SERIE A

30May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Berlusconi’s Monza earn first Serie A promotion

Luca Marrone of AC Monza celebrates after scoring a goal during the SERIE B Palyoffs final between SC Pisa 1909 and AC Monza at Arena Garibaldi on May 29, 2022 in Pisa, Italy.Lombardy club Monza, owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, will play in Serie A for the first time next season after winning a promotion playoff at Pisa 4-3 after extra time on Sunday to secure a 6-4 aggregate victory. Monza had beaten Pisa 2-1 in the first leg of the Serie B playoff on Thursday, but a thrilling second leg saw them fall 2-0 behind before levelling, only for a Giuseppe Mastinu goal for the hosts to send the tie into extra time at 4-4. Luca Marrone and Christian Gytkjaer were the extra-time heroes for Monza, who held on despite having Eugenio Lamanna sent off. "We fought for a yea...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic intends to continue playing, says Maldini

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan celebrates during the Serie A Victory Parade on May 23, 2022 in Milan, Italy.Zlatan Ibrahimovic intends to continue playing despite the end of his contract with AC Milan and a lengthy layoff in store following knee surgery, club director Paolo Maldini said Friday."From what I understand, his intention is to continue," Maldini told Gazzetta dello Sport, two days after the striker, who turns 41 in October, underwent surgery that is expected to sideline him for eight months."We have made an appointment in a fortnight. I don't see any problem in reaching an agreement. He is certainly not at ease playing so little. We will see what happens in the next two weeks," Maldini said.Ibrahimovic, who returned to AC Milan in January 2020 eight years after leaving and has j...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Mourinho hails CL ‘history’ for Roma

Manager Jose Mourinho of AS Roma celebrates and kiss trophy during the UEFA Conference League final match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at Arena Kombetare on May 25, 2022 in Tirana, Albania.Jose Mourinho said that he and Roma had made history after winning the Europa Conference League on Wednesday, the club’s first ever major European trophy. Portuguese coaching icon Mourinho tried and failed to hold back the tears after Roma beat Feyenoord in their first continental final in over three decades and he was still emotional by the time he hailed his team after the trophy ceremony. Roma fans have taken Mourinho into their hearts during an up and down season which culminated in Wednesday’s 1-0 win in Tirana which ended a 14-year trophy drought for the capital club. “I’ve been at Roma f...

26May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Out for 7-8 Months After Knee Operation

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan celebrates after their side finished the season as Serie A champions during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on May 22, 2022 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic had surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and faces up to eight months on the sidelines — if he decides to continue his playing career. Ibrahimovic missed large portions of Milan’s title-winning campaign with injury. The 40-year-old Swede made 23 appearances in Serie A, although most of them were off the bench. Milan said the knee operation, which was performed in France, had been scheduled for a while “to definitively resolve the joint’s instability.”The club added: “The operation was a complete succe...

23May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Fiorentina beat Juve to reach Conference League

Pierre Kalulu of AC Milan and Alfred Duncan of ACF Fiorentina battle for the ball during the Serie A match between AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 1, 2022 in Milan, Italy.Fiorentina will return to European football for the first time in five years after beating Juventus 2-0 to qualify for next season’s Conference League. Alfred Duncan’s finish on the stroke of half-time and Nicolas Gonzalez’s late penalty gave Vincenzo Italiano’s side the win they needed to guarantee continental competition. Fiorentina ensured seventh spot in Italy’s top flight, three points ahead of Atalanta who lost 1-0 at home to Empoli and miss out on Europe for the first time since Gian Piero Gasperini took over as coach in 2016. Giorgio Chiellini made his final appearance in a Ju...

23May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

AC Milan back on top, snatching title from Inter

AC Milan's Italian defender Alessio Romagnoli (C-L with throphy), AC Milan's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Top R), AC Milan's French forward Olivier Giroud (Bottom R) and AC Milan's players celebrate with the winner's trophy after AC Milan won the Italian Serie A football match between Sassuolo and AC Milan, securing the "Scudetto" championship on May 22, 2022 at the Mapei - Citta del Tricolore stadium in Sassuolo.AC Milan won their first Serie A title in 11 years on Sunday after beating Sassuolo 3-0 in Reggio Emilia to snatch the crown from local rivals Inter Milan on the final day of a thrilling campaign. Needing just a point to claim the Scudetto Milan swept their hosts aside thanks to an Olivier Giroud brace and another from Franck Kessie in the first half in front of an a...

22May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Fiorentina edge Atalanta for Europa spot

Nicolas Gonzalez of ACF Fiorentina in action against Alex Sandro Lobo Silva of Juventus during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Juventus at Stadio Artemio Franchi on May 21, 2022 in Florence, Italy.Fiorentina have edged Atalanta for Serie A's final berth in Europe with a 2-0 win over Juventus.With goals from Alfred Duncan and Nicolas Gonzalez, Fiorentina claimed seventh place and a Europa Conference League spot.Atalanta lost at home to Empoli 1-0.Fiorentina finished seventh and Atalanta eighth, ending the Bergamo squad's run of playing in Europe at five consecutive seasons - the last three in the Champions League, including a quarter-final appearance in 2020.Fiorentina, which won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1961, had gone five seasons without playing in Europe.Juventus had al...

