Juventus end winless run with 2-0 victory over AC Milan
Second-half goals from Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah ensured the hosts moved up to fourth place, overtaking Lazio, who play Verona on Sunday.
Juventus climbed into Serie A's Champions League positions on Saturday with a commanding 2-0 victory over AC Milan at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
Second-half goals from Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah ensured the hosts moved up to fourth place, overtaking Lazio, who play Verona on Sunday.
The win snapped a streak of three consecutive draws for unbeaten Juventus, marking their eighth victory in 21 league matches. AC Milan, however, remain in eighth place, six points adrift of the top four. The Rossoneri still have a game in hand, postponed due to October's flooding in Bologna, which is yet to be rescheduled.
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The opening period was filled with attacking intent, with both sides threatening to break the deadlock. Milan came close in the 19th minute when Tijjani Reijnders volleyed Theo Hernandez's low corner, only for the effort to deflect away for a goal kick.
Rafael Leao almost gave Milan the lead eight minutes later, forcing a strong save from Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. A flurry of rebound attempts followed but was thwarted by desperate Juventus defending.
Juve gained control immediately after the break, piling pressure on Milan's backline. Timothy Weah's powerful strike was saved by Mike Maignan, and Teun Koopmeiners squandered a golden opportunity by firing straight at the goalkeeper with an open goal before him.
Juventus finally broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when Mbangula's speculative shot took a heavy deflection off Emerson Royal, leaving Maignan helpless as the ball sailed into the net.
Just five minutes later, Weah doubled the lead with a well-taken goal, emulating his father George Weah, who scored for Milan against Juventus exactly 25 years ago. The iconic connection between the two generations added a poetic layer to Juve's vital win.
Napoli prepare for a pivotal clash at title rivals Atalanta later in the day, aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Bologna continued their strong form with a 3-1 win over Monza, who remain bottom of the standings after six defeats in seven matches. Vincenzo Italiano's men recovered from Daniel Maldini's early strike with goals from Santiago Castro, Jens Odgaard, and Riccardo Orsolini, moving up to sixth place on 33 points, just four behind Juventus.
