Welcome to the Forza Italian Football live blog, as Juventus continue to seek their first Serie A win when they welcome AC Milan to the Allianz Stadium.
The Bianconeri have endured a difficult start to the campaign, after throwing a lead to draw against Udinese before falling to defeats to Empoli and Napoli respectively.
Milan, on the other hand, have secured wins from all their league games so far and would relish a victory against their rivals to maintain their perfect start.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri to DAZN: “Tonight I’m quite angry about what happened. Despite the team having a good first half, in which we conceded few chances, in the second we risked losing it. Until 1-1 the game was under control.
“We have lost that attention, that determination, just look at the way in which we conceded the goal. There are moments in which there is no way that others can score and we have to improve on this.”
It has been a historic start to the season for Juventus, but for all the wrong reasons as they fail to win any of their first four league games since 1961.
4 – #Juventus are winless in their first four seasonal Serie A matches for only the fourth time in their history, after 1961/62, 1955/56 and 1942/43.Breathlessness.#SerieA #JuventusMilan #JuveMilan
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) September 19, 2021
Milan coach Stefano Pioli to DAZN: “We came here to win, but in the first 20 minutes Juve were better. But we resisted and we tried to win it until the end, the performance is certainly positive.
“I give [Rebic] praise every day and every match. He is a player who plays in different roles, he is giving us a hand in a position where we do not have Ibrahimovic or Giroud. He can help us break up the games, he must continue like this.”
Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli to DAZN: “We didn’t start well but we were good at reacting, now we are going to focus on Venezia. We know we could have done better at Anfield (in the Champions League against Liverpool in midweek), today we were good at making up for it and we played a great game.”
Another game, another failure to win for Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus. They now sit in 18th place in the Serie A table with just two points on the board. We want to know what you thought of the Bianconeri’s performance in our Juventus player ratings!
Milan, on the other hand, have an eight-point cushion on their old foes already and join city rivals Inter as the pace setters. After a spirited fight-back, let us know how you thought Stefano Pioli’s men performed in our Milan player ratings!
It ends all square at the Allianz Stadium and Juventus’ search for a victory continues. The Bianconeri were in complete control in the first half but Rebic’s late equaliser sees Milan join Inter at the top of the table.
Stoppage time in Turin and Juventus have three minutes to find a goal and earn a first win of the league campaign. Ex-Milan midfielder Locatelli steps up to swing in a freekick, but it’s a dreadful effort.
Szczesny may have just rescued the point for Juventus, as he produces a stunning save. Rebic releases Kalulu in space on the right and he cuts into the box to fire in from close range, but a point-blank stop tips the ball over the bar.
We’re edging closer to the end of this thrilling encounter and the momentum has swung Milan’s way, with Rebic going close again. At the other end, Juventus almost race clear as Kean robs Tomori, but the Italian international handles as he forces his way through.
3 – Ante #Rebic is the first AC Milan player to found the back of the net against #Juventus in Serie A for three appearances in a row in the three points per win era (since 1994/95). Header.#JuveMilan
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) September 19, 2021
It’s there! Tonali whips in a corner and Rebic ghosts in between Locatelli and Rabiot to rise highest and head in off the post. Just as Juventus were looking set for a first win, Milan come up with a huge goal. Juventus 1-1 Milan.
Leao hasn’t seen much in this match but he finds possession wide on the left and after a couple of step overs, unleashes a vicious effort. It flies just over the crossbar but it’s the closest Milan have come so far.
Morata goes to the ground after chasing a long pass, but Milan play on without kicking the ball out. Dybala lets his frustrations boil over and leaves a foot in on Tonali, before the pair shove each other and are separated by teammates. Morata limps off and is replaced by Kean.
Diaz plays a nice one-two with Saelemaekers and works his way into the box, but the Spaniard is smothered by Chiellini and Danilo before he can apply the finish. He goes down but the referee waves play on.
Milan are trying to push Juventus back and work the ball into the box, with Kalulu sending a dangerous cross in. The Rossoneri are looking more composed in midfield but Juventus continue to pose a threat on the counter.
Bonucci picks out Rabiot with a magnificent pass over the top to catch the defence out, but the Frenchman can’t quite bring the ball under control and it flies just beyond the post.
