HONOURS EVEN AT SAN SIRO
Serie A
A draw that we cannot be unhappy about but nor can we be fully satisfied with. That is because the top spot in the championship table is now further away just before the break (Inter are now four points ahead with an additional game in hand) and ahead of the Derby. Neither AC Milan nor Juve were able to deliver a fateful blow to one another at San Siro and so, they were forced to share the spoils: 0-0 and a point for each team. The Rossoneri's performance was good, but it wasn't enough to beat an alert and defensively solid opponent. Pioli's side showed more offensive intent than the Bianconeri but lacked many good chances.
It was in any case a big match after the slip up at home to Spezia, the fixture was evenly balanced and the draw means the Diavolo will remain in second place in the standings - from tonight level with Napoli on 49 points - and to keep the same distance from Atalanta and Juventus (+7, that is seven points inside the Champions League spots). After matchday 23 of Serie A, there will be another break for the internationals, at the resumption - on the weekend of 5-6 February (date and time to be confirmed) - Inter v AC Milan take place. On we go but with some regret.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v JUVENTUS
MATCH REPORT
Romagnoli, Calabria and Tonali all returned to the starting XI. The game kicks off and so the battle begins. The first bit of excitement came when Leão sent a shot over the bar but the first real chance came for Cuadrado when he skipped past Romagnoli in the 12th minute and fired a left-footed shot that went just past the far post. From a similar position, Rafa was dangerous again in the 20th minute when he shot from the edge of the box and forced a save out of Szczęsny. After Dybala's curled strike in the 24th minute, Ibrahimović was forced off the pitch with a tendon problem (Giroud took his place). At the half-hour mark, Calabria's two strikes from distance both fizzed just past the woodwork. Goals were a long time coming, with Chiellini's block off Hernández's strike in the 34th minute and Locatelli's effort going wide in the 36th minute. Half time.
The game restarted and just as in the first half it was an open and hard-fought game but both teams failed to ever really get going. The teams locked horns: in the 51st minute, Morata's touch looking to guide the ball into the net whilst on the move was inaccurate; in the 57th minute, Giroud's sought to head the ball back into the middle of the area searching for a non-existent teammate when in reality he should have gone for goal. AC Milan tried to break Juve down but the Bianconeri stood firm. On the hour mark, Szczęsny denied Hernández after a great run and did well to save Giroud's header. Then the substitutions came on: Bennacer and Saelemaekers, then Rebić and Florenzi. In the final minutes, arguably the only thing of note to mention was McKennie's shot, which failed to find the back of the net. Full time.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 0-0 JUVENTUS
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (76' Florenzi), Kalulu, Romagnoli, Hernández; Tonali, Krunić (61' Bennacer); Messias (61' Saelemaekers), Díaz, Leão (76' Rebić); Ibrahimović (28' Giroud). Subs: Mirante, Tătărușanu; Gabbia, Stanga; Bakayoko; Maldini. Coach: Pioli.
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Szczęsny; De Sciglio, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado (65' Bernardeschi), Locatelli (65' Arthur), Bentancur (90' Rabiot), McKennie; Dybala (90' Kulusevski), Morata (74' Kean). A disp.: Perin, Pinsoglio; Danilo, de Ligt, Pellegrini; Aké, Kaio Jorge. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Di Bello from Brindisi.
Booked: 9' Locatelli (J), 12' Leão (M), 43' Messias (M), 89' Kean (J).
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