and into the back of the net. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)