21May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Abraham double books Roma’s European spot

Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates with team mates after scoring a second half penalty to give the side a 3-0 lead during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 20, 2022 in Turin, Italy.Tammy Abraham has scored twice to help Roma win at Torino 3-0 and seal a spot in Europe for next season.The win is a useful boost ahead of Roma's Europa Conference League final against Feyenoord next week.Both Abraham goals came in the first half of Roma's final Serie A match on Friday. The England international took his tally to 26 goals in all competitions, 17 in Serie A, in a fantastic first season at the Italian club.Lorenzo Pellegrini converted a second penalty for Roma 12 minutes from time.It was Roma's first Serie A win in more than a month and ensur...

19May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Dybala buys new home in Milan amid Inter links

Paulo Dybala of Juventus greets fans as he leaves the pitch after being replaced during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Lazio at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy on May 16, 2022.Paulo Dybala has reportedly bought a new home in Milan, close to Inter‘s headquarters, fuelling speculations that he will sign with the Nerazzurri in the summer.The Argentinean will leave the Allianz Stadium at the end of his contract in June and the defending Serie A champions appear to be in pole position to secure his services.The Nerazzurri have yet to make a formal offer to sign La Joya, but Dybala hasn’t ruled out the possibility of joining Juventus‘ biggest rivals in the summer.According to Calciomercato.com, Dybala has bought a new house in Milan, close to Inter’s headquarters. Dy...

17May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus Open Negotiation to Extend De Ligt Contract

Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt (4) looks on during the Serie A football match n.33 JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA on April 16, 2022 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. Final result: Juventus-Bologna 1-1.On top of making an offer for Paul Pogba, Juventus discussed the future of Matthijs De Ligt with his representative Rafaela Pimenta, who heads the firm of the late Mino Raiola. The Bianconeri wish to prolong his contract to make sure he stays.The defender is tied to the club until 2024. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the brass proposed to tack on two more years. It does not appear his wages would change, but the move would still help them with the balance sheets. And it would give the club more leverage in case of offers.Giorgio Chiellini anointed De Ligt as his Juventus heir in his...

17May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus held by Lazio amid emotional farewells for Chiellini and Dybala

Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus leaves the pitch and passes the armband to his teammate Paulo Dybala during the Serie A match between Juventus and SS Lazio at Allianz Stadium on May 16, 2022 in Turin, Italy.Juventus fans said goodbye to their captain, Giorgio Chiellini, and forward Paolo Dybala during Monday night’s game against Lazio – but the visitors’ last-gasp equaliser spoiled the farewell party in Turin.Chiellini had recently announced he was leaving Juve this summer after 17 seasons at the club – with MLS in the United States a likely destination. The centre-back was substituted in the 17th minute, taking off the captain’s armband and giving it to Dybala before being replaced by Matthijs de Ligt.By that time, striker Dusan Vlahovic had already scored the opener from Álvaro Morata’s as...

16May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

AC Milan win, edge closer to Serie A title

Rafael Leao of AC Milan battles for possession with Berat Djimsiti of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 15, 2022 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan's lengthy wait for the Italian league title will last another week at least.Second-half goals from Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez saw Milan beat Atalanta 2-0 and they now only need one point from their final match to secure a first Serie A title since 2011.The Rossoneri could even have clinched the title on Sunday but defending champions and fierce rivals Inter Milan won 3-1 at relegation-threatened Cagliari to keep their fading title hopes alive.Milan are two points ahead of Inter and have the better head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker in Serie A. Stefano Pioli's Milan p...

14May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A | Verona 0-1 Torino: Brekalo and Juric stun the Bentegodi

Josip Brekalo of Torino celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's first goal during the Serie A match between Hellas and Torino FC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on May 14, 2022 in Verona, Italy.Josip Brekalo’s fantastic early strike proved enough for Ivan Juric’s Torino to stun Hellas Verona and push them all the way for ninth place.Granata coach Ivan Juric faced his past in this head-to-head for ninth place. Marco Davide Faraoni and Wilfried Singo both sat out bans, with Antonin Barak, Antonio Sanabria and Alessandro Buongiorno injured.Gianluca Caprari forced Etrit Berisha into a save with his legs at the near post, but Torino took the lead with a sensational strike. Josip Brekalo went down the left, cut inside past a defender and smashed a right-foot finish in off the unders...

