These two Italian footballing juggernauts collided at San Siro looking to strengthen their prospects of finishing second behind runaway leaders Inter Milan and ensure UEFA Champions League qualification is secured as soon as possible.
With goals at a premium in recent meetings between the sides, it was perhaps unsurprising that chances were limited inside the opening 30 minutes.
Adrien Rabiot looked to take matters into his own hands when Michele Di Gregorio saved his effort from distance, but Juve had the ball in the back of the net moments later when Khephren Thuram slid home Francisco Conceicao’s cross before the strike was disallowed for offside.
Undeterred, the lively Conceicao was eager to cause more havoc for the Bianconeri down the right flank and was denied by Mike Maigan at the near post following a driving run to the byline.
It was a contest that was simmering nicely heading into the break, as Conceicao forced Maigan into another save seconds before the half-time whistle.
The Portugal international continued to be a thorn in Milan’s side after the break, forcing Maignan into action again before a swift Rossoneri move almost resulted in the game’s opening goal. Rafael Leao unselfishly picked out Alexis Saelemaekers in the box, and the Belgian’s effort cannoned off the bar.
The game now had a good ebb and flow to it, as Juve’s calls for a penalty landed on deaf ears when Jonathan David went down in the box after a collision with Matteo Gabbia.
Milan were dealt an injury blow heading into the closing stages when Luka Modric was forced off following an aerial collision with Manuel Locatelli, depriving the Rossoneri of one of their main creative outlets heading into the final 10 minutes of normal time. But in truth, both sides were lacking the necessary killer instinct to score that elusive opening goal.
This result maintains the status quo in the league table, with Milan and Juventus still occupying third and fourth, respectively. It is arguably a better outcome for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who kept the Bianconeri at bay and moved six points clear of fifth-placed Como with this draw.