Keisuke Honda scored two goals to help fire AC Milan to an impressive 3-1 win away to Verona on Sunday afternoon.
The attacking midfielder netted a brace at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi to seal back-to-back wins for Filippo Inzaghi's side following victory over the hosts' city rivals Chievo before the international break.
With the two teams heading into the game level on 11 points, a visit to Verona was viewed as a stern test of Milan's recent revival under Inzaghi.
But the 18-time Italian champions were given early assistance as a spectacular own goal from Brazilian defender Rafael Marques put them ahead.
Honda then doubled that lead in the 27th minute and made the game safe in the second half to take his tally for the season to six in seven matches.
Milan could not keep a clean sheet as forward Nico Lopez pulled one back for Verona late on, while defender Rafael Marquez saw red for a second bookable offence.
The visitors fashioned the first real chance of the game after 13 minutes as Fernando Torres turned sharply in the area and shot narrowly wide of the near post.
Verona appeared solid at the back in the early stages but conceded the initiative in unconventional fashion in the 21st minute when Marques volleyed Ignazio Abate's right-wing cross into his own net.
The hosts went close to responding through Iceland midfielder Emil Halfredsson, only to be punished on the counter by Honda soon after.
Japan playmaker Honda cruised into the box to latch on to Stephan El Shaarawy's pass and steer a cool finish into Rafael's bottom right-hand corner.