JUVENTUS 0-0 MILAN
3/12/2006 11:17:00 AM
Milan’s top-of-the-table clash at Juventus ended in a goalless draw, with the Rossoneri reduced to ten men after Rino Gattuso’s second-half sending off. Coach Carlo Ancelotti only had to make one change to the side that defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League, with Gattuso returning in place of Johann Vogel.
Filippo Inzaghi once again partnered Andriy Shevchenko in attack while full-backs Jaap Stam and Serginho overcame slight calf problems.
On a bitterly cold evening in Turin, there were chances for both sides early on as Shevchenko led a quick counter-attack only to drag his left-footed shot wide of the target while at the other end Nelson Dida had to come out quickly to gather ahead of the advancing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Stam was finding space down the right flank and his low cross caused panic in the home area but Jonathan Zebina was on hand to clear. Dida made another good block on 11 minutes as Patrick Vieira found space to send a close-range header goalwards. Stam’s positive start was curtailed on 14 minutes when the Dutchman limped off to be replaced by Alessandro Costacurta following a late challenge on Giorgio Chiellini which earned him a yellow card. Serginho began to make his presence felt down the left flank and a run and pull-back from the by-line almost produced a goal but Shevchenko’s goalbound shot accidentally hit Inzaghi. Milan continued to press Juve back and Inzaghi almost got on the end of a lofted ball over the defence but Gigi Buffon rushed to dive at the frontman’s feet. The pitch played a part in Inzaghi failing to convert an excellent chance on 38 minutes as the striker slipped just as he was about to fire a drive goalwards following Kakà’s low cross, which evaded the diving Buffon.
Both defences pushed up in the early stages of the second half and space was at a premium. Inzaghi almost escaped through the middle but Fabio Cannavaro got back to cover. There were a number of half-chances as Dida got down to smother Pavel Nedved’s curling effort and then watched as an Alessandro Del Piero header went harmlessly past the post. Inzaghi continued to look the most likely to break the deadlock but was thwarted once again on a one-on-one by the diving Buffon. Milan then had penalty appeals turned away when Alessandro Nesta’s shot cannoned against Emerson’s arm. Ancelotti brought on Alberto Gilardino but almost immediately saw Gattuso receive a second yellow card for a late challenge on Nedved. Ten-man Milan were forced into more defensive mode after that but were not put under any great pressure from a home side seemingly content to play for a draw. The Rossoneri continued to look more threatening and Massimo Ambrosini was introduced for Seedorf on 80 minutes although the game became more and more disjointed due in part to a series of niggling fouls.
JUVENTUS 0-0 MILAN
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Thuram, Cannavaro, Chiellini; Mutu, Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Ibrahimovic (Del Piero 46), Trezeguet
Milan: Dida; Stam (Costacurta 14), Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (Ambrosini 79); Kaka; Shevchenko, Inzaghi (Gilardino 67)
Ref: De Santis