Oliver Giroud strikes early to send AC Milan top of Serie A - in pictures

Frenchman slots home in fourth minute for 1-0 win over Torino

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan acknowledges the crowd following victory in the Serie A match against Torino at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 26, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Giroud scored the only goal of the match. Getty Images

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan. Getty Images

AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud, left, in action. Getty Images

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan celebrates with teammate Alexis Saelemaekers after scoring against Torino. Getty Images

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan celebrates with teammate Alexis Saelemaekers. Getty Images

AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes on as a substitute to replace Olivier Giroud. Reuters

AC Milan's French forward Olivier Giroud. AFP

AC Milan's French forward Olivier Giroud fights for the ball with Torino's Brazilian defender Bremer. AFP

Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Torino - San Siro, Milan, Italy - October 26, 2021 AC Milan's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS / Daniele Mascolo

AC Milan's Olivier Giroud scores their first goal. Reuters

An early Olivier Giroud strike earned AC Milan a narrow 1-0 win over Torino on Tuesday to send Stefano Pioli's side top of Serie A.

The French striker was given the nod ahead of fellow veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic to start the match at San Siro and rewarded Pioli's faith when he tapped home his fourth Serie A goal of the season in the 14th minute.

Torino's Italy striker Andrea Belotti, making his first start for the club since August having recovered from injury, had the visitors' best chance to level in the second half but missed his kick with the goal at his mercy.

Victory allowed Milan to open up a three-point gap at the top of the table over Napoli, who host Bologna on Thursday. Torino are 13th on 11 points.

"I think we played a good game," Giroud told DAZN. "Torino are a strong team, they are aggressive in the tackle.

"I am very happy because we did well from the start and Torino didn't really threaten many scoring opportunities. That means we've been very solid at the back and we take the three points, that's the most important thing.

"We play every three days, that's not easy on the body. Everything was not perfect."

Before the match, coach Pioli had warned his side that they needed to start winning ugly if they were to make the next step and win the Scudetto this season.

And win ugly they did as, after Giroud's goal from Rade Krunic's flick, they did not create another meaningful chance.

That mattered little, however, as Milan have now won nine of the first 10 Serie A matches of a season for the first time since the 1954/55 campaign.