NOT OUR NIGHT IN TURIN
Serie A
Milan return from Turin tonight with no points but their heads held high after a valiant performance in their 1-0 loss to Juve. The team showed heart and self-sacrifice, leaving everything on the pitch with some excellent spells at the home of the league leaders, but it wasn’t to be as the Old Lady nicked a win with a bit of Dybala magic in the final 15. The Rossoneri deserved more for everything they gave and it was a Juventus masterstroke that made the difference, from a team who have dominated the Italian top flight for years. Coach Pioli’s side gave a great account of themselves with an organised performance in which they rarely looked threatened, especially in the first half. The team played well as a collective and there were a good handful of individuals with stellar performances. But while there were positives to be taken, Milan had to do more, especially in attack. The side will regret not making the most of this, but it was a night that brought more self-belief after these tough times. Despite this, Milan remain on just 13 points after twelve league games, a long way off Champions League qualification.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM JUVENTUS 1-0 AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Compact from the off, the Rossoneri didn’t run into any trouble until the 14th minute as Donnarumma was forced to keep Higuain out with his feet. Piątek then responded just minutes later, placing his header wide after finding space in the area. Another headed chance came in the 25th as Paquetá forced a great save from Szczesny in the top corner. Milan looked lively, especially in the closing minutes of the first half as Hernández and Piątek both forced saves from the Polish keeper. A chance then fell to Juve at the start of the second half as Matuidi’s effort from the edge of the area flew just over the bar. Paquetá then set Piątek free in the 58th minute with a great ball, but once again Szczesny came up strong. The game remained in a deadlock without many big chances as both Matuidi and Dybala’s efforts did nothing to trouble Donnarumma, while similarly Çalhanoğlu couldn’t get past Szczesny at the other end. Juve then however found a way through in the 77th minute: a superb bit of skill from Dybala to beat Romagnoli and find space in the box and then a right-footed finish drilled past Donnarumma into the bottom corner. Çalha had two chances from distance in the following minutes, but it was the same old story as Milan couldn’t find a goal. Higuain and Dybala both came close to a second for the hosts in the closing minutes.
JUVENTUS 1-0 AC MILAN
JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, de Ligt, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi (70' Rabiot); Bernardeschi (61' Douglas Costa); Higuain, Ronaldo (55' Dybala). Subs: Buffon, Pinsoglio; Danilo, Demiral, De Sciglio, Rugani; Emre Can, Khedira, Ramsey. Coach: Sarri.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Donnarumma G.; Conti, Duarte, Romagnoli, Hernández; Paquetá (85' Rebić), Bennacer, Krunić (61' Bonaventura); Suso, Piątek (66' Leão), Çalhanoğlu. Subs: Donnarumma A., Reina; Calabria, Caldara, Gabbia, Rodríguez; Biglia. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Maresca from Napoli.
Goals: 77' Dybala (J).
Booked: 40' Krunić (M), 45' Bennacer (M), 56' Cuadrado (J), 89' Hernández (M), 91' Suso (M), 91' Çalhanoğlu (M).
