AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek (top) scores his second goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
ROME, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- AC Milan missed two penalties on Saturday and only settled for a 2-2 draw against Bologna in Serie A, while 10-man Juventus were held by Empoli 1-1.
The Rossoneri entered San Siro with four consecutive league victories but found themselves on the back foot in the 29th minute when Joshua Zirkzee placed a low strike from a tight angle.
The home side should have taken the lead in the 42nd minute when Simon Kjaer earned a penalty, but Olivier Giroud saw his weak attempt saved by goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.
But Milan still got back on level terms before the break when Davide Calabria rolled across, Ruben Loftus-Cheek tapped it in from a close range.
Milan had another spot-kick in the 75th minute but this time Theo Hernandez hit the upright.
Loftus-Cheek helped Milan turn around the game in the 83rd minute as he redirected Alessandro Florenzi's pass into the net, but Bologna ruined it deep into stoppage time when Riccardo Orsolini stepped up to convert a penalty.
Elsewhere, Juve lost a player just 18 minutes into the game when Arkadiusz Milik was sent off for an awful tackle.
The Bianconeri went ahead straight after the break when Dusan Vlahovic swept it into the net, but Tommaso Baldanzi's blockbuster helped Empoli leave Allianz Stadium with one point.
With the frustrating tie, Juve still rank first but with only two points ahead of Inter Milan who visit Fiorentina on Sunday and have another fixture in hand, while AC Milan place third with 46 points.
Also on Saturday, Atalanta temporarily sit on the fourth place with 36 points after a 2-0 victory over Udinese. ■
AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek (1st L) scores his first goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek (L) celebrates his first goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (R) reacts after missing a penalty kick during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic (4th L) vies with Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori (3rd L) during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek (2nd R) celebrates his first goal with teammates during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini scores during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud misses a penalty kick during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
Bologna's goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski (C) celebrates after blocking a penalty kick by AC Milan's Olivier Giroud during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek (1st R) scores his first goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Bologna in Milan, Italy, Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
FC Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic (L) celebrates his goal with his teammate Federico Gatti during a Serie A soccer match between FC Juventus and Empoli in Turin, Italy, Jan.27, 2024. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua)
FC Juventus' Alex Sandro (L) vies with Empoli's Emmanuel Gyasi during a Serie A soccer match between FC Juventus and Empoli in Turin, Italy, Jan.27, 2024. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua)
FC Juventus' Arkadiusz Milik (L) vies with Empoli's Szymon Zurkowski during a Serie A soccer match between FC Juventus and Empoli in Turin, Italy, Jan.27, 2024. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua)
FC Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso (L) vies with Empoli's Nicolo Cambiaghi during a Serie A soccer match between FC Juventus and Empoli in Turin, Italy, Jan.27, 2024. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua)
FC Juventus' Fabio Miretti (top) vies with Empoli's Ardian Ismajli during a Serie A soccer match between FC Juventus and Empoli in Turin, Italy, Jan.27, 2024. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua)
FC Juventus' head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during a Serie A soccer match between FC Juventus and Empoli in Turin, Italy, Jan.27, 2024. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua)
