AC Milan’s 27-game unbeaten run in Serie A ended Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Juventus that provides the defending champion renewed hope of a tenth straight title.
Federico Chiesa scored twice for Juventus with American Weston McKennie including the third objective as Milan misplaced within the league for the primary time since March, a streak courting again to final season.
“The lads are disappointed but in a way it is good for us to experience the bitter taste of defeat, because it’s been a while,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli mentioned. “I gave them a pat on the back, because when you give your all there shouldn’t be any regrets.”
Davide Calabria had equalized shortly earlier than halftime for Milan, which had been the final unbeaten crew in any of Europe’s high 5 leagues.
Milan nonetheless maintained its league lead, some extent above metropolis rival Inter Milan, which misplaced 2-1 at Sampdoria. Juventus moved into fourth, seven factors behind Milan with a recreation in hand. A loss for Juventus would have stretched Milan’s result in 13 factors and left the Turin membership’s nine-year stranglehold on the title hanging by a thread.
“It was important to win tonight for ourselves,” mentioned Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo, who performed for Milan for 10 seasons. “We didn’t have a look at the outcomes of the others, we take it recreation by recreation after which we’ll see the place we’re in a number of months.
“We had a good game, it was important to play with this spirit, control the game and try to win.”
Both Milan and Juventus had gamers dominated out with the coronavirus whereas the house facet was additionally lacking a number of by harm, together with key ahead Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Seven players out is a lot for anyone,” Pioli mentioned. “We knew that if there was a team that we could find ourselves in difficulty against, it was Juve. It’s a team that has won nine straight titles, has great players and we held our own.”
Chiesa hit the put up earlier than opening the scoring within the 18th minute, stroking Paulo Dybala’s backheeled flick into the underside left nook following a swift one-two with the Argentine.
Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was pressured into quite a lot of saves earlier than Milan leveled 4 minutes earlier than the break with a speedy counterattack that ended with Rafael Leão rolling the ball throughout for Calabria to position into the highest proper nook.
Chiesa restored Juve’s lead within the 62nd minute however went off seconds later with an harm. His alternative, McKennie, scored within the 76th from shut vary after good work from Dejan Kulusevski down the proper flank.
STREAK ENDED
Both of Sampdoria’s targets had been scored by former Inter gamers to finish Inter’s eight-match successful streak.
Antonio Candreva put Sampdoria forward with a penalty earlier than Keita Baldé Diao completed off a well-worked counterattack earlier than the break.
Stefan de Vrij pulled one again for Inter with a header within the sixty fifth however the guests’ sorely lacked a totally match Romelu Lukaku, who got here on just for the ultimate half hour as he returns from harm.
Alexis Sanchez had a penalty saved early on by Sampdoria goalkeeper Emil Audero, after which Ashley Young knocked the rebound off the put up.
Third-place Roma moved inside three factors of Inter with a 3-1 win at last-place Crotone earlier than internet hosting the Nerazzurri on Sunday.
Inter’s solely different league loss this season got here in mid-October, when it was defeated 2-1 within the Milan derby.
OTHER MATCHES
Sassuolo beat relegation-threatened Genoa 2-1 with a late header from Gianluca Raspadori to maneuver into fourth, holding on to the ultimate Champions League spot.
Atalanta remained one level additional again after defeating Parma 3-0 with targets from Luis Muriel, Duvan Zapata and Robin Gosens to maneuver degree on factors with Napoli, which misplaced 2-1 at house to promoted Spezia.
Spezia fought again from a objective down and Tommaso Pobega scored the winner regardless of his facet having been diminished to 10 males following a second yellow card for defender Ardian Ismajli.
Also, Lazio defeated Fiorentina 2-1 with targets from Felipe Caicedo and Ciro Immobile.
Hellas Verona drew 1-1 at Torino; Filippo Inzaghi’s promoted Benevento squad gained 2-1 at Cagliari; and Bologna drew 2-2 with Udinese.
