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SERIE A

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Luciano Spalletti, SERIE A

Napoli forced to wait for Serie A title after draw

Luciano Spalletti SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Salernitana at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 30, 2023 in Naples, Italy. Napoli will have to wait for their first Serie A title in 33 years after being held to a draw by Salernitana at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. They last won the league in 1990 with a Diego Maradona-inspired side adding to their first title three years earlier. Luciano Spalletti’s side were on course for the victory they needed when Mathias Olivera headed home a 62nd-minute corner. But Boulaye Dia equalised with a left-footed drive six minutes from time. It silenced an expectant crowd who made a cacophony of noise and set off blue smoke flares inside and outside the stadium, where thousands of fans lined the streets...
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Lautaro Martinez, SERIE A

Napoli on brink of Italian title after Lazio lose at Inter

 Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 30, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Napoli are one win away from ending a 33-year wait for the Serie A title on Sunday after Lazio lost 3-1 at Inter Milan. Runaway league leaders Napoli will secure their first Scudetto since 1990 if they beat Salernitana after Inter came back from a goal down at half-time at the San Siro thanks to a Lautaro Martinez brace and another strike from Robin Gosens. Inter’s three strikes, which all came in the final 13 minutes, moved Inter into Serie A’s Champions League places, ahead of AC Milan and Roma on goal difference, and also unleashed a wave of joy at the St...
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Jose Mourinho, SERIE A, UCL

Mourinho laments Roma’s injuries after loss at Atalanta

 Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on April 24, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho bemoaned his fifth-placed side’s injury problems after two more players suffered problems in Monday’s costly 3-1 Serie A loss away to Atalanta. Defender Diego Llorente limped off in pain, while forward Paulo Dybala had trouble with his ankle after a heavy tackle. “We ended the match with nine men and still hit the upright, which would have been 3-2. It is very, very difficult for me to be critical of this squad. They play within their limits,” Mourinho told DAZN. The latest injuries add to the manager’s concerns as Rick Karsdorp, Chris Smalling and Georginio Wijnaldum are all sidelined at a time when...
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Giacomo Raspadori, SERIE A, UCL

Juventus 0-1 Napoli: Raspadori fires Partenopei to dramatic win in Turin

 Giacomo Raspadori and Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrate the goal scored by Giacomo Raspadori during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at on April 23, 2023 in Turin, Italy.Giacomo Raspadori’s 93rd-minute volley gave Napoli a dramatic 1-0 win against Juventus on Sunday, securing a rare Serie A double over the Bianconeri. A remarkable conclusion to the match in Turin was entirely at odds with everything that had gone before, a dull first 70 minutes suggesting the two clubs were taking a collective breath at the end of a manic week. Juve are back into the top four following their successful initial appeal of an earlier points deduction, while Napoli’s full focus is on the Scudetto after crashing out of the Champions League. If a point then perhaps suited both sides, ...
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Ivan Ilic, SERIE A, UCL

Juventus the winners as Lazio lose to Torino in Serie A

 Felipe Anderson of SS Lazio fights for the ball with Ivan Ilic of Torino FC during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on April 22, 2023 in Rome, Italy.Lazio have failed to consolidate second spot in Serie A after they were beaten by mid-table Torino 1-0 to end a run of four straight wins. Ivan Ilic netted the only goal two minutes before halftime to help Torino to their first win in five matches. The result left Lazio two points above third-placed Juventus, who could cap a memorable week with a win over runaway leaders Napoli on Sunday (Monday AEST). In a morale-boosting few days, Juventus on Thursday had their 15-point penalty suspended and also reached the Europa League semi-finals. The return of the points – removed over transfer dealings – lifted ...
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Massimo Moratti, SERIE A, UCL

Moratti: ‘I would’ve fired Inzaghi at Inter and made a mistake’

 Massimo Moratti attends the presentation of Ivan Zazzaroni's new book 'Diventare Mourinho' at the Rizzoli bookshop in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on October 13, 2022 in Milan, Italy. Former Inter President Massimo Moratti admits he would’ve probably fired Simone Inzaghi already this season, but also acknowledges ‘that would’ve been a mistake.’ The Nerazzurri have one foot in the Champions League semi-final after a 2-0 first leg win away to Benfica, with the decider at San Siro on Wednesday evening. However, there are strong reports that the club could pull the plug on their coach if he fails to make the landing stick and get into the final four. “We are all waiting for the game against Benfica, which becomes more important because we’re doing so badly in Serie A,” Moratti ...
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Fiorentina, SERIE A, UCL

Fiorentina’s unbeaten run at 14 after draw with Atalanta

 Arthur Mendonça Cabral of ACF Fiorentina battles for the ball with Berat Djimsiti of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Atalanta BC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 17, 2023 in Florence, Italy. Fiorentina extended its unbeaten run to 14 matches across all competitions by drawing with Atalanta 1-1 in Serie A on Monday. Arthur Cabral equalized for Fiorentina from a penalty kick near the hour mark after Joakim Maehle put Atalanta ahead before the break. Cristiano Biraghi nearly won it for Fiorentina with a free kick off the post. In all, Fiorentina produced seven shots on goal to Atalanta’s one. Atalanta remained sixth, four points below the Champions League spots, and Fiorentina remained ninth. Fiorentina takes a 4-1 advantage against Lech Poznan int...
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Luciano Spalletti, Napoli, SERIE A, UCL, Victor Osimhen

