SERIE A

2Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic helps AC Milan narrow gap as Mourinho’s Roma lose

(L-R) Andrea Masiello of Genoa CFC against Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 1, 2021 in Genoa, Italy.Two goals from Junior Messias and one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave AC Milan victory at Genoa and cut Napoli's lead at the top of Serie A to one point.Ibrahimovic, 40, scored his sixth goal of the season early on, before Messias added a second just before half-time and made it 3-0 after 61 minutes following good work from Brahim Diaz.Napoli led 2-0, but Sassuolo fought back to draw 2-2 with a late equaliser.Inter Milan won 2-0 at Spezia, so only two points separate the top three.Lautaro Martinez had a hand in both Inter goals, setting up Roberto Gagliardini's first-half opener with a deft flick, before ...

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1Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Atalanta, Juventus score Serie A wins

Mario Pasalic of Atalanta scores his third goal to give the side a 4-0 lead during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Venezia FC at Gewiss Stadium on November 30, 2021 in Bergamo, Italy.Mario Pasalic has scored a hat-trick to help Atalanta rout Venezia 4-0 on Tuesday and move them up to joint-third in Serie A.Croatian midfielder Pasalic netted his first two goals in the opening 12 minutes and added the other in the 67th, shortly after Teun Koopmeiners had scored the home team's third.Atalanta move level on points with Inter Milan, four points behind leaders Napoli and one adrift of second-placed AC Milan. Venezia remained in 16th, five points above the relegation zone.In the late game, Juventus bounced back from their weekend home defeat to Atalanta to see off last-placed Salernitan...

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29Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Dazzling Napoli win in tribute to Maradona

Napoli's Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz (C) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Naples (Napoli) and Lazio Rome at Diego-Armando-Maradona stadium in Naples, on November 28, 2021.Napoli have produced a dazzling display to mark the first anniversary of Diego Maradona's death when they stormed to a 4-0 win over Lazio to move three points clear at the top of Serie A.Club great Maradona died on November 25 last year and to mark the anniversary Napoli unveiled a statue inside the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium pre-match and wore shirts with the Argentine's face on them for the Lazio clash.The performance was befitting of the man, too, with the hosts blowing away Lazio with a stunning show of attacking football, racing to a 3-0 lead ...

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27Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Leonardo Pavoletti marks birthday with Serie A goal

Leonardo Pavoletti of Cagliari Calcio celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and US Salernitana at Sardegna Arena on November 26, 2021 in Cagliari, Italy. Leonardo Pavoletti celebrated his 32nd birthday by scoring for Cagliari in a 1-1 draw with Salernitana in a match-up of the two last-placed teams in Serie A.Pavoletti redirected a cross from Joao Pedro in the 73rd to put the home team in front.The points appeared to be headed Cagliari's way until Federico Bonazzoli dampened the local mood with an equaliser for Salernitana in the 90th minute with a volley.Cagliari Calcio Leonardo Pavoletti scores the first goal of his team.US Salernitana Riccardo Gagliolo and the goalkeeper US Salernitana Vid Belec observes the scene ...

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20Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Bonucci penalties end Lazio’s home run

Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus reacts after missing a chance to score during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on November 20, 2021 in Rome, Italy.Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci scored a penalty in each half to earn his side a 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday that lifted the Turin club into sixth place in Serie A and ended their opponents' 19-match unbeaten home run.Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus scores the 0-2 goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on November 20, 2021 in Rome, Italy. The Italy international converted from the spot midway through the first half after the referee judged that Danilo Cataldi tripped Alvaro Morata following a pitchside VAR review.Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina then brought down Federico ...

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8Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Milan derby draw allows Napoli to keep top spot

Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale evades challenge from Davide Calabria of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 7, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A on Sunday after a 1-1 derby draw with Inter Milan which allowed Napoli to stay at the summit.Stefano Pioli's unbeaten side are level with Napoli on 32 points after a Stefan de Vrij own goal cancelled out Milan old boy Hakan Calhanoglu's 11th-minute penalty for Inter.Milan will be ruing a missed opportunity to claim first place after Napoli could only manage a 1-1 home draw with Verona earlier in the day.Neither side will be happy with the derby point as they both had opportunities to win the match in front of 57,000 fans at the San ...

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6Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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31Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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30Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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29Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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28Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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27Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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25Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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24Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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23Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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 ...

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19Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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19Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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18Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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17Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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13Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

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