Serie A scores: Juventus creeping closer to top four, league leaders AC Milan stay atop table with win
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AC Milan picked up three crucial points to stay at the top of the table after beating Empoli at home on Saturday. Stefano Pioli’s side won at San Siro thanks to Pierre Kalulu’s goal that ensured the Rossoneri as Serie A leaders for another week. Juventus defeated Sampdoria away with Massimiliano Allegri’s side still hopeful of having a say in the title race this season. Alvaro Morata came off the bench and scored a brace while Serbian striker Dusan Vlahović only played in the second half as Juve have midweek Champions League duties against Villarreal (Wednesday, 4 p.m. ET | Paramount+).
Here’s what to know:
Serie A scores
- Salernitana 2, Sassuolo 2
- Spezia 2, Cagliari 0
- Juventus 3, Sampdoria 1
- Milan 1, Empoli 0
Milan still at the top
Pioli has his squad guaranteed to stay atop the table once this matchday is over. The Rossoneri won at San Siro (1-0) thanks to Kalulu’s 19th-minute strike. The defender, who’s in the midst of a great season and considered one of the best at his position in Italy at this moment, found the back of the net for the first time this season in Serie A, ensuring his side maintain its status as favorites in the scudetto race as it waits for Inter Milan’s Sunday showdown at Torino.
Juventus getting closer
That’s 10 wins in the last 15 Serie A matches for Allegri’s Juve, as they continue to surge following a slow start to the season and an active January transfer window. Another win this weekend against Sampdoria away.
With Vlahović starting on the bench, it was Morata who stepped up as the main man as he brought Bianconeri to the victory by scoring a brace. Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny did his part as well, saving a penalty taken by Antonio Candreva as he led his team to an important win that keeps his side in the mix for the scudetto despite being seven points apart from first place.
A key win
Elsewhere, Spezia won a crucial match in the relegation battle against Cagliari at home. Thiago Motta’s side secured three vital points in what was an entertaining match that saw the two goals of the day — all in the second half — with defender Martin Erlic scoring the opening goal and then with former Barcelona player Rey Manaj scoring the final goal. It’s a huge win for a Spezia quad that is now in a safer position while Cagliari deal with back-to-back losses as they creep up to dangerous territory just three points off the drop zone.
Salernitana failed to win at home against Sassuolo, as the two sides settled for a 2-2 draw. Salernitana’s hopes to staying in the top flight of Italian football are slim-to-none at this point. Sassuolo striker Giacomo Raspadori received a red card as a result of two yellows less than 60 seconds apart from one another, which will force him to skip next week’s clash against Spezia.
