January 24, (THEWILL) – Juventus hurt AC Milan’s Scudetto hopes by holding Stefano Pioli’s team to a goalless draw at the San Siro in a game with unused chances. The game’s pattern was obvious from the start, with Juve willing to lose ground in order to create space behind Milan.
After skipping inside Theo Hernandez, Juan Cuadrado pulled his left-footed effort wide of the post before 11 minutes, almost vindicating Massimiliano Allegri’s strategy.
Milan carved out a chance of their own seven minutes later. Rafael Leao linked up with Junior Messias and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the edge of the box, but Wojciech Szczęsny was up to the task.
Davide Calabria then caused Szczesny concern with a couple of long-range efforts that both flew inches wide of the upright.
On the half-hour mark, Olivier Giroud, who had replaced the injured Ibrahimovic, could have done better from Messias’ cut-back. In the penalty area, the Frenchman did well to go past Daniele Rugani, but he was unable to connect with the ball.
Just five minutes after the break, Juventus created their greatest chance of the game. Alvaro Morata received an accurate cross from Mattia De Sciglio, but his header was feeble and went wide of the post.
Milan then manufactured their own cross, which was met by Giroud’s head, but the forward bizarrely blasted his header back across goal with just Szczesny to beat.
On the hour mark, Theo Hernandez, who had been unusually quiet as an attacking force, pushed forward with purpose, but his effort was comfortably gathered by the Juventus number 1 as had been the story of his side’s evening.
With 20 minutes remaining, Szczesny was called into action again by a Giroud header, but the Frenchman was unable to get enough weight on his effort, and it was easily saved.
As the game dwindled to its conclusion, Weston McKennie came close with a header five minutes from time.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
