Juventus are one step closer to retaining the Serie A title after a 1-0 win over AC Milan at the Juventus Stadium brought them to within four points of the trophy.
In a tight game between the Italian giants, Arturo Vidal’s 57th minute penalty was rifled into the top corner to give Massimo Allegri’s side all three points.
Milan’s loss opens up the door for Fiorentina to close the ground in the race for third place and UEFA Champions League football next season.
Despite scoring 19 goals this season, Stephan El Shaarawy has been suffering from a goal drought in the second half of the term, but could have broken in and given Milan the lead inside two minutes. Unfortunately for the Italian winger, Gianluigi Buffon made a comfortable save to keep out his curling effort.
Andrea Pirlo is a man who has made the switch across the divide between these two clubs, but he nearly put Juventus in front after just seven minutes. His free-kick prowess is well-known, but this time, his dead-ball took a huge deflection off of the wall and wrong-footed Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal. The ball was headed in until the goalkeeper superbly recovered to make a good diving save.
Abbiati had to come off through injury which gave Marco Amelia a chance to prove his worth between the goalposts for Milan. However, it was the away side who created the only other good chance in the first half. Ignazio Abate’s low cross found Robinho at the near post, but the Brazil international failed to turn it past Buffon from a tight angle.
After half-time, Juventus came out in a determined fashion and created two good chances in the opening three minutes of the second half. From Pirlo’s corner, Giorgio Chiellini beat Phillipe Mexes but the Italian defender failed to turn his header on target from six yards.
Just after, Claudio Marchisio fired a low drive towards goal from 30 yards, but Amelia made a good save to keep it out. Unfortunately for the substitute goalkeeper, it would be his mistake that gifted the reigning Serie A champions the lead in the 57th minute.
Kwadwo Asamoah outpaced Abate into the penalty area and beat Amelia to the ball before he buckled under the goalkeeper’s clumsy challenge. The referee rightfully gave the penalty, but the question must be asked whether Amelia should have come out for the challenge considering Asamoah wasn’t heading into a dangerous position.
Vidal stepped up to confidently fire the spot kick into the top corner and the Juventus Stadium roared into celebration. It was Vidal’s second successful penalty in as many games after his goal against Lazio on Monday.
Juventus dropped back for the rest of the game and resorted to a very defensive approach. This frustrated Milan who failed to create a chance and find a way back into the game. The runaway leaders will now be targeting their home game against Palermo as the day they win the league.
Match Report by Kyle Dixon (@kyledixon95)
RK Football Talk 