AC Milan are 45 minutes away from the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia after taking a 1-0 lead in at the break against Sassuolo at San Siro.

Milan defender Alex was fortunate not to be punished by Leonardo Pavoletti when he slipped attempting a pass to Cristian Zapata early on.

Pavoletti had another chance to give his side the lead shortly before the half-hour mark but he fired an effort wide at the near post after good build-up from the visitors.

Giampaolo Pazzini responded for the Rossoneri but he couldn't direct his shot on target before Stephan El Shaarawy fired over the bar after a mazy run.

However, Milan didn't have to wait much longer for their goal, and it was Pazzini who opened the scoring by volleying into the bottom corner.