January 18, (THEWILL) – Juventus defeated AC Milan 2-0 in their first Serie A encounter of 2025, marking a significant victory at home. Samuel Mbangula delivered an early warning with a curling effort that narrowly missed the target, setting the tone for an intense match between these traditional Italian powerhouses.
The first half demonstrated remarkable attacking intent from both sides, with Pierre Kalulu blocking Rafael Leao’s attempt and Teun Koopmeiners sending his shot wide. Mike Maignan proved crucial for Milan, making a vital intervention to prevent Kenan Yıldız from capitalising on Emerson Royal’s misplaced pass.
The teams exchanged promising opportunities throughout the opening period, with Theo Hernandez and Federico Gatti engaging in notable defensive battles. Despite generating 13 attempts collectively, neither side managed to break the deadlock before half-time.
The second half introduction of Timothy Weah brought renewed energy to Juventus’s attack. The breakthrough arrived near the hour mark when Mbangula’s deflected shot struck the crossbar and found its way past Maignan. Weah doubled the advantage five minutes later, outmanoeuvring Fikayo Tomori before finishing with precision following Khephren Thuram’s assist.
This result ended Juventus’s sequence of three consecutive Serie A draws and maintained their unbeaten status in the league this season. The victory propelled them into fourth position, above Lazio, albeit temporarily. For AC Milan, this marked their first setback under Sergio Conceicao’s management, halting an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
The defeat kept Milan in eighth position, while Juventus continued their pursuit of the leading pack in Serie A. Theo Hernandez’s late free-kick attempt failed to trouble the Juventus defence, confirming the home side’s dominance in this crucial fixture.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
