JUVENTUS BACK ON TRACK WITH SECOND-HALF SALVO

Juventus came out on top in a high-tempo clash with AC Milan at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday, as second-half goals from Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah earned them their first win of 2025. Juve had drawn three consecutive Serie A matches and also lost a Supercoppa semi-final to the Rossoneri prior to Saturday’s headline clash, but the hosts were the better team for large swathes of the match, despite showing some concerning frailty at the back. Both teams missed a host of chances in an end-to-end first 45, but the introduction of Weah at half-time changed the balance of the game, with his pace and threat in behind giving Juventus an added attacking weapon which they used to take control of the match after the interval. The opening goal came when Mbangula’s shot was deflected off the boot of Emerson Royal to wrong-foot an otherwise excellent Mike Maignan in the Milan goal, and the second came just five minutes later, with Weah picked out by a classy Khephren Thuram through-ball before finishing well from an angle. The game remained open right up until the final few minutes, when Juventus finally opted to shut up shop. The result moves Thiago Motta’s side into the top four, 10 points behind league leaders Napoli, who face Atalanta tonight. Milan remain eighth, and will still be there at the end of the weekend regardless of results elsewhere.