Sharjah24 – AFP: AC Milan were held to a goalless draw by Juventus on Sunday, losing ground in the Serie A title race and allowing Napoli to move second following their 4-1 thumping of Salernitana.
Two points behind local rivals Inter Milan before this weekend, Milan now trail the champions by four and have dropped down to third after Napoli drew level with them on 49 points.
With the Milan derby straight after the international break which starts on Monday, an already crucial match will take on extra significance when Serie A returns next month, with Napoli at relegation-threatened Venezia.
Juve had the chance to move into the Champions League places with a win following fourth-placed Atalanta's draw at Lazio on Saturday, but they didn't managed a single shot on target in a bafflingly uninspired display and stay one point from the top four.
A match of few chances was played on a San Siro pitch which had been played on by Inter the previous day and had been heavily criticised by the champions' coach Simone Inzaghi.
Juventus were content to keep it tight but created very little on the break while Milan continuously ran into a well-drilled defence led by Giorgio Chiellini.
Rafael Leao forced a good early save from Wojciech Szczesny with a low drive, while Davide Calabria flashed two well-hit shots just past the upright from long range.
The hosts' best and last proper chance came midway through the second half when Olivier Giroud, who replaced the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, met a cross with a powerful header which was straight at Szczesny.
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