Milan’s Jeremy Menez shoots to score a penalty against Torino, yesterday.Ten-man Milan lost further ground in the race for third place in the Serie A as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Torino at the Olympic Stadium, last night.
Jeremy Menez had given the visitors an early lead when he was pulled back by Kamil Glik in the Torino box and a penalty was given. The Frenchman himself converted from the spot.
However, Glik made up for his error when he scored Torino’s equaliser ten minutes from time.
Torino, stuttering in mid-table and without a home win over the Rossoneri since 2001, hit back after Menez’s opener but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Diego Lopez who held off efforts from Alexander Far-nerud and Fabio Quagliarella.
A Matteo Darmian header came off the Milan upright and then, just before the break, Mattia De Sciglio was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Milan, shocked at home by modest Sassuolo last week, survived a few anxious moments in the second half as Torino pounded Lopez’s goal.
But, the hosts finally found a way through when Glik scored with a firm header from a corner.
Milan are four points behind joint third-placed duo Lazio and Napoli who also have a game in hand.
In yesterday’s other match, Sassuolo and Udinese also took a point each from a 1-1 draw which the hosts will feel should have ended in their favour.
Simone Zaza continued his excellent recent form by giving Eusebio De Francesco’s side the lead, but Cyril Thereau replied soon after to earn a point for Andrea Stramaccioni’s visitors, whose last win came more than a month ago.
Sassuolo had the better chances to win but had to settle for a draw which extends their unbeaten run to three games with only one defeat in their last 12 matches.
Zaza, who extended his contract until 2019 during the week, gave Sassuolo the lead 15 minutes into the match when he headed in Sime Vrsaljko’s perfect cross.
An injury to Alexandre Geijo, who had to be replaced after 20 minutes, suggested a difficult evening for Udinese, but only six minutes later, they levelled.
Allan’s finely-weighted pass found Thereau, who did the rest with a diagonal shot past Andrea Consigli, who was beaten with Udinese’s first shot on goal.
Serie A
Played yesterday
Sassuolo 1
Zaza 15;
Udinese 1
Thereau 26;
HT: 1-1. Att: 10,000.
Torino 1
Glik 80;
Milan 1
Menez 3 pen;
HT: 0-1. Att: 20,000.
Red card: De Sciglio (M) 45.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Juventus | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 8 | 40 |
| Roma | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 11 | 39 |
| Lazio | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 31 | 19 | 30 |
| Napoli | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 21 | 30 |
| Genoa | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 27 |
| Sampdoria | 17 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 22 | 17 | 27 |
| Milan | 18 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 21 | 26 |
| Palermo | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| Fiorentina | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 14 | 24 |
| Sassuolo | 18 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 20 | 23 | 24 |
| Udinese | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
| Inter | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 26 | 24 | 22 |
| Torino | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 19 |
| Empoli | 17 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 18 |
| Verona | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 27 | 18 |
| Chievo | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 19 | 17 |
| Atalanta | 17 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 23 | 16 |
| Cagliari | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 34 | 12 |
| Parma (-1) | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 17 | 36 | 9 |
| Cesena | 17 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 34 | 9 |
Playing today – 15.00
Atalanta vs Chievo
Cagliari vs Cesena
Fiorentina vs Palermo
Inter vs Genoa - 12.30
Napoli vs Juventus - 20.45
Roma vs Lazio
Sampdoria vs Empoli
Verona vs Parma
Top scorers
11 goals: Tevez (Juventus).
9 goals: Dybala (Palermo), Higuain (Napoli), Callejon (Napoli), Icardi (Inter), Menez (Milan).
8 goals: Di Natale (Udinese).
Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Empoli vs Inter. 20.45 Palermo vs Roma.
Sunday: 12.30 Lazio vs Napoli. 15.00 Milan vs Atalanta; Cesena vs Torino; Chievo vs Fiorentina; Genoa vs Sassuolo; Parma vs Sampdoria; Udinese vs Cagliari. 20.45 Juve vs Verona.