Freezing stalemate at the San Siro

Posted Sunday, February 05, 2012 by PA

AC Milan failed to take advantage of leaders Juventus' goalless draw with Siena as they were held to the same scoreline by Napoli at the San Siro.

Robinho missed the best chances of the game for Milan, who ended the game with 10 men after Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off midway through the second half.

Napoli failed to make the most of their one-man advantage for the final 25 minutes and were left still waiting for their first win in five games.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani had asked for the game to be postponed due to the forecast of freezing weather and the compromise of playing the game in the afternoon rather than the evening will have done little to satisfy him, particularly given the outcome of the game.

The pitch at the San Siro is not perfect at the best of times, but in sub-zero temperatures, it became even more slippery than usual.

This prevented Milan and Napoli from playing their preferred styles of play and the pace of the game was reduced substantially, leaving little for the fans to cheer about in the first half.

The best chance fell to Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 23rd minute, but he only found the side-netting after both Ignazio Abate and Philippe Mexes had got in each other's way trying to clear a cross.

Napoli goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis was slightly busier than Christian Abbiati, but he was rarely called into serious action.

Robinho missed a glorious opportunity in the 51st minute when he failed to beat De Sanctis after being put through one-on-one by Ibrahimovic.

Robinho did find the target seven minutes later, but he failed to trouble De Sanctis with a header.

De Sanctis made a much more difficult save to deny Ibrahimovic in the 63rd minute and the Swedish striker let his frustration get the better of him two minutes later when he slapped Salvatore Aronica and saw red.

Napoli sensed their chance to win and Edinson Cavani headed over the crossbar with his first big chance of the game in the 70th minute.

The last chance came at the other end with Robinho again missing, this time denied by De Sanctis.