Pulisic and Leao ruin Modric's masterclass as Juve and Milan share spoils

A derby without goals - but full of football.

No goals, but no boredom either. The Juventus-Milan showdown in Serie A's sixth round offered everything but the ball crossing the line. A fierce duel packed with pace, tension, and skill - and enough drama to fill a highlight reel.

Milan will feel they left victory behind at the Allianz Stadium. Christian Pulisic launched a penalty into orbit early in the second half, while Rafael Leao wasted two splendid chances after coming off the bench, and Santiago Gimenez couldn't finish either.

On the other side, Juventus survived five huge Milan chances - and might just call this point a gift from the football gods. Yet they'll also wonder "what if?" - especially after Federico Gatti's second-half point-blank effort was denied by the inspired Mike Maignan, with one of Serie A's standout saves of the season.

From box to box, Luka Modric, 40, and Adrien Rabiot dictated the rhythm. They raised and lowered the tempo with surgical control. Had Milan won - had Pulisic or Leao found the net, to be precise - the 40-year-old Croatian's display would have been the headline itself.

Twice, Modric showed why Milan became a Scudetto contender since his arrival. First, his precision pass set up the penalty, forcing Gimenez into a foul after Kelly's clumsy contact. Then another inch-perfect through ball sent Leao clear, only for the Portuguese to squander it with a weak left-foot effort straight at Michele Di Gregorio.

On a night when the Rossoneri boss, Max Allegri, became the man to coach the most Milan-Juve derbies in history, both teams delivered a masterclass in discipline. They attacked when the space opened, defended when the storm came, and played with brains as much as heart.

It was Allegri's 32nd derby of this kind - 21st on Juve's bench, along with 11 with Milan. Thus, he surpassed the legendary Giovanni Trapattoni.

And what about Serie A? The race is still wide open.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 6

Friday

Verona - Sassuolo 0-1 (0-0)

/Pinamonti 71/

Saturday

Lazio - Torino 3-3 (2-1)

/Cancellieri 24,40, Cataldi 90+13 pen - Simeone 16, Adams 73, Coco 90+3/

Parma - Lecce 0-1 (0-1)

/Sottil 38/

Inter - Cremonese 4-1 (2-0)

/Lautaro 6, Bonny 38, Dimarco 55, Barella 57 - Bonazzoli 87/

Atalanta - Como 1-1 (1-1)

/Samardzic 6 - Perrone 19/

Sunday

Udinese - Cagliari 1-1 (0-1)

/Kabasele 58 - Borrelli 25/

Bologna - Pisa 4-0 (3-0)

/Cambiaghi 24, Moro 38, Orsolini 40, Odgaard 53/

Fiorentina - Roma 1-2 (1-2)

/Kean 14 - Soule 22, Cristante 30/

Napoli - Genoa 2-1 (0-1)

/Zambo-Anguissa 57, Hojlund 75 - Ekhator 33/

Juventus - Milan 0-0