Roma have failed to close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus after being held to a goalless draw by 10-man AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico this evening.
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The visitors went in search of an early goal, and they came close to finding one when Keisuke Honda unleashed a shot from the edge of the area, which forced Morgan de Sanctis into making a smart stop.
Andrea Poli was unable to convert the rebound from close range, with the Roma stopper producing a fine save to keep the scoreline level.
The Giallorossi managed to create their own chances as the half progressed, coming close to finding a way through when Alessandro Florenzi worked some space and got a strike away which was kept out by Diego Lopez.
Francesco Totti tried his luck from a free kick which was straight at the keeper, while Gervinho also drew a save out of the former Real Madrid man at the end of his solo run.
Former Roma defender Philippe Mexes almost made the breakthough shortly before the half-time interval with his attempt from range, which once more needed the intervention of De Sanctis to push it behind.
Despite having the better of the half, Rudi Garcia's men were left unhappy going into the break having had an earlier penalty shout turned down, after it appeared as though Nigel de Jong had handled the ball inside his own area.
Roma, who are now unbeaten in their last six games, required De Sanctis to be alert shortly after the restart to thwart Jeremy Menez's strike, which was heading goalwards before the keeper got a touch.
Giacomo Bonaventura squandered a chance to break the deadlock for Milan when he failed to get the better of De Sanctis, and the Rossoneri's task was made more difficult when Pablo Armero was issued a second yellow card.
Despite being reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes, the visiting side were able to hold out for a valuable point, although they had to survive a late scare when Gervinho forced Lopez into making a vital save at the death, with his shot from close range at the end of a fine move.
The stalemate ensures that Filippo Inzaghi's side end the year with their Champions League aspirations very much alive in seventh place, while Roma have to make do with a three-point deficit on leaders Juventus when the Serie A season resumes.
Daniel Lewis
