MILAN // Ten-man AC Milan handed Roma their first home draw of the season to leave Rudi Garcia’s title challengers three points adrift of leaders Juventus on Saturday.
Roma had recently capitalised on two consecutive draws by defending champions Juve to reduce their deficit to a point.
But in their final game of the year, the Giallorossi -- denied a first-half penalty after a clear handball by Nigel De Jong -- ultimately failed to break down a well-drilled Milan side in a thrilling Stadio Olimpico goalless stalemate.
Roma remain second, three points adrift of Juve after their 3-1 win at Cagliari on Thursday, with Napoli in third a further nine points adrift. Milan remain seventh but are only two points off Napoli in the final Champions League qualifying spot.
Garcia admitted his side “lacked a bit of creativity” but hinted Roma, in contention for the league, Italian Cup and Europa League, were feeling the effects of those demands.
“All the clubs welcome this break: footballers aren’t machines, they can’t go ten months non-stop without resting,” said Garcia.
“I hope the guys come back from the holidays utterly determined and with the same hunger we’ve shown up till now.”
Milan’s 2-0 home win over Napoli last week put much-needed wind into their sails and Filippo Inzaghi was so delighted he said Milan should be aiming higher than just qualification for the Champions League.
“We are Milan, we shouldn’t be fighting to finish third. We should be gunning for the title,” said the Milan handler.
Milan underlined their intentions from the outset of a balanced first half at the Stadio Olimpico and, but for Pablo Armero’s sending-off in the 70th minute for a handling offence, Milan might have snatched a win.
Inzaghi added: “I’m really happy. Even when we were down to ten men we were controlling play to the extent I thought we would win.”
Seconds after kick-off Keisuke Honda fired a speculative shot from 25 metres to force Morgan De Sanctis into a double save at his near post after Andrea Poli rushed in to fire the rebound from a tight angle.
Garcia had left on-form Serbian Adem Ljajic on the bench in place of Alessandro Florenzi, who was given a rare start up front alongside Francesco Totti and Gervinho, who hobbled off in the final minutes after suffering a knock.
But the normally potent Roma front line was conspicuous by its absence. After half-chances by Florenzi and Totti went amiss, Gervinho provided the first real threat.
The Ivorian slalomed his way into the Milan area and skipped around Phillipe Mexes to fire a low shot which Lopez did well to block.
Roma were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty soon after when a corner whipped in from the left was deflected by the forearm of Nigel De Jong.
Despite protests, Roma’s pleas fell on deaf ears but Garcia later hit out: “I’ve said this before but if the goal-line officials don’t take responsibility for things there’s no point having them.”
Milan started in more positive fashion after the restart but Giacomo Bonaventura’s low drive was blocked by De Sanctis.
Roma were creating little, but the game changed in their favour in the space of three second-half minutes.
Florenzi made way for Adem Ljajic, Roma’s top scorer with six goals this season, and shortly after Milan were reduced to 10 men when Armero earned a second yellow card for a handball incident while tackling Maicon.
Inzaghi replaced Honda with Brazilian defender Alex, while De Rossi came off in place of Mattia Destro as Garcia boosted Roma’s attack. The hosts, however, ultimately failed to capitalise.
Destro had claims for a penalty waved away after being wrestled to the ground by Mexes, who minutes later had a violent reaction to the striker after he arrived late to meet a Gervinho through ball and almost striking Lopez’s head.
With the clock ticking down, Gervinho gave the hosts some late hope with a mazy run into the Milan area but after a one-two with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa the Ivorian’s shot was blocked by an alert Lopez as he tumbled to the ground under a challenge.
Gervinho set for scans on ankle knock
Ivory Coast striker Gervinho is set to undergo scans to determine the seriousness of a right ankle knock suffered in a scoreless draw at home to Milan on Saturday.
Gervinho hobbled off in the final minutes of the Stadio Olimpico clash and did not make it back on to the pitch as Roma suffered their first home draw of the season to drop to three points behind leaders Juventus.
The 27-year-old striker is expected to be called up by Ivory Coast for the 2015 African Cup of Nations to be held January 17 to February 8.
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