AC Milan and Juventus play out drab goalless draw in Serie A

Milan are not part of the six that started the round within two points of each other at the top of Serie A, but that is where their ambitions lie, and wins in these types of games are certainly integral if they are to keep pace keep.

Juventus were missing some key attackers due to injury, so Thiago Motta fielded a free-form, strikerless forward line that netted early tries from Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz.

The visitors' backline looked solid, but if anyone was going to cause them problems it would probably be Rafael Leao. The talismanic winger – who scored his 50th Serie A goal last time – delivered an inventive cross to Alvaro Morata at the back post, but the Spaniard could do no more than nod wide.

That was about it for a cagey opening period, but things started to open up again after the restart, with Malick Thiaw making a last-ditch block to deny Andrea Cambiaso from finding the target from close range.

Juventus controlled possession and their nine clean sheets from twelve previous league games showed why the home side struggled to break them down.

Still, they applied some late pressure, and Youssouf Fofana thumped over, but time ran out and neither side created any clear-cut chances throughout the match.

Milan's inability to win here saw them slip further from the European spot, with their form appearing to ebb after a famous 3-1 away win over Real Madrid ahead of the international break.

Juventus, meanwhile, look strong as ever at the back and will likely be in contention for the title once their injury problems in the forwards subside.

View all match statistics here.