Juventus player Adrien Rabiot (L) and Milan player Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R) tussle during their Serie A clash at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy, July 07, 2020. /VCG
Juventus player Adrien Rabiot (L) and Milan player Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R) tussle during their Serie A clash at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy, July 07, 2020. /VCG
Juventus wasted the chance to move 10 points clear at the top of Serie A as the defending champions blew a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired AC Milan on Tuesday, after second-placed Lazio's shock defeat at Lecce.
Maurizio Sarri's men led through goals from Adrien Rabiot and Cristiano Ronaldo early in the second half, but were then blown away by a brilliant Milan display as Ibrahimovic scored and had an assist.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli, who could reportedly be sacked at the end of the season, saw his side boost their hopes of European qualification by moving above Roma and Napoli into fifth.
"I am not remotely thinking about August 3 or the future. I am thinking of the next game," Pioli told DAZN. "There have been some tough moments, but I love what I do."
Juve remain on track for a ninth straight title, sitting seven points clear of Lazio with seven matches remaining, but could have rendered the race all but over with a victory.
The loss snapped the Turin giants' seven-game winning run in the league.
Earlier, Lazio, who lost 3-0 to Milan in the weekend, slumped to a second straight loss, beaten 2-1 at relegation-threatened Lecce.
Defender Patric added to Lazio's problems in injury time as he was dismissed for biting Lecce's Giulio Donati and could face a lengthy ban, especially with the strict COVID-19 regulations in place.
Lecce ended a six-match losing streak in dramatic fashion to climb out of the relegation zone.
Atletico Madrid players celebrate during their La Liga clash with Celta de Vigoat Municipal Balaidos Stadium, Spain, July 07, 2020. /VCG
Atletico Madrid players celebrate during their La Liga clash with Celta de Vigoat Municipal Balaidos Stadium, Spain, July 07, 2020. /VCG
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid will have to wait to clinch a place in next season's Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo on Tuesday.
Alvaro Morata scored in the opening minute before Francisco Beltran equalized for the hosts the other side of the break.
The result leaves Atleti four points away from qualifying for the top tier of European football with three games remaining and Celta are seven points clear of the relegation zone.
"It's a difficult ground to visit, Celta play good football, where they are in the table isn't justified by their football," Morata told Movistar.
"We're ready now to finish our objective of third place. What we have to do is achieve our objective as quick as we can."
Meanwhile, South Korean teenager Lee Kang-in scored with two minutes to play to move Valencia to within a point of the Europa League places in a 2-1 win over Real Valladolid.
Lee, 19, clinched his side's first victory since Albert Celades was sacked earlier this month and sent his outfit up to eighth, just behind Real Sociedad in the spot for the qualifying rounds for next season's continental competition.
Scott Dann of Crystal Palace looks dejected after their Premier League loss to Chelsea at Selhurst Park, London, England, July 07, 2020. /VCG
Scott Dann of Crystal Palace looks dejected after their Premier League loss to Chelsea at Selhurst Park, London, England, July 07, 2020. /VCG
In England, Chelsea kept up their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham., while Leicester could only manage a draw at 10-man Arsenal.
Frank Lampard's men edged closer to sealing a place in next season's Champions League as a seventh win in eight games takes them one point ahead of Leicester and opened up a five-point lead on fifth-placed Manchester United.
Leicester have now won just one of their six games since the restart to see their lead over the chasing pack for a place in the top four whittled away, but were grateful for a 1-1 draw at the Emirates after a slow start against in-form Arsenal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swept home the opener for the Gunners as Kasper Schmeichel kept Leicester in the game with a stunning save to deny Alexandre Lacazette.
Lacazette also saw a goal disallowed for offside after the break before the game turned when Eddie Nketiah was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for a high challenge on James Justin.
Leicester made the man advantage count as Vardy pounced to slot home Demarai Gray's cross and regain his two-goal advantage over Aubameyang in the race for the Golden Boot.
At the other end of the table, Danny Welbeck's first Premier League goal for Watford was as valuable as it was spectacular as the Hornets beat Norwich 2-1 to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Defeat pushes Norwich ever closer to the drop and the Canaries could be relegated at the weekend if they fail to beat West Ham.
Source(s): AFP