This week’s Saturday games were filled with controversies, all coming from the referees.
Whatever the occasion, Manuel Locatelli’s stunning strike was superb as it earned AC Milan a 1-0 victory over Serie A leaders Juventus, who controversially had a Miralem Pjanic goal ruled out at San Siro.
Teenage midfielder Locatelli fired a sensational effort beyond Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the 65th minute, with Vincenzo Montella’s side consequently moving to within two points of their table-topping opponents on his 200th Serie A match as a head coach.
The champions may feel hard done by, though, with Pjanic seeing a goal chalked off in the first half due to a debatable offside decision against Medhi Benatia.
After losing Paulo Dybala to injury, the midfielder’s 35-yard free-kick flew beyond the outstretched leg of Leonardo Bonucci, who raced in from a legal position, to nestle in the back of the net.
According to Goal.com, the goal initially stood, but referee Nicola Rizzoli consulted with his assistants following protests by the Milan players and pulled play back for Benatia’s infringement, despite him not appearing to have interfered with play.
It was a bitter defeat for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, whose only prior loss this term came in the same stadium when they were beaten 2-1 by Inter. Although, they are still topping the league but with a close proximity from their arc rivals.