BEYOND THE RESULT


(IN THE PHOTO: Menez in action at Chievo) 
MILAN – Chievo and Milan played out a 0-0 draw on Sunday in the round 29 Serie A lunch-time match at the Bentegodi.The game didn’t take long to burst into life with both sides making lively starts. Bonaventura had a shot deflected into the arms of Bizzarri while Menez went on a mazy run and had two efforts charged down by the Chievo back-line.However, on 19 minutes Milan were forced into an early change as Donnarumma had to make way for Abbiati after taking a knock to the head. The teenager’s replacement was immediately called into action and he did superbly to make a great one-handed save on a Floro Flores angled drive.On the half-hour mark, Abbiati was involved again, keeping out a Meggiorini effort from close distance with his foot. At the other end, Honda curled inches wide of the top-corner with a well-struck free-kick and Poli saw a drilled effort flash wide of the target on the stroke of half-time.Milan emerged in determined mood after the break with Bonaventura cutting inside and firing a fierce effort just over the bar. Bacca then connected with a Honda cross only to send his header agonisingly wide of the far post. The Rossoneri pinned Chievo back and were desperately unlucky not to find the breakthrough on 74 minutes hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession, with Abate thumping the cross bar and Bertolacci then sending the rebound also onto the upright. CLICK HERE for the minute by minute match-report. Here are the stats to emerge from the league encounter in Verona:3 – for the third season in a row, Chievo and Milan played out a 0-0 draw at the Bentegodi.1 – Jose Mauri’s substitute appearance in Verona was his first appearance in Serie A for Milan. 28 – the number of players used by Sinisa Mihajlovic this season in Serie A.10 January 2016 – Luiz Adriano made his first league appearance since mid-January. On that occasion, Roma were the opponents and the Brazilian forward was named in the starting eleven. 29 April 2015 – the date of Jeremy Menez’s last league start for Milan. On that day, the Frenchman started versus Genoa.