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Juventus vs. AC Milan: Score, Reaction from 2016 Italian Super Cup Final
- Updated: December 23, 2016
AC Milan shocked Juventus in the 2016 Italian Super Cup in Doha, Qatar on Friday, beating the Serie A champions on penalties. The match ended with a score of 1-1, and the Rossoneri won the shootout 4-3.
Giorgio Chiellini gave the Bianconeri an early lead, but Giacomo Bonaventura tied things up before half-time.
Both teams had their moments in the second half, although Milan gradually took the upper hand. Neither team would score again in regulation, and penalties eventually decided the winner. Gianluigi Donnarumma stopped Paulo Dybala’s effort, and Mario Pasalic fired his team to the title.
As Juventus’ official Twitter account shared, star forward Dybala started on the bench, with the Argentinian still looking for his best form after a lengthy absence due to injury:
#Juventus XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pjanic; Mandzukic, Higuain. #JuveMilan
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 23, 2016
Star goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reached an incredible milestone on Friday:
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Juventus appearances for @gianluigibuffon. Tonight, his incredible story goes on. #NumeroUno #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve #JuveMilan pic.twitter.com/qKQyEVilMD
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 23, 2016
Milan kept Gianluca Lapadula on the bench, with an out-of-form Carlos Bacca starting in his place:
#ACMilan XI: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Locatelli, Bertolacci; Suso, Bacca, Bonaventura #JuveMilan pic.twitter.com/5pQ7OuN2Tw
— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 23, 2016
Juventus got off to a quick start, as Stefano Sturaro had a shot blocked, and it took just minutes for Milan to voice their displeasure with the official. Chiellini tripped up Bacca, who was rightly frustrated when he wasn’t awarded a free-kick.
Miralem Pjanic and Gonzalo Higuain combined to give the latter a shooting chance, with Donnarumma making a fine save, before it was Juventus’ turn to complain about the officiating. Pjanic was run over on the edge of the box while in the process of shooting, but once again, the referee didn’t budge.
The Bianconeri continued their solid start, and Mario Mandzukic put Donnarumma to work with a hard shot.
Sturaro put pressure on Donnarumma with an ambitious slide, and the midfielder forced a difficult clearance, with the ball eventually landing with Higuain. Gabriel Paletta pulled down the Argentinian, giving Pjanic a free-kick from a great position. The Bosnian hit the wall, however.
Donnarumma made another massive save after 17 minutes, as Higuain played in Sturaro after a quick counter. Pjanic delivered a perfect delivery from the resulting corner, however, and Chiellini poked the ball home.
Injured team-mate Leonardo Bonucci loved it:
@chiellini grande king kong!!!!
— Leonardo Bonucci (@bonucci_leo19) December 23, 2016
Milan tried to respond through Suso, who curled a great shot just past the far post, but Buffon covered his angles.
Things got a little heated when Mandzukic and Paletta had words and Pjanic caught …
