Juve have now beaten Milan in seven consecutive Serie A matches and the pressure continues to grow on Sinisa Mihajlovic with his team winless in five league games.
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“The title race isn’t over yet, we’ve got to keep on winning”.
Milan will have one eye on Inter’s visit to Frosinone earlier on Saturday, although Roberto Mancini’s men are expected to prevail at the league strugglers having won the corresponding fixture 4-0 earlier this season.
“We work to defend all together”.
“I also compliment my own players, as we took a step forward”.
“I don’t believe that the retreat is the solution for everything but, at this moment I think it’s useful to give us a greater sense of responsibility, to examine our consciences and understand that we can’t go on like this”. The hosts failed to deal with Buffon’s high ball, allowing Mandzukic to latch on to a first-time pass from Morata and find the bottom corner – the front two combining nicely in the continued injury absence of Paulo Dybala. Roma hosts Bologna Monday.
In Milan, there was a touching tribute before kickoff to former player and coach Cesare Maldini, who died last week at the age of 84.
It was Milan who made the brighter start to the match, coming within inches of breaking the deadlock after less than 10 minutes when Ignazio Abate fired an effort against the post from the edge of the area.
When Giacomo Bonaventura won a free kick just outside the area, Balotelli stepped up to force Buffon down low to stop his piledriver.
Mandzukic’s low strike came nine minutes after Alex had headed in Mario Balotelli’s corner, while Pogba capitalised on a Juve set piece by controlling Marchisio’s delivery and converting with a bouncing shot after the break.
Balotelli, recalled to Milan’s starting line-up, had a mixed night, claiming an assist for his side’s goal and testing keeper Gianluigi Buffon with a fine first-half free-kick before being booked. He chested down a corner at the back post and hit the half-volley into the ground, which bounced over Donnarumma to squirm under the bar.
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The Argentinian struck the only goal of a 1-0 Nerazzurri victory at the Stadio Matusa before Frosinone’s Leonardo Blanchard was dismissed for picking up a second yellow card.
