Hello and welcome to Sportstar's coverage of the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus on Thursday.
FT: MIL 1-3 JUV
Pirlo's men have stunned the Rossoneri and the defending champion has made its way back into the spotlight. Can the Old Lady script a memorable comeback and continue its momentum? We will follow the story as it unfolds. Thank you, folks for tuning in.
3:10 am: In a night where the odds were briefly against it, Juventus has risen to the occasion to snatch a win. The AC Milan juggernaut has been stopped by a thorough show from Pirlo's men who for most of the 90 minutes looked without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo who had a below-par outing. Dybala and Chiesa provided the guns up-front with the latter's heroics on two occasions providing Juventus the platform to attack.
The second-half completely belonged to Juventus and with overwhelming subs up its sleeve, Juve took apart a wobbly Milan who seemed to be a pale reflection of its self. Juventus, with this win, has opened up the Serie A title contention as it moves to fourth with 30 points and a game in hand. The title race has spiced up.
The full-time whistles blow!
One final minute....The Rossoneri have finally been conquered.
90+2' Maldini tries a solo run through the Juve defence while Dias was clear of all of them. Maldini wobbles and gives the ball away.
FIVE MINUTES of added time.
89' A tired shot from Hernandes, comfortably defended by the Juve defence.
SUBSTITUTION (Juve): Frabotta is replaced by Demiral
85' It has been a relentless show from Juve in the whole of the second-half and the last 15 minutes, not allowing Milan a hint of chance to make their way back.
83' Ronaldo is frustrated at not receiving the cross from Kulusevski there. Donnarumma intervenes before Ronaldo could think of unleashing an attack.
75' GOAAAL, McKennie! Kulusevski dribbles through the right wing and sways and confuses the Milan defenses and provides the pass to McKennie who smashes it to the net this time! Is the game wrapped up just here!?
73' SUBSTITUTION: Bentancur and Ramsey are replaced by Bernadeschi and Arthur.
71' FREE KICK for Milan! That looked like a clear interception by De Ligt but the referee signals against Juve.
70' What a pass from CR7! Milan's dangerous corner is blocked by the Juve defence who forces the ball forward. Ronaldo paces through the wing and sizzles a stunning chip to McKennie who smashes it to Donnarumma who flinches but keeps it away.
67' Some fine runs from the sub Kulusevski to trouble the Milan defence but he fails to find a man for his ball at the far end.
63' SUBSTITUTION: 2-goal star Chiesa and Dybala are replaces by Kulusevski and Mckennie. Well, this is a strange move.
61' CHIESA, GOOOOALLL! Simply stunning! Dybala from the centre forces a long pass to Chiesa on the right who flips past his marker and snap! A shot to the far right of Donnarumma.
Neither team giving an inch away. Aggressive developments at either end.
54' FREE KICK FOR JUVENTUS. Ronaldo steps up to take it, in fact leaves it for Dybala who smashes it to the Milan defence. De Ligt forces a cross to Ramsey off the deflection and Ramsey smashes just wide of the net.
46' Nervy moments early up for Juventus. Diego Dalot attempts a strong shot from the final-third and Szczesny barely manages to keep it within his limits.
SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY....
The Juve players and coach Andrea Pirlo were seen rallying around the referee after his decision led to a goal against the visitor. Calhagnolu's tackle on Rabiot was just as clear as any unwanted challenge out there. But Milan made the most of the dramatic moment to cash in a goal to level just in time for the first-half finish.
HALF-TIME
The whistles blow. No minutes added at half-time as Milan and Juventus are locked at 1-1.
40' GOOOAL! Calhagnolu has brought Rabiot down near the Milan box but the referee plays on, Leao makes a cross from the left flank and Calabria is there to smash it in. Juventus players are fuming over the referee's decision. It is indeed a controversial decision by the ref.
40' Juve keeping the hold over possession. Milan has lost the aggressive self it carried 20 minutes ago.
37' Ronaldo has been subdued by the Milan defence. The Juve talisman has failed to make an impact so far.
33' SHOT! Calhagnolu tries a powerful shot towards the post but Szcezsny gobbles it comfortably. Calhagnolu again. And again. Szcezsny is forced to make a full leap as the ball deflects the Milan midfielder who attempts again but the Juve goalkeeper grabs it safely with soft hands.
30' A slew of strong chances at either end. Milan's two strong chances are blocked by Szczesny.
23' Ronaldo, chance. He tries a shot from the box, his first of the day but is blocked by the Milan defence.
18' And there we are!!! GOOOOALLL, Chiesa! What a finish and what an assist from Paolo Dyabala! Dybala who is caught amidst three Milan defenders, flips it back to Chiesa who runs through the box and across and smashes it to the right of Donnarumma.
17' CHANCE, JUVE! This is a remarkable turnaround at the least. Juventus have finally come to the party by creating more chances.
Juventus forcing the attack now
15' CHIEESAAA! Oh dear, he has hit the post! Out from 25 yards, he manages to curl it but inches wide of entering as it rattles the woodwork.
