Two heavyweight clashes were in store for the fans as Serie A returned in the new year. In the first game, AC Milan beat Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma 3-1 while later, Juventus came from behind to hold Napoli to a 1-1 draw.
Olivier Giroud’s eighth-minute penalty gave the Rossoneri the lead against Roma. The goal bore a remarkable Chelsea connection as it was another former Blue Tammy Abraham whose handball had resulted in the spot-kick for Milan. Giroud stepped up to take the penalty in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and sent Rui Patricio the wrong way.
A poor back pass by Roma’s Roger Ibanez was intercepted by Giroud in the 17th minute, but the striker’s shot from a tight angle hit the post and bounced back. Luckily for Milan, it fell to Junior Messias in space inside the box and, with the goalkeeper off his line, the attacker picked his corner with time to spare.
Abraham atoned for his earlier mistake by pulling a goal back for Roma in the 40th minute – a goal about which he knew little as Lorenzo Pellegrini’s shot deflected off of him and wrongfooted Mike Maignan.
However, any momentum Roma had built in search of an equalizer evaporated when Rick Karsdorp picked up his second booking in the 74th minute. To make matters worse for the Giallorossi, substitutes Ibrahimovic and Rafael Leao combined for Milan’s third in the 81st minute, which the latter scored.
Milan were awarded another penalty, and Roma were shown another red card in the 93rd minute – Gianluca Mancini the offender – but Patricio denied Ibrahimovic a goal by diving low to his right.
Nonetheless, it was a statement win for Milan at the start of the year, which saw them go a point within rivals Inter at the top of the table.
Later, title challengers Napoli and title chasers Juventus played out a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Stadium. Napoli took the lead through Dries Mertens in the 23rd minute. The Belgian put the finishing touches to a move involving the outgoing Lorenzo Insigne and Matteo Politano.
Juventus responded through Federico Chiesa in the 54th minute, as the Italian’s shot from outside the box took a deflection and crept past David Ospina in the Napoli goal.
The draw leaves Napoli third in the table with 40 points – six behind leaders Inter, having played a game more – and Juventus fifth with 35.
