Juventus drew level on points with Serie A leaders Napoli after a hard-fought 1-0 win over a 10-man Lazio side in Turin on Saturday. Meanwhile, AC Milan showed resilience, securing a 1-0 victory against Udinese despite playing for over an hour with a man down.
Mario Gila’s own goal five minutes from time gave Juventus the breakthrough, dealing a crushing blow to Lazio, who had fought valiantly after losing Alessio Romagnoli to a straight red card in the 24th minute.
Juventus manager Thiago Motta’s side looked poised to dominate following Romagnoli’s dismissal for a foul on Pierre Kalulu, who was through on goal. However, the Bianconeri struggled to break down Lazio’s resilient defence and only secured victory when Gila inadvertently diverted Juan Cabal’s low cross into his own net.
Despite their defeat, Lazio, who remain in fifth place, were left frustrated by the officials. They claimed Douglas Luiz should have been sent off for a punch on Patric, which VAR officials did not penalise.
Although Juventus are level on points with Napoli and boast a superior goal difference, they remain behind Antonio Conte’s side, having played an extra match. Napoli can reclaim sole possession of top spot with a win against Empoli in Sunday’s early kick-off, while champions Inter Milan, tied with local rivals AC Milan, face Roma later in the day.
Meanwhile, AC Milan claimed a gritty 1-0 win over Udinese, with Samuel Chukwueze’s 13th-minute goal proving decisive. The seven-time European champions had to dig deep after Tijjani Reijnders was sent off in the 29th minute for a foul on Sandi Lovric, who was denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
“It was two matches in one. The first one finished after half an hour, 30 minutes of character and quality — the kind of play I want,” said Milan’s manager Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese manager, under scrutiny over disciplinary issues, notably left star player Rafael Leao on the bench, while Theo Hernandez served a suspension.
Milan thought they had conceded late when Christian Kabasele bundled the ball home in stoppage time, but a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal out for offside, sparking relief and celebration among the San Siro crowd.
Despite the victory, the atmosphere at the San Siro was subdued as Milan’s “ultras” maintained a protest against what they perceive as unfair treatment from law enforcement and the Italian media. Key figures from both Milan and Inter’s hardcore supporter groups were recently arrested, facing charges ranging from criminal conspiracy to extortion.
This week, Milan’s ultras denied any involvement in illegal activities, including ticket touting and control over stadium concessions. Authorities also banned their large “Curva Sud Milano” banner from the section, prompting fans around the stadium to leave their flags and banners at home. Supporters in the Curva Sud instead displayed a message of solidarity with those arrested, reading, “Stay strong boys.”