Juve squeeze past 10-man Lazio to move level with Napoli

Juventus moved level on points with Serie A leaders Napoli on Saturday after squeezing past 10-man Lazio 1-0, while AC Milan overcame having to play for over an hour with 10 men to beat Udinese by the same score.

Mario Gila’s own goal with five minutes remaining gave Juve the win in Turin, a crushing blow for Lazio who acquitted themselves well after Alessio Romagnoli was sent off in the 24th minute.

Thiago Motta’s Juve looked set to dominate when Romagnoli was shown a straight red card for taking out Pierre Kalulu as he raced towards goal.

But Lazio had little trouble holding off Juve’s uninspired attacking, who had to rely on Gila poking Juan Cabal’s low cross into his own goal in order to take the three points.

“It was a difficult match against a good team,” said Motta.

“It’s our first win at home (in the league) since August and it was deserved.”

Lazio, in fifth, were angered by Douglas Luiz not being sent off for punching Patric, an offence which was apparently not seen by the VAR officials.

“It is violent conduct and should have been a red card. I do not understand why it was not sanctioned. We feel that we are being taken for a ride,” said sporting director Angelo Mariano Fabiani.

Juve have a better goal difference than Napoli but stay behind their rivals, coached by Antonio Conte, as they have played a game more.

Napoli can ensure they stay top with a win at Empoli in Sunday’s lunchtime match, while champions Inter Milan, who sit two points off the pace alongside their local rivals Milan, are at Roma.

– Battling Milan –

Samuel Chukwueze’s 13th-minute strike looked like being the first of a comfortable win for Milan but ended up being the winning goal as the seven-time European champions held on for the points.

Their task was