Juventus and AC Milan drew 1-1 in Serie A after Federico Gatti scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser, cancelling out Alphadjo Cissé second-half opener.
Juventus and Milan share points after late Gatti equaliser
Juventus and AC Milan were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on Sunday in one of the standout matches of the third round of Serie A, with Federico Gatti rescuing a point for the Turin side deep into stoppage time after Alphadjo Cissé had put Milan ahead in the second half. The result leaves both clubs on seven points from their opening three league matches, while Roma and Inter remain clear at the top with nine. Lazio could still join the leading pair if they maintain their perfect record when they face Udinese on Monday.
The match also carried particular interest because of the Portuguese presence on both sides. Francisco Conceição was included in the Juventus starting line-up, while Milan were led by Rúben Amorim and started with Gonçalo Ramos in attack. With both teams entering the fixture unbeaten and looking to remain close to the early Serie A leaders, there was little room for error, and that was reflected in a contest that remained extremely tight for long periods.
Neither side was able to take control of the scoreline in the opening hour, despite the attacking quality available to both coaches. Juventus looked to make use of Conceição ability to create danger from wide areas, while Milan tried to provide Ramos with service in advanced positions. The balance of the match meant that one goal always looked capable of changing everything, and that breakthrough eventually arrived in the 68th minute.
Cissé gives Milan the advantage
Alphadjo Cissé was the player who finally broke the deadlock, producing the goal that placed Amorim side in front with just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining. It was a significant moment for the young player and gave Milan a major opportunity to leave Turin with all three points. At 1-0, the visitors were in a strong position, particularly because the match had offered so few clear openings until that stage.
The goal immediately changed the pressure surrounding both teams. Milan were suddenly in a position where game management became increasingly important, while Juventus had to take more risks in search of an equaliser. For Amorim, the objective was clear: maintain organisation, limit spaces around the penalty area and protect the advantage during the final phase of the match. Juventus, meanwhile, had no choice but to push greater numbers forward.
The situation made the closing stages increasingly tense. Milan were moving towards what would have been a hugely important victory against a direct rival, while Juventus saw the prospect of their first Serie A defeat of the season becoming more realistic with every passing minute. The Turin side continued to press, however, refusing to accept the 1-0 scoreline and keeping Milan under pressure until the very end.
That persistence was eventually rewarded in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Gatti rose to meet the ball and directed a header into the net, restoring parity at 1-1 and dramatically changing the outcome. Milan had been only moments away from securing three points, but the late equaliser meant Amorim team had to settle for one.
Gatti rescues Juventus in stoppage time
The timing of Gatti goal made it particularly important for Juventus. A defeat would have left the Turin club on six points and allowed Milan to move three points ahead of them after only three rounds. Instead, the defender ensured Juventus remained level with their opponents on seven points and preserved an unbeaten opening to the domestic campaign.
Late goals often carry significance beyond the immediate result, and this one was no different. Juventus had spent much of the final phase trying to find a way back into the match, and the equaliser reflected their refusal to stop pushing. Even though they could not complete a comeback, avoiding defeat against Milan ensured the early gap to the teams above them remained manageable.
For Milan, the emotional impact was naturally very different. Cissé goal appeared to have put them in a position to claim one of their strongest results of the opening weeks, only for that advantage to disappear in added time. A victory would have taken Amorim side onto nine points alongside Roma and Inter, giving them a perfect record after three matches. Instead, the late concession leaves Milan two points behind the leaders.
Even so, remaining unbeaten after a difficult away fixture at Juventus continues what has been a solid opening to the season. Seven points from the first three matches keeps Milan firmly among the leading group, and the fact that they were so close to winning in Turin will offer encouragement despite the frustration of conceding so late.
Portuguese influence on both sides
The match also placed considerable focus on Francisco Conceição and Gonçalo Ramos, who both started for their respective clubs. Conceição has become an important attacking option for Juventus, offering directness and creativity in the final third, while Ramos was trusted from the beginning by Amorim as Milan looked for a way through the home defence.
The presence of Amorim on the Milan bench added another Portuguese element to a match already featuring two prominent internationals. The coach has begun shaping the team according to his own ideas, and the early league results suggest Milan are once again determined to compete near the top of Serie A. Leaving Turin with one point is not a poor result in isolation, although the circumstances will inevitably make it feel like an opportunity missed.
