SERIE A

12Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

3Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

30Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

30Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

28Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

27Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

26Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus beat Sampdoria but have Dybala worries ahead of Chelsea visit

Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammate Federico Chiesa during the Serie A match between Juventus and UC Sampdoria at Allianz Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Turin, Italy.Juventus held off Sampdoria to win their second match of the Serie A season 3-2 on Sunday but might have to face Chelsea without star forward Paulo Dybala after the Argentina forward limped off injured.Dybala opened the scoring early at the Allianz Stadium, with Leonardo Bonucci and Manuel Locatelli netting the other goals to move Juve ninth on eight points, but soon afterwards the 27-year-old limped off in tears after the latest in a long line of injuries.Massimiliano Allegri's side host holders Chelsea in their second Champions League group match on Wednesday and the coach ...

25Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter draw with Atalanta allows Milan to stay stop after Maldini magic

AC Milan's Italian forward Daniel Maldini (C) controls the ball during the Italian Serie A football match between Spezia and AC Milan on September 25, 2021 at the Alberto-Picco stadium in La Spezia.Inter Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A on Saturday after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Atalanta which allowed city rivals AC Milan to hold onto first place with their 2-1 win at Spezia in which Daniel Maldini continued a family dynasty.Champions Inter sit third, two points behind leaders Milan, after a breathless match at the San Siro which ended with Federico Dimarco missing an 86th minute penalty and Roberto Piccoli then having a last-gasp winner for Atalanta ruled out amid frantic protests from the away side. Atalanta are fifth following the draw which highlighted the attacking threa...

25Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic reveals first thing he asked when he returned to Milan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan celebrate after winning during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 12, 2021 in Milan, Italy.Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals the first thing he asked when he returned to Milan in January 2020 and admits he is getting older, so he must listen to his body.The Swedish striker turns 40 in October and his contract with the Rossoneri expires in June 2022.He is currently on the sidelines due to an Achilles injury, but Stefano Pioli hopes he will recover in time for the Rossoneri’s game against Atletico Madrid next week.Ibra was forced to miss UEFA Euro 2020 with a knee injury and returned to action two weeks ago, scoring one goal against Lazio coming on as a substitute. However, he suffered a new injury just a few hours ...

24Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Napoli beat Samp to extend perfect start

Victor Osimhen (L) and Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli celebrate after the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 23, 2021 in Genoa, Italy.Victor Osimhen has scored twice and Hirving Lozano helped set up three of the goals as Napoli impressed in a 4-0 win at Sampdoria to extend their perfect start to the Serie A season with a fifth straight win.Chasing their first Italian league title since Diego Maradona led the Partenopei to their only championships in 1987 and 1990, Napoli returned to the top of the standings on Thursday, moving two points ahead of defending champions Inter Milan and AC Milan.Sampdoria held Inter to a draw this month and were seen as a potential obstacle for Napoli but Luciano Spalletti's team controlled from the start.The Nige...

23Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Hernandez helps Milan join leaders Inter, Juve get first win of season

Theo Hernandez #19 of AC Milan celebrates his goal with his team-mate Alexis Saelemaekers (back) during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Venezia FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 22, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan moved level with Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Wednesday thanks to a Theo Hernandez-inspired 2-0 win over Venezia, while Juventus won their first match of the season at the fifth attempt, 3-2 at Spezia.France international Hernandez laid on Brahim Diaz's opener and scored the other at the San Siro to move second-placed Milan on 13 points alongside city rivals Inter, in a win which maintains an unbeaten record so far this season for Stefano Pioli's side.Diaz opened up a stubborn Venezia side when he forced home Hernandez's volleyed cross in the 67th minute after a ma...

22Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter fire title warning shot at Fiorentina to reclaim top spot

Edin Dzeko of FC Internazionale and Matija Nastasic of ACF Fiorentina compete for the ball during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy on 21 September 2021.Edin Dzeko of FC Internazionale and Matija Nastasic of ACF Fiorentina compete for the ball during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy on 21 September 2021.Inter Milan underlined their desire to retain the Serie A title on Tuesday after coming back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Fiorentina and move top of the pile.Simone Inzaghi's side came away from an intense match against a revitalised Viola in Florence with all three points thanks to two quickfire strikes early in second half from Matteo Darmian a...

21Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter Milan keen to offload Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on March 04, 2021 in Parma, Italy.Inter Milan are reportedly keen to do away with Alexis Sanchez amid the Chilean's poor fortunes at San Siro.The 32-year-old joined the Nerazzurri on a permanent basis in the summer of 2020 after leaving Manchester United, but he has struggled to become a mainstay of the Inter setup.Sanchez did chalk up seven goals and seven assists from 30 games in the 2020-21 Serie A season, although he was only named in the starting lineup 12 times amid his injury woes.According to Inter Live, the Serie A champions are desperate to offload Sanchez in order to free up some funds, with the attacker cu...

21Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Udinese 0-4 Napoli: Luciano Spalletti’s side maintain their perfect start to the Serie A season

Andrè Anguissa, Victor Osimhen, Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne of SSC Napoli celebrate the victroy after the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and SSC Napoli at Dacia Arena on September 20, 2021 in Udine, Italy.Four men. Four touches. One exquisite goal.Napoli executed a set-piece to perfection for its second goal in a 4-0 win at Udinese on Monday that extended the team’s perfect start to Serie A.Lorenzo Insigne rolled his free kick across to Fabián Ruiz who then lifted the ball toward the far post for Kalidou Koulibaly to run onto and cross for Amir Rrahmani, who headed it in.Napoli’s other goals were also worth admiring.The visitors took the lead when a through ball from Mario Rui set up Insigne’s lob shot that Victor Osimhen pounded in.Koulibaly added another after the break w...

20Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter trio ruled out of Fiorentina clash

FC internazionale substitutes in the dugout, ( R to L ); Matias Vecino, Joaquin Correa, Arturo Vidal, Ionut Radu, Alex Cordaz, Andrea Ranocchia, Denzel Dumfries, Stefano Sensi, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Aleksandar Kolarov and Roberto Gagliardini during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and FC Internazionale at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 12, 2021 in Genoa, Italy.The injured Joaquin Correa, Arturo Vidal and Stefano Sensi have not been included in Inter‘s squad list to face Fiorentina tomorrow.It kicks off at 19.45 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence.Correa sustained an injury against Bologna last week, but he is expected to return to action over the weekend when Inter host Atalanta at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.Vidal has suffered a calf injury and could be available again from th...

20Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Allegri furious at Juventus players’ inability to close out games

Juventus' Italian head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and AC Milan at the Juventus stadium in Turin, on September 19, 2021.Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was furious at the final whistle, and stormed off towards the dressing room, and that barely captured how the fans in the stadium and at home around the world felt after the 1-1 draw against AC Milan. After taking the lead very early on, not only did they fail to add to that lead, they somehow contrived to throw it all away in the last fifteen or so minutes of the game and truly should consider themselves lucky they even got a point from this tepid affair at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.Speaking to the television networks after the game, Allegri was still irate and w...

18Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Edin Dzeko scores twice as Inter Milan hit six

Edin Dzeko of FC Internazionale celebrates with team mates after scoring to give the side a 5-0 lead during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Bologna FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 18, 2021 in Milan, Italy.Edin Dzeko scored twice as Serie A champions Inter Milan hammered previously unbeaten Bologna.Lautaro Martinez put Inter ahead early on from Denzel Dumfries' cross and Milan Skriniar headed in from Federico Dimarco's corner.Nicolo Barella and Matias Vecino added to the lead before the hour mark.Dzeko netted the fifth with a clever finish and then blasted in a brilliant sixth from near the byeline - before Arthur Theate's headed consolation. Inter lost title-winning boss Antonio Conte, top scorer Romelu Lukaku and other players in a cost-cutting summer, but they...

18Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Pjaca’s goal lifts Torino to Serie A win

Marko Pjaca of Torino FC celebrates after scoring the first goal for his team with his team-mates during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Torino FC at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on September 17, 2021 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.A late goal from on-loan player Marko Pjaca was enough to earn Torino a 1-0 win at Sassuolo in Serie A.Friday' victory gave Torino their second consecutive win after opening the season with two straight losses.Torino now have six points and are three points behind Italian league leaders Roma, who are coached by Jose Mourinho, AC Milan and Napoli after all clubs made a perfect start to the season.Pjaca's goal came with a curled shot that appeared to surprise Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli, that kept the hosts on four points.This is the fifth ...

13Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Jose Mourinho wins 1,000th game in management as Roma edge out Sassuolo

Jose Mourinho Head Coach of AS Roma celebrates with the players after Stephan El Shaarawy scores the goal of 2-1 during the Serie A match between AS Roma and US Sassuolo at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2021 in Rome, Italy.Jose Mourinho said he felt like a child when he charged from his dugout to celebrate Stephan El Shaarawy's last-gasp winner in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Sassuolo, which put his side at the top of Serie A in his 1,000th match as a manager.Italy international El Shaarawy struck with a sublime curling strike in the 91st minute, which caused wild celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, with Mourinho running to join his joyous players in front of screaming supporters behind the goal."Today I wasn't 58 years old, I felt like a 10, 12, 14-year-old, back when you begi...

12Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter Milan held by Sampdoria as perfect start comes to an end

Inter Milan's Argentina's forward Lautaro Martinez (L) shoots to the goal next to Sampdoria's Japan's defender Maya Yoshida during the Italian Serie A football match between Sampdoria and Inter Milan at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa on September 12, 2021.Inter Milan's perfect start to the defence of their Serie A title ended on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Sampdoria but still moved up to second place. The champions are two points behind league leaders Napoli after failing to beat a spirited Samp side in Genoa following two wins in their opening two fixtures of the campaign. Federico Dimarco and Lautaro Martinez twice put Simone Inzaghi's side ahead at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris but strikes from Maya Yoshida and Tommaso Augello earned a draw for Roberto D'Aversa's S...