Lazio put the brakes on Juventus’s bid to extend their Serie A lead by holding the champions to a scoreless draw on Saturday as AC Milan fought back to grab a share of the points in a 2-2 draw at Napoli.
Vladimir Petkovic’s side went in to their 13th game of the season knowing their past history against Juve in Turin was firmly against them.
But four days before Juve host Chelsea in the Champions League, the Biancocelesti escaped a torrid second half to grab a share of the points at Juventus Stadium.
It was only Juventus’s second draw of the season and leaves the Bianconeri top on 32 points, five in front of Inter ahead of their home match against Cagliari on Sunday.
A win for Napoli would have allowed Walter Mazzarri’s side to leapfrog Inter into second, but two goals from Stephan El Shaarawy left the Partenopei with their third draw of the season.
Napoli’s last Serie A defeat was a 2-0 reverse to Juventus a month ago and the hosts started positively, thanks in large part to Milan ‘keeper Christian Abbiati.
Gokhan Inler was unmarked and over 30 metres from goal when Marek Hamsik’s pass arrived but the Swiss midfielder’s left-foot strike wrong-footed Abbiati in the Milan net.
Lorenzo Insigne doubled Napoli’s lead on the half hour when he swivelled on Christian Maggio’s pass from the right to beat Abbiati with a shot which bobbled through the keeper’s legs.
Two minutes later Insigne spurned a chance for his second when he pounced on a disastrous backpass from defender Kevin Constant but chose to square the ball for Cavani, who was closed down, instead of shooting.
At the other end Napoli keeper Morgan De Sanctis had to get down smartly to collect as El Shaarawy chased down a loose ball in front of goal.
But the ‘keeper could then only watch as El Shaarawy struck a tremendous ninth goal of the league season.
Kevin Prince Boateng was given time down the left and sent in a pass which El Shaarawy, lurking on the edge of the area, hit first time from 18 metres to beat a helpless De Sanctis.
Milan came out fired up for the second half and Cavani let his frustration loose with a hard tackle from behind on Bojan which earned the Uruguayan a yellow card.
When Bojan collected Riccardo Montolivo’s pass on the left of goal the Spaniard sent his effort high as El Shaarawy looked on in frustration.
Napoli remained a constant threat, but ultimately failed to score.
Juan Zuniga’s short pass to Hamsik on the left allowed the Slovak to send a low ball across goal which Christian Maggio failed to convert after arriving late at the back post.
Cavani was then gifted a chance but sent his shot straight at Abbiati, who saved with his feet.
On 67 minutes Hamsik was through on goal after being put through by Cavani’s punt under pressure, but he sent his effort wide of Abbiati’s upright.
At the other end De Sanctis did well to come out and block Bojan as he surged towards goal on the right.
And moments later the Spaniard’s frustration was complete when he was bundled to the ground by Cavani as he ran down on goal.
Before he had even begun to complain, Bojan was shown a yellow card for what looked like a sure foul by Cavani
In the final 10 minutes Allegri replaced Boateng with Robinho, and it proved an inspired move.
Moments later the Brazilian sliced open the Napoli defence with a ball which El Shaarawy, running in from the left, sent past De Sanctis at his far post.
Lazio hold Juve, Milan grab draw at Napoli
