MILAN: AC Milan let slip a two-goal lead for the second time in three league matches and also lost key player Rafael Leão to injury in a drama-filled 2-2 draw at Lecce in Serie A on Saturday.
Milan appeared to be heading for their first league win in more than a month following goals from Olivier Giroud and Tijjani Reijnders but Lecce drew level in the second half with two goals in four minutes from Nicola Sansone and Lameck Banda.
Lecce had what would have been a stoppage-time winner ruled out by the video assistant referee, moments after Milan forward Giroud was sent off.
Milan remained third but will be overtaken by Napoli if the defending champion beat Empoli on Sunday.
Juventus moved a point clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win over Cagliari. Inter Milan can retake the lead when they host Frosinone on Sunday.
Juventus host Inter after the international break.
Milan were hoping to get back on track in Serie A after ending a winless run with a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Rossoneri were already without a number of players, including United States standout Christian Pulisic, and their injury crisis deepened when Leão limped off in the 10th minute.
His replacement Noah Okafor had a hand in the opening goal in the 28th minute as he played a one-two with Theo Hernández, who then cut into the box and crossed for Giroud to chest in from point-blank range, marking his 100th appearance for Milan with a goal.
Milan doubled their lead seven minutes later with a superb solo goal from Reijnders, who raced downfield from near the halfway line before firing past Wladimiro Falcone for his first goal for Milan since joining from AZ Alkmaar in the offseason.
Reijnders almost did the same three minutes later but hit the right post.
Milan had let a two-goal, halftime lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Napoli at the end of October and the same was to happen at Lecce.
Lecce coach Roberto D’Aversa made a triple change in the 63rd minute, bringing on Alexis Blin, Sansone and Roberto Piccoli and that proved a masterstroke.
Blin nodded on a corner three minutes later for Sansone to tap in and the latter was also involved in the equalizer as he touched on Piccoli’s cross for Banda to fire into the far bottom corner.
Sansone almost scored the winner five minutes from time, but his header came off the left post and then rolled across the face of the empty goal.
There was more drama to come as Giroud was sent off in stoppage time, receiving two yellow cards in a matter of seconds for continuous dissent.
Piccoli then appeared to have scored with a stunning long-range strike to send the home fans wild and he was surrounded by celebrating teammates, but their joy turned to dismay when it was ruled out for a foul by the young forward on Milan defender Malick Thiaw.
JUVENTUS WIN
Two dead-ball situations for Filip Kostić. Two goals for Juventus.
After a drab first half, Juventus broke the deadlock against Cagliari on the hour mark when Kostić whipped in a free kick to the back post where Bremer was left unmarked to head into the far side of the net.
Juventus doubled their lead 10 minutes later in unusual circumstances. Kostić’s corner came off Daniel Rugani’s chest and onto the crossbar but Rugani chested in the rebound.
Cagliari’s goal also came from a corner and was headed in by Alberto Dossena.
It was the first goal Juventus had conceded in more than 600 minutes, since a 4-2 loss at Sassuolo in September.
Dossena almost snatched an equalizer late on but Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny fingertipped the header onto the post.
Claudio Ranieri's Cagliari had won their last two matches for their first victories back in Serie A.
AC Milan again let slip a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Lecce, Juventus beat Cagliari to go top
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AC Milan again let slip a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Lecce, Juventus beat Cagliari to go top
- Lecce drew level in the second half with two goals in four minutes
- Milan remained third but will be overtaken by Napoli if the defending champion beat Empoli on Sunday
Pesky Aston Villa vie to continue ascent vs. Arsenal
- Gunners boss Mikel Arteta faces a group that has posed problems the past two seasons
- “I don’t know,” Arteta said, when asked if he thought the fixture meant a bit more to Emery
LONDON: Premier League leaders Arsenal will face yet another potential statement match when they visit a third-place Aston Villa side led by former Gunners manager Unai Emery in Saturday’s early kickoff.
With the exception of Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Brentford, Arsenal’s recent schedule has been a gauntlet of glamorous opponents.
On Sunday, they earned a 1-1 draw across town at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. Before that, it was a 3-1 home win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League first phase. And before that, a convincing home derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
But in Emery’s Villa side, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta faces a group that has posed problems the past two seasons, taking seven points from their four league meetings. And in his Spanish managerial compatriot, he may face a foe who still carries extra motivation in this fixture since his own run in charge of Arsenal (10-1-3, 33 points) ended unceremoniously in 2019.
“I don’t know,” Arteta said, when asked if he thought the fixture meant a bit more to Emery. “I think when you look at Unai, his career, his motivation level, everywhere he’s had an impact, it’s all been remarkable. So I don’t know, that’s a question for him. But in my opinion, he never needs anything extra. I think he’s good enough in himself.”
Arteta has his own concerns amid a relentless campaign that, despite an 18-match unbeaten run, has not come without issues, particularly in the injury department. But that landscape is improving, with Martin Odegaard returning midweek from an extended absence and regulars Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard all questionable for Saturday.
Villa (8-3-3, 27 points) have overcome an uninspiring start to climb their way up the table after a string of four consecutive league wins and six in all competitions.
Donyell Malen has emerged as a legitimate threat off the bench in the role vacated by Jhon Duran, leading Villa with four league goals despite only four starts. Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins have also scored three league goals each.
But Emery’s group have been consistent more than overwhelming, with their last three wins over Leeds, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton coming by a single goal. Their overall plus-6 goal differential is less than that of fourth-place Chelsea and fifth-place Crystal Palace.
“This is the Premier League, the most difficult. And it was so, so difficult to beat Brighton, it was so difficult to beat Wolverhampton,” Emery said Friday. “I can remind it for us and for you, and I was not feeling favorite against Wolverhampton, and I told you it, and tomorrow, I am not feeling favorite, but as well, I know we can win.”
