Milan, January 24 (BNA): Milan lost more ground with league leaders Inter Milan and also lost another important player before the derby, as they drew 0-0 against Juventus in San Siro.
Main striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic limped off in the 28th minute due to an obvious Achilles problem. The 40-year-old will likely join several other regulars on the injury list, according to the Associated Press.
Milan dropped to third place in the league, behind Napoli on goal difference. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker at the end of the season. Milan is four points behind Inter, having played one more game, and meets the Nerazzurri in its next match after the international break.
Juventus moved to one point from the top four and the Champions League.
The match at San Siro is a classic match in Italian football between two old rivals. Only 5,000 spectators were allowed into the stadium this time due to coronavirus restrictions, but there were hundreds of fans outside to welcome Milan, chanting songs and setting off flares.
The Rossoneri had the best chances and most of the play, but both teams struggled to grab clear scoring opportunities.
Juventus drew 1-1 with Milan in Turin in September. It was the first time in 30 years that the two league matches between the two ended in a draw.
Lorenzo Insigne sent a clear message to Napoli fans after scoring in a 4-1 win over bottom club Salernitana.
The Napoli captain celebrated by pointing to the insignia on his shirt and clearly saying to the camera, in Italian, “I love you, I will always love you.”
It was the 30-year-old’s first goal since signing a pre-contract agreement to join Toronto FC at the end of the season.
Napoli took the lead in the 17th minute when Elif Elmas hit a ball in the chest for Juan Jesus, who hit it in the lower right corner. He was initially rejected for handball by Elmas but was granted after a video review.
Federico Bonazzoli scored the surprise equalizer for Salernitana, but Napoli regained their lead in the first half when Dries Mertens scored a penalty after Frederic Vesely Elmas had been ousted.
Amir Kadri Rahmani extended Napoli’s advantage shortly after the end of the first half and added the fourth goal six minutes later after Veseli missed another penalty this time for handball after Insigne’s shot rebounded from his side and onto his arm.
The Salernitana defender was sent off after receiving a second yellow card and Inesni converted the penalty to equal Diego Maradona’s 115 goals for the club.
Salernitana remained stuck at the bottom of the table, eight points short of the safety zone.
New player Sergio Oliveira scored his second goal in the same number of league matches for Roma to help them win 4-2 against Empoli.
Tammy Abraham scored two goals and Nicolo Zaniolo scored two goals for Roma, who scored the last three goals within four minutes of the first half.
AS Roma, led by Jose Mourinho, advanced above Lazio and Fiorentina to sixth place.
Former Cagliari striker Ricardo Sutil scored against his old club to criticize the 1-1 draw with 10-man Fiorentina.
Sutil scored in the 75th minute, 10 minutes after Alvaro Odriozola was sent off for handball. Joao Pedro had scored in Cagliari’s opener at the start of the second half.
Both teams also saved the penalty shootout.
Cagliari remained 18th, but moved inside a safety spot. Spezia advanced eight points from the relegation zone after beating Sampdoria 10 men 1-0 in a relegation battle. Turin tied 1-1 with Sassuolo.