SERIE A – Page 31 – Football Flame

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SERIE A

Super-sub Zurkowski shines for Empoli

Szymon Zurkoski of Empoli FC in action during the Serie A match between Empoli FC v Genoa CFC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on November 5, 2021 in Empoli, Italy. Szymon Zurkowski proved to be a super substitute as he set up one goal then scored another for Empoli in a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Genoa in Serie A.Flavio Bianchi equalised for Genoa in the 89th, perhaps saving the job of Genoa coach Davide Ballardini.Empoli moved up to eighth while Genoa, who have only one win from 12 matches, moved one spot above the drop zone.Szymon Zurkoski of Empoli FC celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Serie A match between Empoli FC v Genoa CFC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on November 5, 2021 in Empoli, Italy.Zurkowski first set up Federico Di Francesco in the centre of the 18-y...
SERIE A

Inter Defender Andrea Ranocchia: “We Need To Grind Out Points, Keep Winning To Stay With Scudetto Pace”

Andrea Ranocchia of FC Internazionale missed goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 31, 2021 in Milan, Italy.Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia feels that his team have done well to get three points from tough circumstances after their 2-0 win over Udinese earlier this afternoon.Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia after the match, the 33-year-old suggested that these are the kinds of games that the teams must be able to keep winning if they are to stay in the hunt for the Scudetto.Ranocchia made his first start of the season and he helped guide his team to a clean sheet, with the Nerazzurri looking in control for virtually the entire match even as the opposition made life difficult for them.Udinese were well...
SERIE A

Verona’s in-form Simeone condemns Juve to another loss

Giovanni Simeone of Hellas Verona FC competes for the ball with Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on October 30, 2021 in Verona, Italy. Giovanni Simeone struck twice as Verona beat Juventus 2-1 in Serie A on Saturday to hand Massimiliano's struggling team a second loss in four days.Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, put Verona ahead when he turned in a rebound at the Stadio Bentegodi on 11 minutes.The Argentine added a quick-fire second with a sublime curling effort from 20 metres, giving him six goals in his past two starts having scored four times against Lazio last weekend.Paulo Dybala hit the crossbar just before half-time for a Juve side missing the injured Federico Chiesa, but t...
SERIE A

Insigne takes Napoli to top of Serie A

Lorenzo Insigne of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Naples Italy on 28 October 2021. Lorenzo Insigne scored twice from the penalty spot as Napoli returned to the top of the Serie A standings, level on points with equally unbeaten AC Milan, after a 3-0 home win against Bologna.Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 18th minute at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium with a left footed shot into the top corner from outside the box that gave goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski no chance.Lorenzo Insigne of SSC Napoli scores third goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli, Italy on 28 October 2021.Captain Insigne doubled the tally fr...
SERIE A

Juventus concede late goal in Serie A loss

Paulo Dybala of Juventus in action against Rogerio, GianMarco Ferrari and Maxime Lopez of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Juventus and US Sassuolo at Juventus Stadium on October 27, 2021 in Turin, Italy. Massimilano Allegri's 200th match in charge of Juventus has ended in defeat as Sassuolo scored late to snatch a 2-1 Serie A victory in Turin.Maxime Lopez struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to hand Sassuolo a first-ever victory at Juventus.American Weston McKennie had cancelled out Davide Frattesi's first-half opener.Juventus are seventh, 13 points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan after 10 matches.Champions Inter Milan closed the gap to their city rivals to seven points with a 2-0 win at 10-man Empoli.Sassuolo moved up to ninth, just a point behind Juventus.After a rock...
SERIE A

Serie A: Olivier Giroud fires low-key AC Milan past Torino, top of the league

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan controls the ball during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 26, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Olivier Giroud scored the only goal in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Torino on Tuesday to move his side to the summit of Serie A despite an underwhelming performance at the San Siro.France forward Giroud tapped home his fourth league goal since arriving from Chelsea in the summer in the 14th minute of a largely dreary contest to move Milan three points clear in first place.Napoli can however reclaim top spot on Thursday with a home win over Bologna."I'm very happy, we did well early in the match and afterwards Torino didn't create lots of chances," said Giroud in faltering Italian to DAZN before switching to English."We have the three...
SERIE A

Serie A: Paulo Dybala saves Juventus at Inter Milan, Napoli’s perfect start ends

Paulo Dybala of Juventus scores a penalty to level the game at 1-1 during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 24, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Paulo Dybala saved Juventus on Sunday with a controversial late penalty which earned his team a 1-1 draw at Inter Milan, while Napoli's perfect start to the season came to an end with a goalless draw at Roma.Argentina forward Dybala slotted home his spot-kick with a minute left after Denzel Dumfries was ruled to have kicked Alex Sandro as he tried to clear the ball, a decision that enraged Inter to the point that coach Simone Inzaghi was sent off by referee Maurizio Mariani.His leveller came in his first appearance after a month out with a thigh injury, the 27-year-old coming on as a substitute in t...
SERIE A

