Christian Pulisic’s third goal of the season for AC Milan proved to be decisive in keeping them within reach of Serie A’s top spot, while Weston McKennie and Tim Weah both featured for Juventus in a surprisingly stale draw at Atalanta.
AC Milan 2 – 0 Lazio
AC Milan needed nearly an hour to break through, however Christian Pulisic’s goal proved to be decisive in their shut-out victory over last season’s Serie A runners-up Lazio on Saturday.
In just over 80 minutes of play, the USMNT star showed the kind of form that fans beg to see, actively pressuring on the right side in an outside of the penalty area, while proving decisive in the final outcome.
In addition to his third goal of the season, he forced Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel into a save with his only other shot, set up a pair of chances, won two of his four dribble attempts, fired in three accurate crosses in seven attempts, won two of his three tackles, and won six out of 11 duels.
Despite beginning the game on the bench, fellow USMNT starter Yunus Musah had an extended run-out following Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s early injury, playing the final hour, forcing a save with his only shot, completing all but one of his 23 passing attempts, winning both of his duels, and drawing one foul.
Pulisic and Leao teamed up for the first real chance of the game in the 33rd minute; the American fed his Portuguese teammate out wide left on a break, who worked his way into the area and unleashed a near-post attempt that Provedel easily parried out of bounds for a corner.
While Lazio occasionally tested Rossoneri keeper Mike Maignan, they were largely dominated in the run of play, and were unable to generate any truly dangerous moments around the hosts’ goal.
Pulisic finally found the breakthrough just before the hour mark, putting the final touch on a fine team effort that included some fine footwork from Musah several passes before the goal.
The decisive break was made by Leao, who slipped free on the left side of the area behind his marking defender, and lobbed a short cross from near the endline backwards to the penalty spot. Pulisic had quietly snuck in from the right side, and slammed the 11-yard shot to the lower left corner with his first touch for the lead.
Musah nearly scored his first in the Milan jersey shortly before the 73-minute mark, receiving a pass from Pulisic a the edge of the area and taking a pair of acrobatic touches to put himself into position, however his shot was blocked by Provedel.
Moments later, Pulisic nearly triggered another, sending a corner into the six-yard box that Fikayo Tomori powerfully headed directly into Provedel’s steady hands.
Rounding out his short flurry of action, Pulisic nearly put another past the well-tested Provedel in the 76th minute, sharply one-timing a short cross from the edge of the area to the left upright, only to once again see the opposing keeper thwart his effort.
While Pulisic’s afternoon was finished after 82 minutes, with Samuel Chukwueze taking his place, Milan were not yet finished, and wrapped up the 2-0 victory with Noah Okafor’s short toe-poke with three minutes left in regulation.
The Rossoneri remain tied with league leaders Inter on points, but trail by way of head-to-head record and goal differential. They visit Dortmund on Wednesday for Pulisic’s homecoming at BVB in the Champions League, then visit Genoa three days later in their final match before the international break.
Atalanta 0 – 0 Juventus
Weston McKennie kept his starting spot at right wing-back for Juventus, playing 84 minutes before predictably giving way for USMNT teammate Tim Weah in the Bianconeri’s scoreless draw at Atalanta.
Much like the rest of the Juventus lineup, McKennie had a subdued performance, with the Bianconeri largely hindered by a surprisingly strong defensive performance from the typically attack-heavy Atalanta.
He had 54 touches in 84 minutes, completed 81% of his 36 passes, without taking a short or directly setting up any attempts, accurately hit his only attempted long ball, won two out of six duels, and committed a pair of fouls.
The American was in position near the right upright to send a follow-up header goalward in the 31st minute after Nicolò Fagioli’s attempt was blocked by Juan Musso, however was well-defended on the play.
Eight minutes after the break, Juve defender Danilo was lucky to only receive a yellow card, after he upended Charles de Keteleare with a two-footed lunge, however referee Daniele Chiffi and the VAR crew were charitable, leaving the visitors with a full 11 players on the field.
Atalanta substitute Luis Muriel’s near-perfect free kick was kept out in the 74th minute by a fully-perfect fingertip save by Wojciech Szczesny, then the Colombian striker nearly beat him with a distance shot to the lower left corner with just under three minutes left.
Weah took McKennie’s place with six minutes left as a part of a double-switch, at which point the visitors were seemingly content to ride out the draw.
Juventus drop to fourth place following the weekend’s round of Serie A games, and host city rivals Torino on Saturday in the Derby della Mole.
Modena 1 – 3 Venezia
Tanner Tessmann put in his usual strong performance in Venezia’s midfield alongside Gianluca Busio on Saturday, helping the team bounce back from their midweek disappointment in a resounding win over Modena.
The USMNT hopeful had 62 ball contacts, completed 83% of his 46 passes, accurately hit eight out of 12 combined crosses and long balls, took three corners, beat the opposition on both of his attempted dribbles, won all three of his tackles, made eight recoveries, won seven out of 12 duels and didn’t commit any fouls.
While Modena struck first after Nicholas Bonfanti headed in Antonio Palumbo’s header in the 48th minute, Venezia equalized seven minutes later thanks to Giorgio Altare’s towering header, and never looked back.
Christian Gytkjær gave them the lead in the 76th minute with a fine strike on the turn, then Bjarki Steinn Bjarkason sealed the win with seven minutes left with a spectacular blast from the right flank.
Venezia will face their biggest test of the season when they next take the field on Saturday, as they welcome Serie B leaders and fellow promotion hopefuls Parma.
Notes
Andrija Novakovich started up top for Lecco on Sunday as they added another loss to their dismal record, this time falling 2-1 on the road at Cittadella. One of the stronger performers on his team, the American played 66 minutes, took a pair of shots and created one chance, won 12 out of 20 duels, drew one foul and was successful on his two attempted dribbles. Lecco remain dead-last, and next face Cosenza on Saturday.
Kris Lund maintained his spot in Palermo’s starting XI on Saturday, playing just under an hour in their 2-1 home win over Südtirol. Playing on the left side of the defense, he completed 17 out of 19 passes, created one chance, won both of his dribbles, hit two accurate crosses in three attempts, won six out of seven duels, drew three fouls and committed none. Palermo are second in Serie B following the win, and are next in action on Saturday at Modena.
