Roma, AC Milan settle for lifeless draw; Cesena earn point at Sassuolo
Roma was held to a goalless draw at home by 10-man AC Milan as its Serie A title ambition took a blow in the final match of the year on Saturday.
The result meant Juventus will spend the winter break three points clear of Roma after the league leader beat Cagliari 3-1 on Thursday.
Milan remained seventh ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures, but was provisionally two points behind third-place Napoli in their duel for the final Champions League spot.
Milan started the brighter but it was Roma which had the better opportunities, and Rudi Garcia's men should have won the match after Pablo Armero was sent off following a second yellow card.
Earlier, Cesena emerged from the fog of Reggio Emilia with a last-gasp equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo.
Simone Zaza put Sassuolo ahead with a controversial late penalty which was seen by only one half of the stadium as the fog thickened in Emilia-Romagna, but it was the other half of the stadium which witnessed Ze Eduardo's first ever goal in Serie A with practically the last touch of the game.
It denied Eusebio Di Francesco's men a fifth win of the season and first since November 29, but still leaves Cesena without a win since the opening day of the season and stuck inside the bottom three.
Next up for them are Napoli on January 6, when Sassuolo pay AC Milan a visit.
