AC Milan frustrated by Torino in goalless draw
AC Milan's miserable Serie A run continued as Torino held them to a 0-0 draw at San Siro.Milan have now won only twice in nine league games as the pressure continues to grow on head coach Vincenzo Montella.The Rossoneri were careless in front of goal and almost paid the price four minutes from time when Torino came close to claiming a smash-and-grab win.Gianluigi Donnarumma kept out Andrea Belotti's header and Riccardo Montolivo bravely blocked Iago Falque's follow-up effort.Milan were encouraged by their 5-1 Europa League thrashing of Austria Vienna on Thursday and put Torino under immediate pressure.Suso's blocked fifth-minute shot fell invitingly for Nikola Kalinic but the Croatian striker could only strike the outside of the post.Four minutes later, Suso's 30-yard free-kick was pushed away by sprawling Torino goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.Torino briefly escaped Milan's shackles for defender Nicolas Burdisso to find the net from a corner. But Joel Obi had clearly handled and Burdisso's effort was rightly ruled out.Milan had another chance to break the deadlock when Cristian Zapata's brilliant cross picked out Andre Silva unmarked eight yards out. But the stretching Silva could not direct his shot goalwards and Sirigu was happy to wave the ball past his post.The Rossoneri's frustration grew as indecision from Silva ruined another promising position with the final pass constantly letting down the hosts.It was the same story in the second period as Torino defended deep and sought to expose Milan on the break.A couple of crosses flashed across the home goalmouth but there was little for Italy striker Belotti to feed upon.At the other end Milan mustered little, save for a Suso shot straight at Sirigu, until Kalinic met Leonardo Bonucci's cross midway through the second half.Sirigu produced a wonderful diving stop and was back on his feet quickly to push Kalinic's follow-up effort around the post.Torino came to life late on and substitute Falque went close before Montolivo's extraordinary goal-line clearance denied the Spaniard.But Sirigu was needed again to deny Hakan Calhanoglu before Milan's exasperation was compounded further in stoppage time.Patrick Cutrone poked the ball home from close range but he was clearly standing in an offside position.Torino themselves have now won only once in nine games, but boss Sinisa Mihajlovic will consider this a good result as they remain one point behind Milan in the Serie A standings.
Game Information
Italian Serie A Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Napoli | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | +10 | 26 |
Atalanta | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | +16 | 25 |
Fiorentina | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | +15 | 25 |
Internazionale | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | +12 | 25 |
Lazio | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | +11 | 25 |
Juventus | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | +14 | 24 |
AC Milan | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | +6 | 18 |
Bologna | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | +2 | 18 |
Udinese | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | -3 | 16 |
Empoli | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | -1 | 15 |
Torino | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | -3 | 14 |
AS Roma | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -3 | 13 |
Parma | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | -2 | 12 |
Hellas Verona | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -10 | 12 |
Como | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -10 | 10 |
Cagliari | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -10 | 10 |
Genoa | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -13 | 10 |
Lecce | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -16 | 9 |
Monza | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -5 | 8 |
Venezia | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -10 | 8 |