MILAN: AC Milan slipped up in Serie A’s race for the Champions League on Monday after allowing struggling Salernitana to escape the San Siro with a 1-1 draw.

Champions Milan could have drawn level on 50 points with second-placed Inter Milan but stay fourth on 48 following Boulaye Dia’s 61st minute leveller after Olivier Giroud had headed the hosts in front on the stroke of half-time, making it their third winless outing in a row in all competitions.

It was a deeply disappointing result after coming into Mon­day’s match on a high, reaching their first Champions League quarter-finals in 11 years after knocking out Totte­nham Hotspur on Wednesday night.

“We had to do better, this was a chance and we knew it was... we need to grow up a bit,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli to Sky. “We need to grow mentally, because we’re a team that should be competitive both in Europe and Italy.

“We’re playing five days after a good performance which should have given us energy and intensity and looking at how we conceded our goal we were lacking something.

“There was no mental or physical decline, we simply had to do more. We conceded an avoidable goal from a throw-in. Then the game became edgy and we weren’t able to pull ahead. A missed opportunity.”

Milan are one point behind third-placed Lazio, as well as 20 points behind runaway title contenders Napoli. Just three points separate Int­er and fifth-placed Roma, with Atal­anta another five points back in sixth.

Salernitana, who sealed their first-ever league point at the San Siro, are 16th on 26 points as they added a precious point to further extend their lead over the relegation zone to seven.

“We really created a lot of difficulties for Milan. The goal was beautiful... We’re working to have more moments like that,” said coach Paulo Sousa.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2023