STALEMATE IN TURIN
Serie A
It ended 0-0 between Juventus and AC Milan on Serie A matchday 34. A point apiece kept the distance between the two sides at five points in the race for second place with four games to go. It was a game largely devoid of action in Turin, especially in the first half. A more intense second half brought out a brilliant defensive performance from AC Milan's new-look back line, especially from centre-backs Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw, and Marco Sportiello in goal who made several big saves.
While the defenders performed admirably - a first away clean sheet in the league since Lazio - the forwards played with plenty of generosity (most notably captain on the day, Leão) but weren't clinical enough in the final third. So, our month of April has finished with a draw and we move into May. The final month of the season begins with two home games, the first is on Sunday 5th when the Rossoneri host Alberto Gilardino's Genoa.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM JUVENTUS v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Due to a muscle issue in the warm-up for Maignan, the Rossoneri were forced to start with Sportiello, who kept out Vlahović's left-footed effort in the 7th minute. Very little happened in the opening 20 minutes, with both teams having moments of possession but without hurting their opponents. After a low left-footed shot from Cambiaso after 22 minutes, AC Milan came to life and threatened Szczęsny's goal with a Leão shot from distance on 25 minutes and a good forward drive by Musah two minutes later. Gabbia also had a chance with a header from a corner in the 29th minute, as did Florenzi, whose right-footed shot from just outside the box went well over in the 32nd minute. The clearest opportunity of the first half came in injury time, when Sportiello did well to parry away Vlahović's vicious free-kick.
The start of the second half had more intensity. In the 48th minute, Musah counterattacked and missed the opportunity to send a through ball to Giroud, before Sportiello made a superb double save from Kostić and Danilo’s shots. Two chances came for us in the 60th minute with efforts from Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek, but they were blocked by the Juventus defence; the Englishman tried his luck again in the 65th minute, but his right-footed shot from 20 yards out was just off-target. Sportiello was again decisive in the 73rd minute, with a save low down from Milik's header; and in the 79th minute, Leão cut inside into the box, but his shot was deflected behind by the Juventus rearguard. The changes - including minutes for the young duo Bartesaghi and Zeroli - did not have any effect on the game. In the 86th minute, Thiaw brilliantly stopped Rabiot's shot on the line, while Miretti's right-footed shot deep into stoppage-time went over. It ended 0-0.
MATCH DETAILS
JUVENTUS 0-0 AC MILAN
JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Weah (71' McKennie), Cambiaso, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostić (63' Chiesa); Vlahović (62' Milik), Yıldız (81' Miretti). Subs: Perin, Pinsoglio; Alex Sandro, Djaló, Rugani; Alcaraz, Nicolussi Caviglia; Iling-Junior, Kean. Coach: Allegri.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Sportiello; Musah (82' Bartesaghi), Gabbia, Thiaw, Florenzi; Adli (63' Bennacer), Reijnders; Pulisic (83' Chukwueze), Loftus-Cheek (82' Zeroli), Leão; Giroud (71' Okafor). Subs: Maignan, Nava; Caldara, Simić, Terracciano. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Mariani from Aprilia.
Booked: 45'+1 Musah (M).
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