SERIE A

11Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus still without win this season after defeat in first game since Ronaldo exit

Alvaro Morata of Juventus and Kostantinos Manolas of SSC Napoli battle for the ball during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 11, 2021 in Naples, Italy.Juventus remain without a victory this season after they lost to Napoli in the side's first game since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Manchester United.Ronaldo, who helped Juventus win Serie A twice in three seasons, rejoined United in a £12.8m deal on transfer deadline day and scored twice for them in Saturday's 4-1 win over Newcastle.In Ronaldo's absence, ex-Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata gave Juve an early lead, but goals from Matteo Politano and Kalidou Koulibaly helped Napoli come from behind to win.Koulibaly's winner came with five minutes to go after an error from Moise Kean,...

11Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter looking to extend Nicolo Barella’s contract

Nicolo Barella of Italy speaks with the media during press conference at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on July 04, 2021 in Florence, Italy.Inter are planning to open contract talks with Euro 2020 winner Nicolo Barella, having already all but secured a new five-year deal with star forward Lautaro Martinez.Martinez had been linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer but is now understood to have agreed a new contract at San Siro, which is simply missing an official announcement.Keeping the Argentine is an enormous sign of intent from Inter, but they are not prepared to rest on their laurels and Gazzetta dello Sport state that negotiations will soon be opened over an extension for the impressive Barella.Barella, who only joined the club permanently last summer, still has t...

9Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Zielinski set for return against Juventus

Zielinski of Napoli celebrates after scoring the first goal of Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2021 in Naples, Italy.Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski seems set to make it in time for the home game against Juventus this weekend and will be tested again tomorrow.The Poland international carried out checks today and the midfielder seems set to be available for the big game against the Bianconeri.But the Azzurri star will carry out new tests on Friday, as he’s fine but not in top condition after the stop with a dead leg.Sky Sport Italia reports Napoli expect to have the 27-year-old at their disposal and Zielinski in addition to Victor Osimhen, who had his two-match ban from the opening game against Venezia reduc...

30Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A: Olivier Giroud’s brace helps AC Milan beat Cagliari; Tammy Abraham scores in Roma’s 4-0 win over Salernitana

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan takes the penalty during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 29, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Milan: Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham both got off the mark in Serie A on Sunday as the former Chelsea men helped their new teams AC Milan and Roma to comfortable victories which gave them two wins from the season's opening two fixtures.France forward Giroud, who has not been picked for Les Bleus' upcoming World Cup qualifiers, bagged a brace in a 4-1 win over Cagliari at the San Siro while Abraham scored in a 4-0 rout at promoted Salernitana.Both strikers left European champions Chelsea this summer in the search of more regular football and have got off to quick starts in Italy.Giroud has been given the number nine ...

28Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Correa scores twice on Inter debut in win

Joaquin Correa of FC Internazionale celebrates with team mate Nicolo Barella after scoring to give the side a 2-1 leadduring the Serie A match between Hellas and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on August 27, 2021 in Verona.Joaquin Correa came off the bench to score two late goals on his Inter Milan debut as the defending Serie A champions beat Verona.Ivan Ilic intercepted a poor Samir Handanovic pass and chipped the keeper to give the hosts a shock lead.Lautaro Martinez levelled with a header from a flicked-on long throw-in.Correa, on loan from Lazio, headed Matteo Darmian's cross into the top corner and then hammered in a second in injury time from 20 yards. Inter only completed the signing of the 27-year-old Argentina international the day before the game.Simone Inzagh...

24Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Brahim Diaz goal earns AC Milan victory at Sampdoria in their Serie A opener

Brahim Diaz of AC Milan celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with team mates during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 23, 2021 in Genoa, Italy.AC Milan opened their Serie A campaign on Monday with a 1-0 win at Sampdoria as coach Stefano Pioli fielded a host of new signings including Olivier Giroud.Giroud, who turns 35 next month, is expected to make a sizeable impact for the Rossoneri alongside the club's other ageing star Zlatan Ibrahmivoc.As the towering Swede recovers from knee surgery, Piolo will hope France's second-highest scorer of all time can make as big an impact as he did at Chelsea, helping the Blues to the Champions League title last season.With Milan back in the Champions League for the first time since 2013/14, a...

23Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A: Ronaldo starts on bench as Juventus waste two-goal lead; Abraham shines in Mourinho’s Roma bow

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus scores his team's third goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio v Juventus at Dacia Arena on August 22, 2021 in Udine, Italy.Milan: Cristiano Ronaldo was denied a last-gasp winner to save Juventus after his stoppage-time header was ruled out for offside in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Udinese, while Jose Mourinho got off to a winning start at Roma with a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina.Ronaldo started on the bench at the Dacia Arena in Udine amid rumours he is looking for a way out of the Italian giants, but he almost snatched the three points deep into stoppage time after Juve insisted he was going nowhere this term.After the match returning coach Massimiliano Allegri played down the controversy, saying that he was always planning to bring on Ronaldo."Cris...

15Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A: AC Milan director Paolo Maldini confirms Olivier Giroud’s arrival, regrets Gianluigi Donnarumma exit

Olivier Giroud of Chelsea celebrates with the Champions League Trophy following their team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal.AC Milan director Paolo Maldini confirmed on Wednesday that Chelsea's French centre-forward Olivier Giroud was set to arrive in Italy while regretting the loss of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to Paris Saint Germain."Olivier should arrive in Milan tomorrow (Thursday)," Maldini said at the unveiling of the Serie A calendar for the 2021-2022 season.The 34-year-old World Cup winner is reported to be set to sign a two-year contract worth three million euros per season with the Serie A runners-up, who open next season at Sampdoria."He's a champion, not only with the...

9Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Lazio find perfect way to announce Sarri as former Juventus and Chelsea boss returns to the dugout

Juventus FC coach Maurizio Sarri watches the action during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium - CittÃ del Tricolore on July 15, 2020 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.Lazio have announced the arrival of Maurizio Sarri as the club’s new manager – and the Roman giants had the perfect social media post to inform fans of the appointment.Sarri, 62, was confirmed as the new boss of the Stadio Olimpico outfit on Wednesday, marking a return to football after spending last season on the sidelines following his departure from Juventus in the summer of 2020.The Italian left Turin despite guiding the Bianconeri to the Serie A title – a decision that Juve were perhaps left ruing after replacement Andrea Pirlo only managed to steer them to fourth spot before being sent ...

27May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Report: Massimiliano Allegri set to replace Andrea Pirlo at Juventus

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri looks on during the Coppa Italia match between Atalanta BC and Juventus at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on January 30, 2019 in Bergamo, Italy.Juventus have reportedly identified a return for Massimiliano Allegri as a potential managerial replacement for Andrea Pirlo.The Old Lady's nine-year consecutive reign as Italian champions came to an end this season after Inter Milan won their first Serie A title for 11 years.Allegri initially arrived at the Turin club in 2014 and won four league and cup doubles before a fifth domestic triumph in his final season in charge in 2019, and since then he has been out of a job.Sky Sports News reports that Allegri is set to replace Pirlo at the helm at Juve, with the current manager set to be sacked after only deliverin...

19May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Torino’s draw at Lazio earns vital point to avoid relegation

Ciro Immobile of S.S. Lazio misses from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 18, 2021 in Rome, Italy.ROME (AP) — Torino ensured it will remain in Serie A next season after playing Lazio to a 0-0 draw that also confirmed Benevento’s relegation on Tuesday.Lazio top scorer Ciro Immobile hit the post in an 84th-minute penalty and Manuel Lazzari’s header late in injury time also hit the woodwork. The match had been rescheduled from earlier this season due to a coronavirus outbreak. ⏱️ FULL TIME!#LazioTorino 0-0#SFT pic.twitter.com/tqdehOApdF— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) May 18, 2021 Torino now holds a four-point lead over 18th-place Benevento with one game remaining. Benevento, Crotone and Parma will play in the second div...

12May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Gianluigi Buffon Says He’s Leaving Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon (ITA) celebrates with the trophy after the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup between Italy and France.TURIN, Italy (AP) — World Cup winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will leave Juventus at the end of the season — this time for good.Buffon, who spent most of his storied career with Juventus, surprisingly returned to the Serie A club in 2019 after one year with Paris Saint-Germain.The 43-year-old Buffon announced Tuesday that when his contract expires in June it will definitively be the end of his time with the Bianconeri.“My future is clear and defined. This very beautiful and very long experience with Juve will come end in a definitive manner this year,” Buffon said in an interview with beIN Sport. “Either I stop playing, or if I find a situation that gives me motivation ...

3May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Cristiano Ronaldo brace rescues dethroned Juventus against Udinese

Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal with his teammates Juventus' Spanish forward Alvaro Morata (L) and Juventus' French midfielder Adrien Rabiot from France (R) during the Italian Serie A football match between Udinese and Juventus at the Dacia Arena Stadium in Udine, on May 2, 2021.A Cristiano Ronaldo brace rescued a 2-1 win for Juventus at Udinese on Sunday hours after the Turin giants surrendered their Serie A crown to Inter Milan.Atalanta's draw at Sassuolo earlier in the day meant Inter secured a first scudetto since 2010 with the Nerazzurri 13 points clear with four games remaining.Juve's win moves them up to third as they target a Champions League spot, but are equal on 69 points with second-placed Atalanta and AC Milan in fourth.Napoli are...