Late goals see AC Milan beat 9-man Bologna 4-2 to go top

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan competes for the ball with Soumaoro Adam of Bologna FC during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and AC Milan at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on October 23, 2021 in Bologna, Italy. ( Late goals from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ismaël Bennacer spared AC Milan major embarrassment as it scraped a 4-2 win in Serie A at Bologna, which played for more than half an hour with nine men on Saturday.Despite the numerical advantage, it appeared as if Milan was going to be held to a draw before Bennacer scored six minutes from time and Ibrahimović made sure of the win right at the death.“It's the kind of shot that you can try 10 times and it will only go in once,” Bennacer said. “I hit it well and I scored and it’s a goal that matters, so I am happy.”The match had seemed all but o...
SERIE A

Torino, Sampdoria post wins in Serie A

Josip Brekalo of Torino FC and Amir Rahmani of SSC Napoli battle for the ball during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Torino FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 17, 2021 in Naples, Italy.Torino held off a late comeback from Genoa to see out a 3-2 victory in Serie A for their first win in more than a month.Antonio Sanabria and Tommaso Pobega gave Torino a 2-0 advantage at the break before Mattia Destro pulled one back for Genoa.Josip Brekalo during Serie A match between Torino v Genoa in Turin, on October 22, 2020.Josip Brekalo then restored Torino's two-goal advantage but Felipe Caicedo quickly responded for Genoa to set up a tense final 10 minutes. Torino moved up to 10th while Genoa remained in the drop zone, leaving coach Davide Ballardini's job at risk.Also, Antonio ...
SERIE A

Lazio boss’ Serie A ban reduced on appeal

SS Lazio President Claudio Lotito speaks during the press conference as SS Lazio Women unveil Carolina Morace as new team coach at the Olimpico stadium on February 2, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Lazio president Claudio Lotito's ban for COVID-19 protocol violations has been reduced to two months by the federal appeal court.The Serie A club's owner was appealing against a 12-month ban handed to him by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) appeal court in April.A FIGC statement said that the latest hearing resulted in a two-month ban for Lotito, five-month bans for Lazio doctors Ivo Pulcini and Fabio Rodia, and a 50,000 euro fine for the club.The punishment comes after a FIGC investigation opened in November 2020 over potential violations of protocols regarding COVID-19 testing.SS Lazio President C...
SERIE A

Promoted Venezia beats Fiorentina 1-0 for first home win

Mattia Aramu of Venezia competes for the ball with Cristiano Biraghi of Fiorentina during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on October 18, 2021 in Venice, Italy. Promoted Venezia earned its first Serie A home win in nearly two decades after beating Fiorentina 1-0 on Monday.Mattia Aramu scored into an empty net late in the first half after a perfect set up from Gianluca Busio and Thomas Henry left the goalkeeper out of position.Fiorentina, which had won three of four away matches, was reduced to 10 men when Riccardo Sottil picked up his second yellow card in the 77th minute.Former Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero started for Venezia after signing on a free transfer a week ago, marking his first Italian league appearance in seven years.Matti...
SERIE A

Allegri: Juventus win over Roma another step forward

Juventus' Italian head coach Massimiliano Allegri (R) gives instructions during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and AS Roma on October 17, 2021 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. In a see-saw game that saw both sides dominating different spells, Juventus narrowly beat AS Roma 1-0 to make it four straight league wins after four games to start the season where they could not find a win.Speaking after the final whistle, Allegri was happy with the victory that sees the Bianconeri up to seventh now with fourteen points, but just three off Inter Milan in third place.“I like 1-0, as it’s a good result, especially as we kept another clean sheet.“Roma are a technically good team, they have a lot of quality and caused us problems early on, then we scored a good goal and improved a...
SERIE A

Inter Milan ‘lose heads’ in Lazio defeat as battling AC Milan go top

Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Marcelo Brozovic during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on October 16, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Reigning champions Inter Milan suffered their first Serie A defeat of the season as they lost a bad-tempered game 3-1 to Lazio on Saturday, while AC Milan fought back from two goals down against Verona to go top of the table.Inter were incensed after Felipe Anderson tapped home a rebound in the 81st minute to put the hosts 2-1 ahead at the Stadio Olimpico, with the visiting players angry that Lazio had not stopped play due to Federico Dimarco being down injured.But Lazio were under no obligation to stop and Dimarco had hit the floor before Inter continued attacking themselves.Five yellow cards were dished...
SERIE A

AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez contracts COVID-19

Theo Hernandez (Milan) during the Italian football Serie A match Spezia Calcio vs AC Milan on September 25, 2021 at the Alberto Picco stadium in La Spezia, Italy. French left back Theo Hernandez has tested positive for COVID-19, AC Milan announced on Wednesday.Theo Hernandez (Milan) during the Italian football Serie A match Spezia Calcio vs AC Milan on September 25, 2021 at the Alberto Picco stadium in La Spezia, Italy."Theo Hernández, who has returned from the national team, has tested positive for a swab carried out at home," an official statement read. The Serie A club added that relevant local health authorities have been informed and the player "is doing well."Hernandez returned from the national team recently as France won the UEFA Nations League, beating Spain 2-1 on Oct. 10.With 19...
SERIE A

