Juventus Take Top Spot, Giroud Sent Off as AC Milan Draw at Lecce in Serie A

Juventus emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Cagliari, securing a 2-1 win at Turin to claim the top spot in Serie A. Massimiliano Allegri’s men were in desperate need of three points to surpass previous league leaders Inter, who were set to face Frosinone on Sunday evening.

It was not until the 60th minute that Juventus broke the deadlock, with Gleison Bremer finding the back of the net. Just ten minutes later, Daniele Rugani doubled their lead, putting the home side in a comfortable position. However, Alberto Dossena pulled one back for Cagliari five minutes after Rugani’s goal, setting the stage for a tense final 15 minutes of regular time. Despite the pressure, Juventus managed to hold on to their lead and secure the victory.

The defeat leaves Cagliari in 17th place, with only a one-point cushion separating them from the relegation zone. Meanwhile, AC Milan suffered a setback as they let a two-goal lead slip away in their match against Lecce, ultimately settling for a 2-2 draw. The late collapse saw Olivier Giroud receive a red card in injury time.

Stefano Pioli’s side now sits in third place with 23 points, trailing Juventus by six points. They are also five points behind their crosstown rivals Inter, who have a game in hand. Milan’s position in the top three could be in jeopardy if Napoli secures a victory against Empoli on Sunday.

Milan entered the match against Lecce on the back of their first win of the month. However, their momentum was disrupted when Rafael Leao, who impressed in their previous game, was forced off the field due to injury after just 10 minutes. Despite the setback, Milan seemed to be in control as veteran French striker Giroud converted a cross from Theo Hernandez to open the scoring after 30 minutes. Tijjani Reijnders then added another goal five minutes later, marking his first goal for the club since joining from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. Milan had the opportunity to extend their lead further, but Reijnders hit the post.

Lecce managed to reduce the deficit when Nicola Sansone scored from close range, and Lameck Banda equalized in the 70th minute. Sansone came close to securing a late winner, but his header struck the woodwork. In a dramatic turn of events, Giroud received two quick yellow cards for protesting in injury time, prematurely ending his involvement in the game. The drama continued as Lecce forward Roberto Piccoli had an apparent winner disallowed due to a foul on Malick Thiaw.

Following the draw, Lecce now sits in 14th place with 14 points.