Francesco Totti ended his two-month injury absence for Roma but had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw away to Milan, who had Sulley Muntari to thank for a late leveller at the San Siro on Monday.
Roma travelled to struggling Milan looking to close the gap on leaders Juventus to three points after the Serie A champions had opened up a six-point gap with an eighth consecutive win on Sunday.
But despite bossing Milan in almost every department, Roma had to settle for their fifth draw in six matches to remain second, five points behind.
“I’m happy with the performance but not the result because we were in front twice,” said Roma coach Rudi Garcia, who steered his side to a Serie A record of 10 opening wins at the start of the season.
“When you have so many chances on goal, normally you win. We should have scored a third. But taking a point at Milan is not so bad.”
Despite Milan’s domestic struggles, they remain Italy’s sole representative in the Champions League after exits by Juventus and Napoli last week.
And after batting away questions about their last 16 opponents Atletico Madrid, coach Massimiliano Allegri said: “We played well technically in the second half, we were braver and took the game more to Roma even though it left us more exposed to counter attacks.”
Roma started brightly and opened the scoring before the quarter hour through Mattia Destro, only to be pegged back by a Cristian Zapata leveller on the half hour.
The visitors restored their lead on 51 minutes when Kevin Strootman scored from the penalty spot but Milan were handed a lifeline when Muntari made the best of Mario Balotelli’s pass to beat Morgan De Sanctis on 77 minutes.
Roma’s Ivorian striker Gervinho looked particularly lively in the opening period and forced Christian Abbiati to save down low at his near post inside 10 minutes.
But it was from Strootman’s run down the left that Roma opened their account, Destro sliding in unchallenged to slot the ball home on 13 minutes.
It was Milan’s 114th anniversary on Monday, but there was little to celebrate as the hosts struggled for rhythm against a well-oiled Roma side and Gervinho’s lightning runs.
However against the run of play Milan found the breakthrough from a corner, Zapata meeting Muntari’s header with a bouncing header of his own to beat De Sanctis on the half hour.
Roma thought they had restored their lead a minute later but Michael Bradley’s effort from a tight angle bounced off the goalline.
Destro threatened again just before half time but Milan’s blushes were saved by a timely tackle from Daniele Bonera.
Abbiati failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Gabriel, who after seven minutes failed to stop Strootman’s spot kick after the ‘keeper ran out and fouled Gervinho on the edge of the box.
Totti replaced Destro in the 64th minute and the Roma veteran was immediately involved in the build-up which saw Bradley head just wide from six metres out.
Until then, Milan had not looked likely to score an equaliser. But in the 77th minute Muntari made the best of Balotelli’s lay-off to the right on the edge of the area to beat De Sanctis down low to the keeper’s left.
The goal revived Milan and after penalty claims were waved away, when Mattia De Sciglio’s cross into the area was chested down by Nicolas Burdisso, De Sanctis did well to punch out Balotelli’s fierce free kick after Montolivo had been upended.
Both Balotelli and Gervinho had chances to snatch a win at the death but after turning his marker in the box Balotelli’s tame left-foot shot went wide of the target and Gervinho’s effort went just wide after he had sidestepped Bonera.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0DJemma%20Eley%2C%20Maria%20Michailidou%2C%20Molly%20Fuller%2C%20Chloe%20Andrews%20(of%20Dubai%20College)%2C%20Eliza%20Petricola%2C%20Holly%20Guerin%2C%20Yasmin%20Craig%2C%20Caitlin%20Gowdy%20(Dubai%20English%20Speaking%20College)%2C%20Claire%20Janssen%2C%20Cristiana%20Morall%20(Jumeirah%20English%20Speaking%20School)%2C%20Tessa%20Mies%20(Jebel%20Ali%20School)%2C%20Mila%20Morgan%20(Cranleigh%20Abu%20Dhabi).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
- 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
- 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
- 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
- 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16
Squads:
- UAE: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
- Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
The biog
Age: 19
Profession: medical student at UAE university
Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)
Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Johnstone, Pickford, Ramsdale
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Godfrey, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White
Midfielders Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse
Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins
MATCH INFO
Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
