Milan slip in top four race with Salernitana draw

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 following Boulaye Dia’s 61st minute leveller after Olivier Giroud had headed the hosts in front on the stroke of half-time.

It was a deeply disappointing result after coming into Monday’s match on a high following qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals 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.”

Giroud’s eighth league goal of the season came only moments after goalkeeper Mike Maignan had stopped Dia netting the opening goal for Salernitana with a superb tackle on the edge of box.

Stefano Pioli’s side were denied the chance to go back ahead from the penalty spot midway through the second half when referee Federico La Penna overturned his own decision to awarded a spot-kick for a Domagoj Bradaric foul on Ismael Bennacer.