For Juventus, Conceição inclusion from the beginning underlined his importance within the attacking structure. While Gatti ultimately became the decisive player on the scoresheet, the match required a collective effort from Juventus to stay in contention after falling behind. The late equaliser ensured their positive start remained intact.
Roma and Inter benefit from the draw
The biggest beneficiaries of the result were arguably Roma and Inter. Both clubs have won all three of their opening league matches and remain on nine points, two clear of Juventus and Milan. The draw in Turin ensured neither challenger could join them at the summit on Sunday evening.
With Serie A still in its opening stages, the table remains extremely compressed and conclusions are naturally premature. Even so, early momentum can be important, especially when several major clubs are expected to compete for the title and Champions League places. Roma and Inter have created a small early advantage, while Juventus and Milan remain close enough to ensure there is already significant pressure around each fixture.
Lazio could add another dimension to the picture on Monday. They also entered the weekend with a perfect record and have the opportunity to move onto nine points when they face Udinese. If they win, Serie A would have three teams level at the top after three rounds, with Juventus and Milan sitting just behind on seven.
The early standings therefore already point towards a competitive battle among several of the traditional leading clubs. A single late goal, such as the one scored by Gatti, can make a meaningful difference even at this stage. Had Milan held on, they would have joined Roma and Inter at the top. Instead, both Milan and Juventus remain two points behind.
Milan left frustrated after losing late lead
From a Milan perspective, the most difficult aspect of the result is undoubtedly the timing of the equaliser. Leading from the 68th minute until the second minute of stoppage time means Amorim side had already done much of the difficult work required to secure an away victory. They had found the breakthrough, protected the lead through most of the closing phase and were approaching the final whistle when Gatti intervened.
Cissé contribution remains one of the major positives. Scoring in a high-profile fixture against Juventus is an important moment for any young player, and his goal demonstrated the depth available to Milan. The fact that it came in such a tight match also made it particularly valuable at the time.
Amorim will nevertheless know that protecting narrow advantages against direct rivals can be decisive across a long season. Serie A title races are often defined by fine margins, and dropping two points in stoppage time is the type of moment that teams remember. At the same time, the broader picture remains positive: Milan are unbeaten, have seven points from three games and have already shown they can compete away against one of the strongest sides in the division.
Juventus preserve unbeaten start
Juventus can view the same moment very differently. The home side appeared to be heading towards their first defeat of the campaign before Gatti intervention changed the story. Securing a point from a losing position demonstrates resilience and ensures confidence remains relatively high heading into the next round.
The Turin club will still be aware that dropping two points at home is not ideal, especially with Roma and Inter already setting a perfect early pace. However, avoiding defeat against Milan is considerably better than allowing a direct rival to move three points ahead. In that sense, Gatti goal may prove valuable when the standings begin to take greater shape later in the season.
Juventus now have seven points from their first three matches, matching Milan. Neither club has managed to keep pace with Roma and Inter so far, but both remain close enough that the early title picture can change quickly. A single victory or defeat in the coming rounds could immediately alter the order.
An early sign of a tight Serie A race
The 1-1 draw also reinforced the sense that Serie A could develop into a tightly contested campaign. Juventus and Milan both possess the quality and depth to challenge at the top, while Roma and Inter have begun with maximum points. Lazio are also in position to join them, creating the possibility of several clubs being separated by only a few points during the opening weeks.
For now, Juventus and Milan will have mixed feelings. Neither lost, both remain unbeaten and both collected a point from one of the most difficult fixtures on the calendar. Yet both can also identify reasons to feel disappointed. Juventus were at home and failed to win, while Milan were seconds away from taking all three points.
The decisive sequence in stoppage time therefore defined the entire evening. Cissé had appeared set to be the match winner after scoring in the 68th minute, but Gatti header in the 92nd minute ensured the points were shared. What looked like a major Milan victory became a draw, while Juventus escaped a first defeat and maintained contact with the leaders.
After three rounds, Roma and Inter remain in front with nine points, Juventus and Milan follow on seven, and Lazio still have the chance to join the leaders on Monday. The season has barely begun, but the margins between the leading clubs are already proving extremely small. In Turin, those margins came down to one late header that kept Juventus unbeaten and denied Milan a place at the top.