14May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Pioli urges AC Milan to focus on Atalanta game with title in sight

Head coach of AC Milan Stefano Pioli speaks with the media during a press conference at Milanello on May 14, 2022 in Cairate, Italy.AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli urged his players to focus on their home match against Atalanta on Sunday and not worry about Inter Milan's match, with the Serie A title within touching distance.Milan could become champions if they beat Atalanta on Sunday and rivals Inter Milan, who are second, drop points at Cagliari later the same day.Milan are top of the league on 80 points, two ahead of Inter, with two matches each left to play."We must only focus on the match and that will determine what will happen next," Pioli told reporters on Saturday."I won't think about Inter's game, I don't care. We don't need more motivation than what we already have because we are a...

13May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Milan on brink of title triumph as relegation battle hots up

Head coach AC Milan Stefano Pioli attends during a AC Milan training session at Milanello on May 12, 2022 in Cairate, Italy. AC Milan welcome Atalanta to the San Siro on Sunday knowing this could be the weekend that they snatch the Scudetto from local rivals Inter Milan.Needing four points from their final two games of the season, Milan stand on the brink of a first Serie A title since 2011 and they could have one of the six teams still fighting relegation hand them the crown.Stefano Pioli's Milan will extend their lead on reigning champions Inter to five points if they beat Atalanta, who are still in the hunt for Europa League football.Inter would then have to win at Cagliari to ensure that an enthralling title race enters a final week, a theoretically simple task given the gulf in c...

9May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Fiorentina beat Roma, go 7th in Serie A

Nicolas Gonzalez of ACF Fiorentina scores first goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and AS Roma on May 9, 2022 in Florence, Italy.Fiorentina have defeated Roma 2-0 in Serie A to revive their chances of qualifying for Europe following three straight losses.Nicolas Gonzalez converted a fifth-minute penalty and Giacomo Bonaventura doubled the advantage after only 11 minutes in Florence on Monday night.The hosts move up to seventh place, level on points with sixth-placed Roma and eighth-placed Atalanta.Lazio are fifth with 62 points, followed by Roma (59), Fiorentina (59) and Atalanta (59).While the Champions League places are already set with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli and Juventus assured of finishing in the top four with two matches remaining, the E...

8May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Verona 1-3 AC Milan: Stefano Pioli’s side regain top spot thanks to Sandro Tonali’s double

AC Milan's Italian midfielder Alessandro Florenzi (L) celebrates with (From 2ndL) AC Milan's Croatian forward Ante Rebic, AC Milan's French defender Theo Hernandez and AC Milan's Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match between Hellas Verona and AC Milan on May 8, 2022 at the Marcantonio-Bentegodi stadium in Verona.AC Milan climbed back to top of Serie A after coming from behind to beat Verona 3-1 at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. The hosts took the lead in the 38th minute through Davide Faraoni's back post header after a superb cross from Darko Lazovic. Milan got back into it on the stroke of half-time as Sandro Tonali bundled the ball home following some excellent work down the left by Rafael Leao. The visitors took the lead fi...

7May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Napoli extend lead over Juventus with win at Torino

Dennis Praet of Torino FC competes with Fabian Ruiz of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 7, 2022 in Turin, Italy.Napoli opened a four-point lead over Juventus in the race for third place in Serie A after Fabian Ruiz's second-half goal helped them win 1-0 at Torino on Saturday.With two matches left, Napoli are third on 73 points, ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, whose chances of winning the title ended after Friday's 2-1 shock defeat at relegation-threatened Genoa. Torino are tenth on 47 points.After a dispiriting first half in which Napoli struggled to finish off their chances, central midfielder Ruiz found the breakthrough, firing in a low effort in the 73rd minute.Ruiz took advantage of Tommaso Pobega's blunder and go...

7May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Allegri: Juventus cannot make the same mistakes in Coppa Italia final

Massimiliano Allegri manager of FC Juventus looks dejected during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC v FC Juventus on May 6, 2022 in Genova, Italy.Juventus huffed and puffed at times against a Genoa side desperate to stave off relegation, and then gave up the ghost late on at the Marassi as the hosts scored twice late on — including a penalty in time added on — to lose 2-1 on Friday night ahead of their Coppa Italia final against Inter Milan on Wednesday.A fine shot from Paulo Dybala looked enough to secure all three points as Massimiliano Allegri’s side sought to climb into third place ahead of Napoli who play tomorrow against Torino, but the home side roared on by their fervent supporters were able to snatch an equalizer late on, with more chances to score on either side of the equalize...

3May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Salernitana continue miracle escape act with Atalanta draw

Mario Pasalic of Atalanta BC scores their side's first goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Salernitana at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2022 in Bergamo, Italy.Salernitana maintained their bold bid for Serie A survival on Monday with a 1-1 draw at Atalanta which pulled them closer to safety.Mario Pasalic's 88th-minute leveller denied Salernitana a fourth straight win after Ederson had poked the away side ahead just before the half hour but the draw moved them to within two points of Cagliari, who sit just outside the relegation zone.Davide Nicola's team host Cagliari this coming Sunday after playing their game in hand with bottom side Venezia on Thursday.I'm completely in love with these boys, they keep surprising me with the effort they put in, sad Nicola to DAZN.Fans pack...