Spalletti: Osimhen ‘gives us that burst of enthusiasm’

 Napoli's Italian coach Luciano Spalletti comforts Napoli's Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen (L) after he was substituted during the Italian Serie A football match between Napoli and Atalanta on March 11, 2023 at the Diego-Maradona stadium in Naples.Luciano Spalletti spoke to Radio Kiss Kiss ahead of Napoli’s Champions Leaguequarter-final second leg against Milan, giving his assessment of the team’s chances and the return of Victor Osimhen.  The influential Nigerian made his return from injury in the Partenopei’s Serie A game against Hellas Verona on Saturday, coming on for 25 minutes of the eventual 0-0 draw.  Assessing his side’s performance in the stalemate at the Maradona, Spalletti believes his side lacked fluidity in possession.  “I expected ...
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Inter Milan, Romelu Lukaku, SERIE A, UCL

Inter to appeal Lukaku Coppa Italia ban against Juventus

 Romelu Lukaku (#90 FC Inter) during FC Internazionale against AC Monza, Serie A, at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 15th, 2023.Inter have reportedly decided to lodge an appeal against Romelu Lukaku’s Coppa Italia semi-final ban after he was booked for responding to racist insults from Juventus fans. That was his second yellow card, handed out for ‘celebrating in a provocative way’ towards the Juve supporters who were behind the goal. Lukaku insisted that he always celebrates goals like this, with a military salute and a finger to the lips, which was indeed already seen when playing for Belgium earlier this year. It was still considered to be a provocation and the presence of racist chants from the fans behind the goal did not help his cause, but Inter lawyers hope they can at least ...
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Napoli, SERIE A, Victor Osimhen

Hoffenheim hold Bayern as Dortmund stumble at Stuttgart

 Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli battle for the ball during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Hellas Verona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 15, 2023 in Naples, Italy. Napoli and AC Milan both dropped points ahead of the Serie A sides’ Champions League showdown following respective draws with Verona and Bologna. Italy’s champions-elect Napoli have had their imposing league lead cut to 14 points after a second-string XI could only manage a goalless stalemate with Verona and second-placed Lazio won at Spezia on Friday. As it stands Luciano Spalletti’s side still need 11 points from their final eight matches to seal their first league title since 1990, but all eyes are now on Tuesday’s second leg of their quarter-final clash with Milan in Naples in which they have to ov...
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Ciro Immobile, Lazio, SERIE A

Lazio consolidate second spot with win over Spezia

 Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal a penalty with his team mates during the Serie A match between Spezia Calcio and SS Lazio at Stadio Alberto Picco on April 14, 2023 in La Spezia, Italy.Lazio’s Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Marcos Antonio were all on target in a 3-0 win over struggling Spezia in Serie A, extending the club’s unbeaten run to eight league games. Second-placed Lazio are 13 points adrift of runaway leaders Napoli and increased their lead over AS Roma in third to eight points. Lazio opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a coolly taken spot-kick by Immobile, who sent Bartlomiej Dragowski the wrong way after a foul on Anderson in the box by Ethan Ampadu. Maurizio Sarri’s men doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half through a low...
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Lazio, SERIE A

Lazio beat Juve to consolidate second place

 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic of SS Lazio celebrates with his teammates after scoring opening goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on April 8, 2023 in Rome, Italy. Lazio strengthened their grip on second place in Serie A with Saturday’s impressive 2-1 win over Juventus, while Paulo Dybala moved Roma just behind their capital city rivals with the only goal at Torino. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mattia Zaccagni struck the goals which sank Juve and gave Maurizio Sarri’s team a great chance of reaching the Champions League next season. Lazio are five points ahead of Roma in third and most importantly seven in front of Inter Milan, who have been knocked out of the top four after drawing 1-1 at Salernitana, the only point they have collected from th...
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Napoli, SERIE A

Own goal gets runaway leaders Napoli back on track

Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli, Giacomo Raspadori of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and SSC Napoli at Stadio Via del Mare on April 7, 2023 in Lecce, Italy.Napoli have got back to winning ways as an own goal from goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone handed them a 2-1 Serie A victory away at Lecce, pushing them a remarkable 19 points clear in the title race. The leaders were thumped 4-0 at home by Milan last weekend, but they bounced back by overcoming a stubborn Lecce, who can probably count themselves unlucky not to come away with a share of the spoils on Friday. Giovanni Di Lorenzo headed Napoli in front early on, but the hosts equalised not long after halftime when Federico Di Francesco thumped home with a fine finish. But a...
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AC Milan, Rafael Leao, SERIE A

