Juventus missed the chance to take a big step toward a ninth successive Serie A title as it let a two-goal lead slip away in a surprising 4-2 loss at AC Milan on Tuesday.
After second-place Lazio lost 2-1 at relegation-threatened Lecce earlier, Juventus could have extended its lead at the top of the table to 10 points with a win.
“We had 60 good minutes. We were in control of the game, then there was a blackout. No need to dwell on that as we have another match in a few days,” Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri said.
“It has happened to other teams, because this is a difficult time for everyone, physically and mentally. We must remain calm, also because the reasons for certain situations are difficult to find.”
Milan moved up to fifth, boosting its chances of securing a Europa League spot.
“If I had been here from the first day, we would have won the title,” said Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who arrived in January.
A tight first half finished scoreless after Ibrahimovic had a goal ruled out for offside shortly before the break.
But Adrien Rabiot broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart by curling a strike into the top right corner. And Cristiano Ronaldo doubled Juve’s lead six minutes later.
However, Milan turned the match around in the space of five minutes.
First Ibrahimovic converted a penalty in the 62nd minute following a handball from Leonardo Bonucci. Then came quickfire goals from Franck Kessié and substitute Rafael Leão.
Milan extended its advantage 10 minutes from full time when Giacomo Bonaventura capitalized on an error from Juventus defender Alex Sandro to set up Ante Rebic.-AP
AC Milan's Franck Kessie, right, celebrates with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)