AC Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura admitted his wonder-strike that earned a share of the points away to Cagliari was a fluke as the Serie A giants crawled up to third in Italy's top flight.

Colombian Victor Ibarbo gave the Sardinians a 24th minute lead on Wednesday when he bravely headed a cross past onrushing goalkeeper Christian Abbiati on the edge of the Milan box.

The Rossoneri levelled barely 10 minutes later when Bonaventura's looping drive from outside the area on the right flank beat Alessio Cragno in the hosts' net.

It was to prove a bittersweet night for the former Atalanta player, who spent the night in hospital under observation after being kicked in the head later in the match.

But he admitted: "I tried to play a ball into the box for the forwards and it flew in.

"These kinds of things happen in games. The 'keeper was off his line but I really crossed it in for the strikers."

Milan are now unbeaten in their last six games but have only won twice in that spell.

It was largely down to the respective defeats of Udinese, beaten 3-0 at Fiorentina, and Sampdoria -- who lost 1-0 at Inter -- that Milan moved into the top three.

Milan, Sampdoria and Udinese all sit on 16 points, six points off the leaders' pace, although Lazio can claim sole possession of third place if they win at Verona later Thursday.