We’re back underway at the Allianz Stadium, with no changes for either side.
The teams head back down the tunnel for the interval. After racing ahead early on, Juventus have been good value for their lead and have handled Milan well. Can the Rossoneri find a way back into this?
With half-time approaching, Milan see their best chances as Rebic finds space in the box to turn and shoot. His effort is bravely blocked by Chiellini though, and the rebound is dragged wide by Tonali.
Bad news for Milan, as Kjaer pulls up with an injury and can’t continue. The Dane is replaced by Kalulu, but with Tomori already forced to cover at right-back due to mounting defensive injuries, it’s an issue coach Pioli could do without.
Juventus are almost in again on the counter as Rabiot is released over the top, but Tomori shows great pace to catch up with the Frenchman before forcing the Juventus man off the ball in the box.
The dangerous Dybala is brought down on the turn and delivers a wonderful freekick from a central position. It’s met by Bonucci in the box, but the centre-back nods over against his former club. Juventus look up for this.
Milan are finally seeing some of the ball but are faced with a solid Juventus block in front of them, and can’t fashion a way through the defence. Hernandez and Diaz are trying to force something from out wide but Rebic is being crowded out in the box.
Juventus are well on top now and Morata is almost in again, as he meets a clever through ball and forces Maignan down low at his near post with a first-time effort.
The early goal has settled any Juventus nerves and the Bianconeri look composed on the ball, whilst Morata is proving a handful for Kjaer on the counter. Chiellini meets a Dybala corner but the goalbound effort is cleared.
4 – Álvaro #Morata has scored the fastest goal for Juventus against AC Milan in Serie A, after 4 minutes, since February 1996 scored by Antonio Conte (3′). Flash.#JuventusMilan #JuveMilan
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) September 19, 2021
From the resulting corner, Juventus clear and launch the ball over the top for Morata to race beyond Hernandez and coolly lift the ball over Maignan. A devastating counterattack and the Bianconeri are ahead! Juventus 1-0 Milan.
Rabiot and Bentancur bump heads in midfield and Milan try to take advantage, with Leao releasing Diaz to allow the Spaniard to dance through the defence, before seeing a deflected shot whistle over the bar.
After a touching tribute to ex-Bianconeri defender Francesco Morini, Juventus get us underway here at the Allianz Stadium.
The teams are out warming up ahead of this huge early season clash.
? ?:???? ?? ?????:#JuveMilan #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/bsx0zejqEN
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) September 19, 2021
Juventus, meanwhile, need a win to drag themselves out of the relegation zone. Did anyone see that coming?
Roma’s shock defeat to Hellas Verona earlier today gives Milan the chance to go clear at the top of the Serie A table with victory, at least until Napoli play tomorrow. Can the Rossoneri take advantage of the slip-up by Jose Mourinho’s side?
Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado, Bentancur, Locatelli, Rabiot; Dybala, Morata.
Milan: Maignan; Tomori, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Kessie, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Rebic.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud out, Milan turn to Ante Rebic up front, whilst Fikayo Tomori slots in at right-back.
? #JuveMilan: the line-up
? Così in campo allo Stadium #SempreMilan@EASPORTSFIFA pic.twitter.com/NeZu7i5jBf— AC Milan (@acmilan) September 19, 2021
In the UK, BT Sport have the rights to Serie A and will show around 200 games over the course of the season, with this game being shown on BT Sport 1 or on the BT Sport App. Paramount+ hold the rights in the USA, and CBS Sports Network will also be showing it. Meanwhile in Australia, beIN Sports is the official broadcaster.
If you’re living in the USA, you can view the Juventus v Milan fixture on Paramount+, with the station having signed a deal which gives them a significant portion of Serie A broadcasts for the 2021/22 season.
If you’re living in the UK, you can view the Juventus v Milan clash on BT Sport 1, with the subscription service having retained the rights to broadcast Serie A in 2021/22.
Viewers in Australia can watch the Juventus v Milan match on Monday morning on beIN Sports, which is the official broadcaster of the Italian top flight in Australia. You can also get access to Serie A matches on beIN Sports through either Foxtel, Telstra, Foxtel Now or Kayo Sports.