Sergio Conceicao’s AC Milan flopped on the brand new coach’s San Siro debut after the seven-time European champions might solely draw 1-1 with struggling Cagliari in Serie A on Saturday, whereas Juventus’s spiky derby with Torino ended 1-1.
Portuguese Conceicao instantly bought followers onside by beating Inter Milan in an exciting Italian Tremendous Cup ultimate in Saudi Arabia, however the pre-match cheers on the trophy quickly become extra acquainted boos and groans for an insipid show.
An uncommon error from Mike Maignan gave Cagliari a degree, the France goalkeeper permitting Nadir Zortea’s weak, speculative shot to flee his grasp 9 minutes after half-time.
Zortea’s delicate leveller sucked away all the keenness generated moments earlier than when Alvaro Morata bundled house after Christian Pulisic was denied by Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile and the bottom of the put up.
Milan keep eighth and eight factors behind fourth-placed Lazio who sit within the ultimate Champions League spot, though Conceicao’s crew play one in all their two video games in hand at Como on Tuesday.
The hosts have been as poor as they typically have been below Conceicao’s sacked predecessor Paulo Fonseca however would have come away with the factors had it not been for slack ending and glorious goalkeeping from Caprile who stopped Pulisic and Tammy Abraham netting when clear via on aim.
– ‘Be extra aggressive’ –
Nikola Vlasic earned a degree for Torino, who have not crushed their native rivals for a decade, with an outstanding strike which crashed in off the put up in stoppage time on the finish of a primary half that began with Juve going forward via Kenan Yildiz within the eighth minute.
Thiago Motta’s crew stay unbeaten in Italy’s high flight this season, however Saturday’s draw was their twelfth of the league marketing campaign and left them three factors away from the Champions League positions.
Fifth-placed Juve have now drawn six of their final seven Serie A matches and have key clashes with Atalanta and Milan developing subsequent week.
“As soon as we went forward we sat again and so they created harmful conditions simply by chucking the ball into our space,” stated Motta to DAZN.
“We should be extra aggressive, we did not do sufficient with our attacking strikes to win the match.”
A frantic night on the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino completed with coaches Motta and Paolo Vanoli each being despatched off following a pitchside scuffle 10 minutes after the break.
Motta, who responded to Vanoli exploding with rage at what he thought was a red-card worthy foul on Yann Karamoh, will probably be suspended for Juve’s sport in hand at title contenders Atalanta on Tuesday night.
– Atalanta underwhelm –
Atalanta would have moved above league leaders Napoli, who host Verona on Sunday, on aim distinction with a win at Udinese however have been held to a goalless draw after a sub-par show.
The stalemate means Inter Milan can take second place from Atalanta if the reigning champions win at Venezia on Sunday afternoon as a three-way title race hots up.
Atalanta, gunning for his or her first ever Serie A title, created little or no in Udine and have been fortunate to not be crushed by the spirited hosts, who ought to have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Alexis Sanchez hit the woodwork twice inside a matter of moments proper earlier than the break, first with a header earlier than smashing the rebound towards the bar.
“They have been higher than us, extra intense than us. We struggled the entire first half and have been fortunate,” stated Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini to DAZN.
Nikola Krstovic boosted Lecce’s survival hopes with a brace in a 3-1 win at Empoli which moved Marco Giampaolo’s crew two factors above the relegation zone.
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