07 October 2022
Juventus have visited San Siro to take on Milan 87 times down through the years. The Rossoneri have prevailed in 29 of those matches. Juventus, meanwhile, have come out on top in 24 of the meetings.
The most recent Juve triumph was two seasons ago, in what can be described as the most complete performance by the Bianconeri that campaign.
SILENCE REIGNS AT SAN SIRO
The build-up, the tension, the prize at stake - everything was as has become customary for a match that was once coined as 'the new Derby d'Italia' because of its importance. However, there was one element that was missing: the fans.
The counter measures to the COVID pandemic meant that the showdown on 6 January 2021 was played behind closed doors. The only voices that rang out in the iconic stadium were produced by those in the dug-out or the players themselves.
SETTING THE SCENE
Although Milan-Juventus was held only six days into the new year, but was already the second match of 2021 after the first ever Boxing Day fixtures in the Italian top flight.
Moreover, because of the late finish to the previous season due to the lockdown and the subsequent late kick off the campaign in question, it was only Matchday 16 and an undefeated Milan held the advantage in the standings.
The Lady had slipped to a first loss in the final match of 2020 but had rallied to a 4-1 success over Udinese just three days before the appointment at the Meazza Stadium.
FEDERICO DOUBLES UP
Federico Chiesa put on one of his most sparkling displays in the black and white stripes to emerge as the match winner.
Both of the flying winger's goals, one in each half, gave the Bianconeri the lead. The first opened the scoring, the second restored the advantage after Davide Calabria's equaliser.
DOMINANT STATS
Federico dominated at San Siro. Before his opening goal, he had already hit the post. It was a warning signal that the opposition did not heed that Chiesa was in the mood.
He finished the match as the player with most attempts on goal, five, and also the one that performed the highest number of successful take-ons, four.
THE FINAL ACT
Fifteen minutes from the end, Juventus killed off the contest with a third goal. Just like in the case with Chiesa, also the eventual scorer had announced his intentions with a previous opportunity.
Before finding the net, Weston McKennie had been set up by Cristiano Ronaldo but his effort was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Five minutes later, the Texan was not to be denied and the final score on the screens at the deserted stadium read Milan 1-3 Juventus.
