Alessandro Matri's 83rd minute equaliser ensured Juventus remain a point behind AC Milan with a game in hand at the top of Serie A following a contentious 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

Former Juventus man Antonio Nocerino gave the hosts the lead courtesy of a 14th minute deflected effort following some suspect Juventus defending before substitute Matri volleyed past Christian Abbiati with seven minutes remaining.

Both sides fell foul of some poor officiating as a Sulley Muntari effort was deemed not to have crossed the line despite replays clearly showing it had; while Matri was denied a good goal having been called as offside.

Milan welcomed their unbeaten rivals to the San Siro having already lost to them twice this season and without talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who served the third game of his ban for a petulant slap in his side's scoreless draw with Napoli earlier this month but the Rossoneri began in the ascendancy.

The bianconeri defence - the league's meanest - were offered very little protection from a rather anaemic midfield and the hosts had already threatened the goal of Gianluigi Buffon before former Juventus man Antonio Nocerino scored his eighth goal of the season.

Milan's opening chance came when Muntari measured a cross to Alexandre Pato, who was lurking unmarked at the back post but the young Brazilian got his timing wrong and dragged the effort across goal for a bianconeri defender to clear.

The warning went unheeded as the Turin outfit continued their sloppy approach to the first half and Milan were to capitalise on the Old Lady's next uncharacteristic defensive lapse when Robinho set upon Leonardo Bonucci's sloppy ball out of defence to find Nocerino.

The former Juve player took aim and while his effort was firmly struck, Buffon looked to have the measure of it before a horrible deflection from Bonucci - looking to make amends for a stray pass - took the ball past the veteran keeper.

The bianconeri continued to toil and should have been at a two goal disadvantage when Muntari headed what looked like a second for the home side. Buffon got a good hand to it but the very fact that the effort was from point blank range meant the keeper could not stop it from crossing the line.

Inexplicably though, the referee appeared to give the goal before changing his mind and allowing Juventus to break.

Indignation appeared to get the better of the hosts as they struggled to regain the fluency that had allowed them to dictate much of the first half an hour. However despite not being at their best, it was the hosts who continued to have the lion's share of possession.

There were changes in personnel at the interval - with Simone Pepe replacing Marcelo Estigarribia for the disjointed visitors - but the general pattern of play continued as the home side utilised the wings while their visitors remained lacklustre in defence and wasteful in attack.

The Rossoneri, in fact, had a strong penalty claim before Juventus began to wrestle the initiative from their hosts, as Robinho looked to have been felled in the box but again the referee waved play on.

Fabio Quagliarella was denied from close range before Matri had a toe-poke blocked as the visitors began to build some momentum.

And that momentum was rewarded when Matri ghosted past two defenders to volley Pepe's inviting cross past Abbiati from close range to set up an engaging finish at the San Siro.

As both teams went for the win the match became increasingly stretched, which saw both sides lose composure and Juventus a player as Arturo Vidal was given a straight red for a tackle from behind.

Neither team could fashion that elusive winner and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

In the day's other game, Genoa moved up two places to 10th despite being held 2-2 at home by Parma.

Marcus Foley / Eurosport