Leaders Juventus were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw at home to their closest rivals, AC Milan, on Saturday — which kept them four points clear of the defending Serie A champions.
Milan’s Andriy Shevchenko, who this week won the European Footballer of the Year award, came closest to breaching the best defence in the league when he rifled a shot against the post in the first half, while in the final minute Andrea Pirlo dragged his left-footed shot inches wide for the title-holders.
Juve barely threatened the 2003 European champions and will feel relieved to have come through their toughest test of the season unscathed.
A draw left Juve on 39 points from their 16 matches played, while Milan have 35 going into the winter break that ends on January 6.
The visitors suffered a huge blow before a ball was even kicked when their captain, Paolo Maldini, suffered a knee injury during the warm-up.
His place in the starting line-up went to Alessandro Costacurta, who lined up in the centre of defence alongside Alessandro Nesta.
Milan felt they should have had a penalty in the fourth minute when Hernan Crespo failed to connect with Shevchenko’s driven cross.
Crespo, on a season-long loan from English Premiership side Chelsea, insisted Jonathan Zebina was tugging his shirt and prevented him from reaching the ball, but referee Paolo Bertini waved away the Argentinian’s appeal.
Milan maintained the early momentum and almost broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Shevchenko’s rasping drive from 25 yards struck the woodwork.
Gianluigi Buffon parried Crespo’s angled shot before saving Clarence Seedorf’s feeble drive as Milan continued to exploit Juve’s inability to keep possession for more than two or three passes.
The home side cranked up a gear towards the end of the first half with Gianluca Zambrotta’s snapshot calling Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida into action for the first time, and just before the interval Buffon’s palms were stung by another speculative effort from Crespo.
Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero barely touched the ball in the first 45 minutes and was replaced by Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta for the restart.
Milan were livid in the 66th minute when Kaka robbed Lilian Thuram and was ready to run at the Juve defence with three against two. But referee Bertini awarded Milan a free-kick instead of letting play continue and the chance went begging.
Fabio Cannavaro sent a half-volley over the bar for Juve four minutes from time, before Pirlo’s angled drive rolled the wrong side of the post.
The day’s early match between Messina and Atalanta was abandoned after 23 minutes due to heavy rain.
Messina were leading 1-0 thanks to Arturo di Napoli’s 10th-minute penalty before a thunderstorm prematurely ended the contest. — Sapa-AFP