Juventus go top with win over Cagliari, Olivier Giroud sent off as AC Milan slip to draw at Lecce in Serie A

Juventus scored twice in the second half to beat Cagliari 2-1 in Turin to go top of Serie A.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side needed three points to leapfrog the previous league leaders Inter, who play Frosinone on Sunday evening.

They went ahead on the hour mark through Gleison Bremer, and 10 minutes later Daniele Rugani doubled their lead.

Alberto Dossena pulled one back for Cagliari five minutes later and that led to a nervy last 15 minutes of regular time for Juve, but they held on.

The defeat means Cagliari sit in 17th spot, a point clear of the bottom three.

Earlier, AC Milan let a two-goal lead slip at Lecce as they conceded twice to draw 2-2. Olivier Giroud also saw red in injury-time.

The point leaves Stefano Pioli’s side in third on 23 points, trailing leaders Juventus by six points, while they are five points behind crosstown rivals Inter, who have a game in hand.

Milan could drop to fourth place if Napoli win their match against Empoli on Sunday.

Milan were coming off the back of a in midweek, their first win of the month so far.

Rafael Leao impressed during that encounter but the Portugal international was taken off against Lecce with an injury on 10 minutes.

Milan looked in control when veteran French striker Giroud scored after half an hour when he converted a Theo Hernandez cross.

Tijjani Reijnders then added another five minutes later when he beat Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, his first goal for the club after joining from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. It could have been three for Milan and two for the Dutchman shortly after, but he hit the post.

However, Lecce halved the deficit when Nicola Sansone slotted home from point-blank range, and Lameck Banda then equalised on 70 minutes.

Nicola Sansone might have won it late on but his header struck the woodwork.

In injury-time, Giroud got two cautions in quick succession for protesting, bringing his involvement in the game to a premature close.

And there was more drama when Lecce forward Roberto Piccoli was denied an apparent winner for a foul on Malick Thiaw.

Lecce are now 14th on 14 points.

In the late kick-off, Torino opened the scoring at Monza on 55 minutes through Ivan Ilic, but 10 minutes later Andrea Colpani scored for the home side, as the match ended 1-1.

A point sees Monza in ninth, a point clear of Torino in 11th.

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