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AC Milan trudge away after conceding the goal
Scoring Summary
Catania AC Milan Nicolás Spolli (57') Robinho (34')Catania held Serie A leaders AC Milan to a draw at the Stadio Massimino to keep up their own challenge for a place in Europe next season and give Juventus renewed hope in the title race.
Robinho gave the Rossoneri the lead in the 35th minute before Nicolas Spolli levelled for the hosts in the 57th minute.
With no further goals, but plenty of controversy, the result lifted Catania to within a point of sixth-placed Roma while Milan extend their advantage over Juve at the top of the table to five points with the Bianconeri hosting Napoli tomorrow night.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri resisted the temptation to rest his star players in view of the trip to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, and fielded Zlatan Ibrahimovic together with Robinho in his attack.
But it was Urby Emanuelson who wasted the first chance to score when he failed to beat Juan Pablo Carrizo in a one-on-one situation which came out of the blue after a lively start by the home side.
Carrizo then denied Ibrahimovic in the 17th minute before Catania had their first chance of the game with Gonzalo Bergessio heading just over the crossbar.
In the 35th minute, the two Milan strikers combined with Ibrahimovic playing the ball through for Robinho to beat Carrizo with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Catania's response was immediate with Alejandro Gomez's shot from outside the penalty area hitting the crossbar.
Gomez was then controversially denied an equaliser by the referee's assistant, who raised his flag before the Argentinian scored from what appeared to be an onside position.
With a fire in their bellies, the Sicilians continued to attack and Luca Antonini did well to prevent Pablo Barrientos from scoring minutes later.
The home side finally got a deserved equaliser in the 57th minute, Spolli beating Christian Abbiati from close range after Nicola Legrottaglie headed Gomez's free-kick into his path.
Milan were the next to complain when Giovanni Marchese lunged desperately to clear Robinho's shot off the goal line, and referee Mauro Bergonzi was convinced that the Catania defender had got there just in time to prevent the ball from crossing the line completely.
Both sides looked for a winner with Carrizo making a great save to deny Philippe Mexes in the 87th minute, but there was no way through at either end.