AC Milan’s top four hopes were dealt a huge blow on Saturday evening as they lost a six-pointer against Juventus 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium.
After a first half in which the two teams traded big chances, everything fell apart for Milan in a second half where they were never really at the races. It started when Samuel Mbangula’s shot deflected in off the bar, giving Juve a deserved lead.
Not too long after that they struck again through the substitute Tim Weah on the counter-attack, who got the better of Fikayo Tomori and Mike Maignan to double the advantage, which was all they needed.
The result means that the Rossoneri have tasted defeat for the first time under their new coach, and now sit six points behind Juve who are in fourth, albeit with a game in hand to play against Bologna away.
Sergio Conceicao made three changes to the side that beat Como in midweek, with Matteo Gabbia replacing the injured Malick Thiaw, Yunus Musah in for the injured Christian Pulisic, and Tammy Abraham leading the line with Alvaro Morata suspended.
Milan generated the first moment of danger inside two minutes with a rapid counter-attack from a cleared cross. Abraham did well to start it with some good hold-up play, then Tijjani Reijnders slipped through Rafael Leao whose attempted dink from close range was saved by Di Gregorio.
In what was a frantic opening to the game – at least compared to the dire 0-0 draw in November – Mbangula tried his luck with a curling shot in off the left with his right foot that looped onto the roof of the net.
Conceicao’s side continued to be quick and direct with their attacking play, and opened Juve up with a brilliant through pass from Reijnders that found Musah in behind. His cut-back landed at the feet of Leao, and only a brilliant block from Kalulu stopped an effort that was goal-bound.
Milan played themselves into trouble in the left-back position gifting possession to Koopmeiner, who rocketed a stinging shot just above the top corner.
The Rossoneri caused confusion for Juve with a well-executed corner that was straight off the training ground in the 19th minute. Theo’s delivery was aimed low at Reijnders who peeled off to the penalty spot and his first-time shot deflected just wide off Fikayo Tomori.
There was a moment of utter chaos inside the Juve box not long before the half-hour mark. Theo Hernandez galloped into the box and squared to Leao, whose low drive was blocked by Di Gregorio, then Theo had a shot blocked. After a ricochet, Gonzalez led a break for the home side that ended with the forward being crowded out when it looked like he would storm through.
Milan had two penalty shouts rejected, firstly with Reijnders having been cleaned out in the aforementioned incident and then when Gatti appeared to take out Theo inside the box with slide. Neither were even looked at.
Maignan was called into action for the first time when a ball from Cambiaso reached Yildiz on the far side of the box. The Turk shot centrally but the Frenchman parried behind, having been shuffling across to cover the goal.
After what was a slow start to the second half, Maignan stepped up with an incredible double save. Firstly the substitute Weah found space to shoot down the right side from a narrow angle and he stopped it with his midriff, then Theo was robbed of possession after claiming the rebound and Koopmeiners was then denied by the Frenchman.
In truth the home side really took the ascendancy in the early stages of the second half, with Milan unable to string passes together. The aggression of Juve’s counter-press caused huge issues and they gained heavy territorial dominance.
Just before the hour mark, Juventus took the lead and it had been coming, though it was thanks to a stroke of fortune. Thuram spread the ball wide to Mbangula on the left who fired a shot that deflected off Emerson Royal’s boot and in off the crossbar via the parry of Maignan, who had been wrong-footed a bit.
In the 63rd minute the first change came from Conceicao, who cannot have been happy with what he was seeing. Ismael Bennacer was the man who made way, replaced by Alex Jimenez in what seemed to mark a switch to a 4-3-3.
The change did not make a difference as Milan were instantly opened up and the Bianconeri made it 2-0. It was a simple through ball to Weah who got one-on-one with Tomori, biding his time then cutting onto his left foot and lashing a shot past a helpless Maignan.
The game settled into a rather predictable pattern from there of Juve defending their two-goal lead and Milan trying to get back into it. A chance came with just over 15 minutes left as Emerson came off (on a booking) for Francesco Camarda, marking a switch to two strikers.
When Milan were given a free-kick right on the edge of the box for a foul on Musah, there were flashbacks to the Supercoppa comeback against Inter. However, this time Theo’s shot was off target despite getting past the wall.
With 10 minutes to go Conceicao threw Luka Jovic and Filippo Terracciano into the fold hoping for a late miracle, but it wasn’t forthcoming as he suffered his first defeat as head coach. Camarda’s glancing header from Jovic’s cross was as close as Milan would come.
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