AC Milan's teenage striker Pato said the Italian giants' next match away to Genoa is a win or bust game.

Milan suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Bologna in their opening game of the season and they know they must bounce back to avoid drifting out of the title race while it is still in its infancy.

The six-time European champions scuppered their scudetto hopes last season by failing to win any of their opening seven home league matches.

"We're sorry for the loss against Bologna but it was only the first match," said the 19-year-old. "There will be many more, the championship is long and I'm convinced this Milan team can do very well.

"Now we're thinking only about working hard. Over the next few days we can train and prepare ourselves really well, and against Genoa we absolutely have to win."

Milan's only saving grace was that none of their title rivals won with Inter Milan held at Sampdoria, AS Roma drawing at home to Napoli and Fiorentina and Juventus ending in a stalemate.

AFP

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