AC Milan prove that they can best Napoli

 Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates after scoring goal 0-3 during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC MIlan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 2, 2023 in Naples, Italy. AC Milan’s surprising and dominant 4-0 win against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday means that the UEFA Champions League’s quarterfinals between the two Italian sides may be more competitive than originally thought. Before Sunday, Napoli were considered the the favourites to win the European clash but this defeat at home completely changes the scenario about the quarterfinals just over a week away. Despite losing their third game of the Serie A season (after Inter away and Lazio at home before the break), Napoli are still well positioned to win the title for the first time ...
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Inter Milan, SERIE A

Inter struggle ahead of Champions League quarter-finals

 Inter Milan's Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani (L) and Fiorentina's Italian midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura go for the ball during the Italian Serie A football match between Inter and Fiorentina on April 1, 2023 at the Giuseppe-Meazza (San Siro) stadium in Milan.With a Champions League quarter-final match against Benfica coming up, Inter Milan are in far-from-perfect form. The Nerazzurri were beaten 1-0 at home by Fiorentina on Saturday for their third straight loss in Serie A. Giacomo Bonaventura headed in a rebound early in the second half after Inter centre forward Romelu Lukaku inexplicably missed a wide-open close-range chance. It was Fiorentina’s eighth straight win across all competitions, and the Viola extended their unbeaten run to 10 games. Fiorentina, who face Lech Pozn...
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AC Milan, SERIE A, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic is oldest Serie A scorer in AC Milan loss

 Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan has an attempt at goal with a header during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AC Milan at the Dacia Arena on March 18, 2023 in Udine, Italy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the oldest scorer in Serie A history at age 41 but had little else to celebrate after defending champions AC Milan were beaten 3-1 at Udinese. Saturday’s result extended Milan’s winless streak to three matches in the Italian league. Roberto Pereyra, Beto and Kingsley Ehizibue scored for Udinese. Milan were beaten by Fiorentina and held to a draw by Salernitana in their previous two Serie A matches, while advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 aggregate win over Tottenham. They missed the chance to jump to second and remained fourth with 48 points, a...
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Atalanta, Rasmus Winther Hojlund, SERIE A

Atalanta beat Empoli to boost Champions League hopes

 Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta BC celebrates with teammates Matteo Ruggeri (L) and Jose Luis Palomino (R) after scoring the team's second goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Empoli FC at Gewiss Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.Substitute Rasmus Winther Hojlund scored late to help Atalanta fight back to beat Empoli 2-1 in Serie A and boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.Winther Hojlund scored the winner just seven minutes after coming off the bench. Marten de Roon had cancelled out Tyronne Ebuehi’s opener for Empoli.The victory snapped Atalanta’s winless run and lifted them to within three points of fourth-placed AC Milan, who visit Udinese on Saturday.Empoli remained nine points above the relegation zone.Atalanta had lost three of their ...
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Juventus, Paul Pogba, SERIE A

Juve’s Pogba set for another injury lay-off

 Paul Pogba of Juventus during a training session ahead of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 leg one match against Sport-Club Freiburg at Juventus Stadium on March 8, 2023 in Turin, Italy.Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is set for another lay-off after suffering a thigh injury while taking free-kicks. The 29-year-old will be out for about three weeks and will miss the start of France’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. After being dropped for Juve’s Europa League win over Freiburg last week, he missed Sunday’s 4-2 win over Sampdoria. “This morning Pogba was taking free-kicks and felt a twinge in his adductor,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said after Sunday’s game. A club statement said that Pogba underwent a medical test on Monday and that he has suffered “a low-grade tear to his ri...
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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, SERIE A

Kvaratskhelia magic moves Napoli 18 points clear

 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of SSC Napoli celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Naples Italy on 11 March 2023.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped move Napoli another step closer to a first Serie A title in more than three decades with a wonder goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Atalanta to push his team 18 points clear. Georgia winger Kvaratskhelia lashed in the opening goal on the hour mark after spellbinding dribbling left Atalanta’s defence wondering which way to look before the ball finished in the back of the net. His 11th league strike of the campaign set Napoli on their way to stretching their lead on Inter Milan who fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Spezia on Friday. Lazio could have risen t...
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Daniel Maldini, Inter Milan, SERIE A, Spezia

Inter Milan stunned by relegation threatened Spezia

 Daniel Maldini of Spezia Calcio scores a goal during the Serie A match between Spezia Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Alberto Picco on March 11, 2023 in La Spezia, Italy.Inter Milan missed the chance to cut Napoli’s huge lead at the top of Serie A lead on Friday after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Spezia. Goals from Daniel Maldini and M’Bala Nzola either side of a Romelu Lukaku penalty handed fourth-from-bottom Spezia a crucial victory in their bid to avoid the drop. But the defeat was another bodyblow to Inter’s faint hopes of overhauling Napoli at the top of the table. Napoli are now 15 points clear of second-placed Inter at the top of the table and have played one game less. Inter paid the price for failing to take the chances which came their way, w...
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