Serie A leaders Juventus have taken a 1-0 lead into the halfway stage of their match against AC Milan this evening.

The hosts were the first to come close, doing so in the fifth minute when Adel Taarabt worked himself space to shoot before bending an effort with the outside of his boot that Gianluigi Buffon needed to save.

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Taarabt was involved again seven minutes later as he swung a cross into the box that was flicked on by Kaka and put just over the crossbar by Giampaolo Pazzini.

Milan almost gifted Juventus an opening goal when some poor defending allowed Stephan Lichtsteiner to have an effort from inside the box, but Christian Abbiati was on hand to make a vital stop.

The visitors came close again shortly afterwards as Andrea Pirlo picked out Martin Caceres with a corner, but the Uruguayan could only flick his header narrowly wide of the post.

Milan should have taken the lead midway through the first half when Kaka tested Buffon before receiving the rebound, but his measured second effort was cleared off the line by Leonardo Bonucci.

Kaka was involved again just before the break as his low, curling effort was pushed away by Buffon only as far as Andrea Poli, but he blasted his shot over from close range.

Juventus punished the hosts for their wastefulness in front of goal by taking the lead in the 44th minute when Carlos Tevez and Lichtsteiner combined to set up Fernando Llorente, who had a simple finish to ensure that his side went into the break ahead.