Milan show some mettle
Lazio put the brakes on Juventus's bid to extend their Serie A lead by holding the champions to a scoreless draw on Saturday as AC Milan fought back to grab a share of the points in a 2-2 draw at Napoli.
Vladimir Petkovic's side went in to their 13th game of the season knowing their past history against Juve in Turin was firmly against them.
But four days before Juve host Chelsea in the Champions League, the Biancocelesti escaped a torrid second half to grab a share of the points at Juventus Stadium.
"It's a good point for us as regards morale," said Petkovic, whose side had goalkeeper Federico Marchetti to thank for keeping them in the game.
"Thanks to Marchetti and the defence that we managed to grab a share of the points."
Juventus's second draw of the season leaves the Bianconeri top on 32 points, five ahead of Inter and Napoli ahead of the former's home match against Cagliari on Sunday.
A win for Napoli would have allowed Walter Mazzarri's side to leapfrog Inter into second, but a brace from Stephan El Shaarawy left the frustrated Partenopei with their third draw of the season.
Napoli's last Serie A defeat was a 2-0 reverse to Juventus a month ago and the hosts started positively, thanks in large part to Milan 'keeper Christian Abbiati.
Gokhan Inler was unmarked and over 30 metres from goal when Marek Hamsik's pass arrived but the Swiss midfielder's left-foot strike wrong-footed Abbiati in the Milan net.
Lorenzo Insigne doubled Napoli's lead on the half hour when he swivelled on Christian Maggio's pass from the right to beat Abbiati with a shot which bobbled through the keeper's legs.
Napoli and Milan both went on to waste scoring chances, and the hosts were soon counting the cost when El Shaarawy struck a tremendous ninth league goal of the season in the 44th minute.
Kevin Prince Boateng was given time down the left and sent in a pass which El Shaarawy, lurking on the edge of the area, hit first time from 18 metres to beat a helpless De Sanctis.
It was a lively second half, with Spanish forward Bojan and Christian Maggio missing chances to put their respective sides ahead.
RESULTS
Juventus 0 Lazio 0
Napoli 2 (Inler 4, Insigne 30) AC Milan 2 (El Shaarawy 44, 82)
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