1May

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Eriksen helps Inter Milan close on Serie A title

Inter Milan's danish midfielder Christian Eriksen celebrates after scoring against Crotone during the Italian Serie A football match Crotone vs Inter Milan at the Ezio Scida Stadium in Crotone on May 1, 2021.Inter Milan closed in on their first Italian Serie A title since 2010 with second-half goals from Christian Eriksen and Achraf Hakimi at Crotone.Inter will be crowned champions on Sunday if second-placed Atalanta fail to claim all three points at Sassuolo.Denmark midfielder Eriksen broke the deadlock shortly after being brought on as a substitute by boss Antonio Conte.Hakimi added another in injury time as the away win also confirmed bottom side Crotone's instant return to Serie B.Even if Atalanta earn victory against eighth-placed Sassuolo, Inter know they would need just one point fr...

17Apr

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Smalling robbed by armed gang at home

Footballer of Roma Chris Smalling during the match Rome-Genoa at the stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), March 07th, 2021.Roma defender Chris Smalling was robbed at gunpoint at home in front of his wife and two-year-old child yesterday, after their villa was targeted by a crime gang.Three armed men broke into the former England international’s multi-million pound property and forced him to open his family’s safe, according to reports in Italy. Hooded raiders took a Rolex watch, jewellery and other valuables during the raid in the historic Appia Antica district south of the city.Police were alerted just before 5am yesterday by Smalling’s wife, Sam.Smalling, who was out of Europa League action this week while he recovers from a knee injury, was said to be distressed about the incident but calm.Th...

16Mar

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic comes out of international retirement, will play for Sweden in World Cup qualifier

Ibrahimovic of AC Milan attends the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 14, 2021 in Milan, Italy.Zlatan Ibrahimovic has come out of international retirement at the age of 39 and is set to play for Sweden for the first time since the 2016 European Championship.“The return of the God,” the charismatic AC Milan striker tweeted after being included on Tuesday in Sweden’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Georgia on March 25 and Kosovo three days later, as well as a friendly against Estonia on March 31.Ibrahimovic scored a national-record 62 goals in 112 games for Sweden from 2001-16.Without the country’s most high-profile player, Sweden reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia – its best performance in the competition since 199...

3Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus exercise option on Weston McKennie

Weston McKennie of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus and Spezia Calcio at Allianz Stadium on March 02, 2021 in Turin, Italy.Juventus officially announced that they had exercised their option to sign Weston McKennie outright from Schalke 04.The midfielder was a surprise signing over the summer transfer window, acquired on a loan with an option to buy. The first American man to play for Juventus, at the time he was considered a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing that would at the very least provide a valuable squad player for the 2020-21 season.No one at the time could have predicted how good, and how important, he would become in such a short amount of time. McKennie has been one of the keys to the midfield. When healthy—which he unfortunately hasn’t been f...

20Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic, Lukaku rematch as Milan rivals clash for Serie A top spot

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale clashes with Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 26, 2021 in Milan, Italy.MILAN: AC Milan and city rivals Inter renew their duel for top spot in Serie A on Sunday in a third clash this season between star strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku as champions Juventus play catch-up.Antonio Conte’s Inter went top after Lukaku scored twice in a 3-1 win over Lazio, one point ahead of Milan who dropped to second after losing to Spezia last weekend.Juventus will be looking for a boost against rock bottom Crotone after following their Napoli defeat with a Champions League last 16, first leg loss at Porto.Inter have the advantage of being fresher having been ...

18Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus could’ve done better, admits Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo the manager of Juventus reacts prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between FC Porto and Juventus at Estadio do Dragao on February 17, 2021 in Porto, Portugal.PORTO: Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo is disappointed after being beaten by Porto and said that his team "could've done better" in the match.Juventus suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie here Thursday."Our approach changed after a minute because when you concede a goal like that so early on, it knocks your confidence. The players let their heads drop and Porto were able to play the game that they wanted to play, shutting up shop and playing on the counter," the club's official website quoted Pirlo as saying."Fortunately, we managed to get back i...

30Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Milan ready to defend Ibrahimovic against racism

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan reacts during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 26, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan will defend Zlatan Ibrahimovic if he faces disciplinary action for racism after the Swede clashed with Inter's Romelu Lukaku during an Italian Cup match this week, team technical director Paolo Maldini said Saturday."We are ready to defend Ibrahimovic in any way possible if racism should be brought up, which has nothing to do with him," said Maldini."It happens to argue, it's an ugly episode to watch, but it ends there."(Ibrahimovic) was sorry for having left the team with 10 (players), he defended his teammates against Lukaku's unprovoked attacks."The heated altercation between the former Manchester United teammat...