Juventus closed the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan to two points as Manuel Locatelli’s late winner secured a 1-0 victory over 10-man AC Milan, Locatelli’s childhood club.
In front of a packed San Siro, Locatelli scored a powerful long-range strike in the 62nd minute, reminiscent of his winning goal for Milan against Juve seven years ago.
Despite missing several key players from their starting lineup, Juve managed to claim all three points and close in on Inter, who now sit in first place, with Milan dropping to second.
Locatelli, a product of Milan’s youth academy, expressed his emotions at the final whistle. Speaking to DAZN, he said, “It’s always special playing here. Life took me on another path, and I’m playing for the team I should be. But it’s amazing that it was my goal which won it. It was emotional.”
Juve goalkeeper Antonio Mirante was rarely tested until late in the game, with Milan reduced to 10 men just before halftime. Italy forward Moise Kean missed a golden opportunity to put Juve ahead before Locatelli’s goal deflated Milan.
The result sees Milan face a challenging week with matches against PSG and Napoli, while Juve continue their pursuit of the top spot.
In another match, Roma’s Stephan El Shaarawy secured a 1-0 win over Monza, pushing Roma closer to a Champions League spot. Mourinho’s side is currently seventh in the league.
El Shaarawy scored the only goal of the match in the final minute, with Roma also hitting the woodwork late on. Monza played the second half with 10 men after a red card for Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Mourinho, who was sent off in stoppage time, praised El Shaarawy’s winning goal and his knack for scoring late. Despite the defeat, Monza put up a strong fight, conceding their first goal from open play since September.
Roma remains in contention for a higher league position, currently sitting behind Napoli and fourth-placed Fiorentina.
Other notable results include Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Genoa and Bologna’s victory over Frosinone. Salernitana and Cagliari drew 2-2 in a thrilling match between two struggling teams.
Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.
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