13 February 2020
Juventus scored a crucial away goal as they drew 1-1 with Milan at San Siro in the first leg of the Coppa Italia on Thursday evening. Ante Rebic opened the scoring, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty ensured that it’s all to play for in the second leg.
STRONG FIRST HALF MILAN DISPLAY
The game got underway to an electric atmosphere, and it was Milan who had the first whip at goal through a kick from range by Kessie that sailed just wide of Buffon’s frame. The Rossoneri enjoyed a bright start to the game and they came dangerously close to taking the lead in the 10th minute when Theo Hernandez delivered the ball to Ibrahimovic inside the box, he backheeled it towards goal and it rounded the post by inches. Gianluigi Buffon was then called into making a one-handed save as he tipped Calabria’s shot over the crossbar. The Bianconeri’s first real effort at goal came in the 35th minute when Cuadrado fired an angled drive that saw Donnarumma drop down to pull off a reflex save.
REBIC HANDS ROSSONERI LEAD
The second half started off with Buffon denying Rebic, while Cuadrado attempted a shot which flew over Donnarumma’s goalframe. Chances fell on either end of the field in quick succession when Donnarumma plucked Dybala’s effort out the air, before Buffon pulled off two saves to deny Ibrahimovic and then Theo’s host which took a deflection off Ramsey. The home side did eventually take the lead through Ante Rebic, when he got onto the end of Castillejo’s chip to volley home the opener. Bentancur was then brought on in place of Ramsey, while Milan were reduced to 10-men after Theo Hernandez received a second yellow card. Higuain and Rabiot were also brought on, as they replaced De Sciglio and Matuidi respectively.
RONALDO DRAWS LEVEL
Juventus went looking to take advantage of their numeral superiority and they forced Donnarumma into making a save through de Ligt’s downward header at the near post. They did eventually get the equalizer and away goal after a penalty was awarded to the Bianconeri after the referee consulted VAR and judged Calabria to have handled the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo stood up to take the penalty and he made no mistake in slotting it past Donnarumma on the stroke of 90-minute mark to end the game at 1-1.
Milan: G Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Kessie, Bennacer; Castillejo, Calhanoglu, Rebic; Ibrahimovic
Substitutes: Begovic, A Donnarumma, Bonaventura, Leao, Musacchio, Paqueta, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Laxalt, Brescianini, Maldini
Juventus: Buffon; De Sciglio (Higuain 69’), De Ligt, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Ramsey (Bentancur 63’), Pjanic, Matuidi (Rabiot 73’); Cuadrado, Dybala, Ronaldo
Substitutes: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Danilo, Higuain, Rugani, Rabiot, Bentancur, Olivieri, Coccolo
