AFP, Milan :
Zlatan Ibrahimovic snatched a late point for AC Milan in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Udinese which gives the Serie A leaders’ title rivals a chance to steal top spot, while Juventus drew 1-1 at Venezia to slip up in the Champions League race.
Ibrahimovic struck with an acrobatic effort in the 92nd minute to claim a point for the Rossoneri but Inter Milan, who are two points behind their local rivals in second, will end the weekend in first place if they beat struggling Cagliari at the San Siro on Sunday.
Napoli are a further point back and can move level on 39 with Milan before Inter kick off with a win over Empoli in Naples, with some of their key players including Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Lorenzo Insigne back in the squad.
Also waiting in the wings are Atalanta, who sit fourth but are only five points behind Milan ahead of their trip to Verona on Sunday afternoon.
Milan are in the midst of a injury crisis, with starting centre-back Simon Kjaer out long-term and forwards Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic all sidelined, and it was another low-key display after being dumped out of Europe by Liverpool midweek.
“The boys know they aren’t playing to the best of their abilities,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli.
“We need to do better and I’m convinced we will because we have ambition and the ability to both understand our mistakes and work on them.”
Beto put the hosts ahead 16 minutes into Gabriele Cioffi’s first match as Udinese’s caretaker boss when he whacked home on the rebound after Mike Maignan had saved his first effort when clean through on goal.
