Milan fail to close gap at top of Serie A

Juventus now seem destined to retain the Scudetto after AC Milan could only claim a goalless draw in Serie A’s top-of-the-table clash tonight.

The highly-anticipated match failed to provide an enticing advertisement for the Italian game anticipated, with neither side coming close to breaking the deadlock.

Even a red card for Gennaro Gattuso 20 minutes from time did not breathe life into Juve, who were content to keep their nearest challengers as far away from their goal as possible.

Juve therefore remain 10 points clear at the Serie A summit with only nine games remaining for Milan to close the gap.

Paolo Di Canio scored one goal and set up another for Tommaso Rocchi in a near-empty Stadio Olimpico as Lazio beat Reggina 3-1.

Only 5,000 fans watched inside the stadium to protest against Lazio club president Claudio Lotito’s decision not to sell shares to a pharmaceutical company.

Lazio are now seventh in the standings after Chievo’s 2-1 defeat at Empoli.

The momentum from Roma’s record-breaking 11-game winning streak is well and truly over as the Giallorossi followed up last week’s draw at home with Inter Milan and their midweek UEFA Cup defeat by Middlesbrough with a 3-2 loss at Ascoli.

Fiorentina are still a point clear of Roma and with a game in hand after their game at Cagliari was stopped 30 minutes into the contest due to high winds.

Empoli got second-half strikes from Christian Rigano and Francesco Tavano, while Matteo Brighi gave Chievo a lifeline with eight minutes to go.

David Di Michele opened the scoring against his former club Udinese and then Giovanni Tedesco added the second as Palermo won 2-0 over the visitors from Friuli.

Messina prevailed 2-1 in their relegation tussle with Lecce, and Parma boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win over Livorno.