Mertens ready to play for automatic renewal with Napoli

Dries Mertens of Belgium during a press conference before a training session of the Belgian national football team "The Red Devils" ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 Quarter-final match against Italy, at the Proximus Basecamp on June 30, 2021 in Tubize, Belgium. Dries Mertens has put the shoulder injury behind him and is working hard to re-claim a place in the line-up of Luciano Spalletti’s unbeaten Napoli.The Belgian striker has one appearance of six minutes towards the end of the 2-1 win against Fiorentina, as Napoli sit first in Serie A with seven wins from seven games.Mertens underwent a shoulder surgery in July and has worked hard to recover and hopes to contribute for Napoli in the coming months.The 34-year-old has entered the last year of his deal with the Partenopei worth €4m a season, a...
SERIE A

Edin Dzeko Delighted for Helping Inter Bounce Back Against Sassuolo

Inter Milan's Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko (L) is fooled by Sassuolo's Italian goalkeeper Andrea Consigli (R) during the Italian Serie A football match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at the Citta del Tricolore Stadium in Reggio Emilia on October 2, 2021.Edin Dzeko delivered his verdict on making an immediate impact against Sassuolo as Inter came from behind to steal all three points at the Mapei Stadium. Though Domenico Berardi gave the hosts a half-time lead, the reigning champions bounced back in the second half to claim a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.Sassuolo and Inter fought neck-and-neck in Emilia-Romagna, but it was Inter to came out on top of an enthralling Serie A fixture. Dzeko, who came on as a substitute midway through the second half to orchestrate his side’s breathtaking come...
SERIE A

Juventus must know how to win games like this — Massimiliano Allegri

Head coach of Juventus Massimiliano Allegri looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League group H match between Juventus and Chelsea FC at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Turin, Italy.Juventus put in a solid defensive performance reminiscent of Massimiliano Allegri’s previous tenure at the club as they foiled Champions League defending champions Chelsea. In a rearguard showing that would have even warmed Fefu’s heart, the Bianconeri dared Thomas Tuchel and his side to take their best shot, and stood up to it despite missing the attacking thrust of Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata.The game was always going to be a tactical masterclass with Allegri and Tuchel pitting their wits and squads against each other, but the knives were already out for the Juve boss from the fans even befor...
SERIE A

AC Milan president says new stadium will be ready by 2024

President Paolo Scaroni attends the AC Milan at 'Restore The Music: Milan' event at Sant’Ambrogio Institute on September 29, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni is confident the team’s new stadium will be ready in three years and that the club will be ready to break ground on the project by the end of next year.The beginning of the end for Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium was announced in 2019 when the Rossoneri and Inter Milan unveiled the two shortlisted projects for their proposed new stadium.The two rival clubs both play their home games at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — commonly referred to as San Siro.Planning for the new stadium is expected to start in earnest after the municipal elections in Milan next month.“I hope we’ll see it (the new stadium) in 2024, 2025 — buil...
SERIE A

No goal celebration for Venezia goal hero

Mattia Aramu of Venezia celebrates the equalizing goal during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and Torino FC at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo on September 27, 2021 in Venezia, Italy.There was no celebration from Mattia Aramu after the first Serie A goal of his career in Venezia's 1-1 draw with visitors Torino.The 26-year-old Aramu equalised with a penalty on 79 minutes for the promoted hosts against Il Toro, the club he grew up supporting and started his career with - thus the refusal to celebrate on Monday at the Pier Luigi Penzo stadium in Venice.Josip Brekalo gave Torino the lead after the break by redirecting a cross from Wilfried Singo in the 56th minute.The Turin side ended the game with 10 men when Koffi Djidji picked up his second yellow card on the play that set up Aramu's penalty.To...
SERIE A

Napoli reclaim top spot, Lazio squeeze past Mourinho’s Roma in derby

Cagliari's Uruguayan defender Diego Godin (R) holds back Napoli's Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen by the neck during the Italian Serie A between Napoli and Cagliari on September 26, 2021 at the Diego-Maradona stadium in Naples.Napoli maintained their perfect start to the Serie A season on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Cagliari which ensured they reclaimed top spot, while Lazio won an eventful derby 3-2 to down Jose Mourinho's Roma.Luciano Spalletti's side cruised to their sixth victory in as many league games against a Cagliari team coached by former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri thanks to Victor Osimhen's sixth goal in all competitions this month and a second-half penalty from Lorenzo Insigne who pre-match celebrated his 400th Napoli appearance.They are two points ahead of AC Milan after an...
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