It was the visitors who certainly started the brightest with a flurry of efforts in the opening quarter hour, including a header from Ardian Ismajli inside the box that was expertly tipped over the bar by Milan captain Mike Maignan.
However, after a sluggish start to the contest, the hosts suddenly woke up with the interval looming.
After 36 minutes, a rapid strike from Adrien Rabiot forced Alberto Paleari into action for the first time.
There was nothing the Il Toro goalkeeper could do, though, about Milan’s next shot just moments later, as a sublime 25-yard strike by Strahinja Pavlovic went in off the underside of the bar to edge the Rossoneri in front.
To Torino’s credit, they did not feel sorry for themselves and instantly went on the search for an equaliser. Shortly after Pavlovic’s goal of the season contender, Duvan Zapata found himself in a great position, but his close-range attempt was denied by Maignan to keep his side in front. Il Toro kept up the pressure and deservedly levelled the game on the stroke of half-time.
A 20-yard effort from Nikola Vlasic was tipped onto the post by Maignan, before the ball ricocheted back off the France international and into the path of Giovanni Simeone, who tucked away the rebound for his eighth Serie A goal of the season.
Massimiliano Allegri’s half-time team talk must have been an inspirational one, as the hosts came out fighting straight from the restart.
Milan reclaimed the lead after 54 minutes through Rabiot as he met Christian Pulisic’s pass across the face of goal to turn the ball in from six yards. The situation soon became much worse for the visitors.
On the very next attack, static defending from Torino allowed Youssouf Fofana to go for goal and, despite Paleari getting a glove to the ball, it wasn’t enough to prevent the Rossoneri from extending their advantage.
Roberto D'Aversa’s team refused to give up and came agonisingly close to reducing the deficit midway through the second half, when Maignan pulled off an impressive reflex save to stop Simeone from claiming his second goal of the night.
Drama struck with 10 minutes remaining of normal time, as the visitors were eventually awarded a penalty following VAR intervention as Pavlovic was adjudged to have fouled Simeone inside the area.
Vlasic stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake to find the top corner and set up a grandstand finale. However, despite their best efforts to secure a late point, Milan held on to claim three precious points.
Milan are up to second in Serie A and will be desperate to record back-to-back victories after the international break when they take on third-placed SSC Napoli away from home. Meanwhile, Torino remain 14th and stay six points clear of the relegation zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Giovanni Simeone (Torino)