14' Ronaldo tries his slew of tricks while moving through the left flank. He is out of options while entering the box and gives it away.
12' Milan steps up on the attack. Another developing attack with a cross from Hernandez. Bonucci however, manages to provide the clearance.
11' A second challenge from Theo Hernandez on Chiesa. Lucky to have survived without being booked.
9' Kessie's excellent tackle prevents a clear chance for Dybala to unleash a shot.
7' CHANCE, NEARLY! A sloppy show from Bentancur who forces the ball to Castillejo. He smashes a powerful shot but Szczesny barely manages to evade danger. Scary start for Juventus.
6' Corner for Milan. And a good chance for Calabria. Smashes it to the post but Frabotta stops the danger.
5' It has been a strong start from either side with aggression. A depleted Milan is no less a challenge for Juve.
4' Foul on Chiesa. A rough tackle on the Juve midfielder.
3' CHANCE at the other end! Leao swivels through the box and tries shot to the far end of Szczesny.
2' CHANCE! Frabotta brings the ball through the left flank easily and passes to Dybala who fails to fuel power into his shot. Donnarumma holds on easily.
1' A slow start to the game, Juventus tires to ball to the move forward.
KICKOFF - Match underway
01:14 am - The players are out on the pitch.
We are nearly there. A crucial game for the Old Lady beckons. Five minutes away from action!
01:03 am - 14 of 29 Juventus goals this season has come from Cristiano Ronaldo. An astounding 48.3 per cent! Phenomenal.
01:00 am - 15 minutes away from action! Amid all the concerns of COVID-19 cases in the Milan dugout, the match has finally been able to go as per schedule.
12:50 am - Stefano Pioli's men would be happy to settle for anything but a loss. With most of its big names out, Milan will be on the backfoot and Juventus arrives at perhaps the right time to make amends to it Serie A title race.
12:40 am - Half an hour away from action. Can Ronaldo lift Juventus' Serie A hopes with a stellar show tonight? Remember, he is two away from a historical figure. With a brace tonight, CR7 will go past Joseph Bican's epoch-making official 759 goals to become the greatest goal-scorer in footballing history.
12:15 am -The lineups are out!
AC Milan - Donnaruma, Dalot, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez, Calabria, Kessie, Castillejo, Calhanoglu, Hauge, Leao
Juventus - Szczesny, Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Frabotta, Chiesa, Bentancur, Rabiot, Ramsey, Dybala, Ronaldo
12:10 am - Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 64% of his goals away from home in Serie A this season (9/14) - the highest percentage among all players in the top five European leagues. Meanwhile, Paulo Dybala has scored seven goals in 11 Serie A games against AC Milan.
12:08 am - Rafael Leao became the second youngest foreign player to score 10 goals for AC Milan in Serie A against Benevento. The Portuguese star has scored four goals and provided three assists in 11 matches this season.
12:02 am - AC Milan has scored scored 2 or more goals in each of its last 17 Serie A matches . Only Bayern Munich (20 in 2014), Barcelona (18 in 2013 and 2006, and 19 in 1948) and Manchester United (22 in 1959) have a better run. Sensational! Juventus will be having a tough night at San Siro.
11:50 pm - Juventus (14) and AC Milan (16) have respectively conceded the second and third least goals in the league this season.
11:45 pm - The numbers
Recent Head to Head (last five matches)
AC Milan 4-2 Juventus
Juventus 0-0 AC Milan
AC Milan 1-1 Juventus
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
Juventus 2-1 AC Milan
Juve has had the wood over Milan in their recent meetings. Milan, however, will be eyeing its first successive wins over Juventus since 2010.
AC Milan Serie A form: WDDWWW
AC Milan form (all competitions): WDDWWW
Juventus Serie A form: WWDWLD
Juventus form (all competitions): WWDWLD
MATCH PREVIEW
It has been a season of stark yet intriguing contrasts for the Italian giants, AC Milan and defending champion, Juventus. Two of Europe's most successful sides so far this season -Milan yet to suffer a defeat and Juventus tasting a bitter result in the league only once - find themselves place at number first and seventh respectively on the Serie A table.
Andrea Pirlo's Juventus have an uphill task up its sleeve if it has to retain its Serie A title and extend the record-breaking run of nine years. AC Milan, on the other hand, will be aiming to extend its three-match winning streak and will be high on confidence with a 15-match unbeaten streak to its name.
The Rossoneri have shown that its attack is not only about the veteran superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Stefano Pioli's side has achieved the desired results even in the absence of the Swede.
Milan will be without the services of Ibrahimovic, Ismael Bennacer, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers and lost Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic to a positive COVID-19 test late on Wednesday.
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Juventus too has been hit the virus as Cuadrado and Alex Sandro will miss out on action while an injured Alvaro Morata will also be unavailable for Pirlo on Thursday night.
However, a Ronaldo-led Juve attack will be aiming to reignite its Scudetto dreams tonight for a negative result tonight, will dampend their hopes of making up for lost points.
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