SERIE A

26Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Lukaku double pulls Inter second behind Juventus in Serie A

Alexis Sanchez of Inter (left) celebrates with his team-mate Romelu Lukaku after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on July 25, 2020 in Genoa, Italy. Romelu Lukaku scored in either half as Inter Milan claimed a 3-0 win against struggling Genoa to move second in Serie A behind Juventus who can win a ninth title in a row on Sunday. Antonio Conte's title ambitions took a knock with back-to-back stalemates against Roma and Fiorentina. But Inter pulled back ahead of Atalanta, and within four points of leaders Juventus, who are poised to claim a 36th 'Scudetto' when they play Sampdoria in Turin. "The problem is how you see the glass, whether half full or half empty," said Conte of second position. "There are vinta...

24Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Brilliant solo goal from former Man City youngster leaves Juventus stunned

Udinese players Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana and Danish defender Jens Stryger Larsen of Udinese Calcio celebrate after taking a 2-1 lead during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Juventus at Stadio Friuli on July 23, 2020 in Udine, Italy. Former Manchester City youngster Seko Fofana scored the winner as Juventus fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at struggling Udinese on Thursday to miss the chance to seal the Serie A title for the ninth time in a row. Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt had put the defending champions ahead three minutes before the break in Udine. But a diving Ilija Nestorovski header seven minutes after the interval got Udinese level, with Fofana completing a comeback for the north-eastern side in injury time. Juventus remain six points ahead of second-placed A...

23Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A round-up: Juventus on verge of title after Inter draw against Fiorentina

Italian goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano of ACF Fiorentina saves from Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku of Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on July 22, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Juventus need just one more win to secure a record-extending ninth straight Serie A title after Inter Milan were held to a 0-0 draw by Fiorentina. Inter Milan twice hit the post but was held to a 0-0 draw by Fiorentina on Wednesday, meaning that rival Juventus can clinch the trophy on Thursday night. If Juventus wins at Udinese, it will move nine points clear of Atalanta with three rounds remaining - and the Bianconeri hold the tiebreaker over the Bergamo side due to a better head-to-head record. Inter is third, one point behind Atalanta, ...

21Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus 2-1 Lazio : Ronaldo scores twice to put Juventus on brink of title

Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Lazio, on July 20, 2020 at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, northern Italy. Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus on the brink of a ninth consecutive Serie A title on Monday after scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Lazio. The reigning champions ended a three-match winless run thanks to Ronaldo's second half brace that moves them eight points clear of second-placed Inter Milan with four games remaining. Maurizio Sarri's side could win the title on Thursday against lowly Udinese, or on Sunday at home against Sampdoria, depending on their rivals' results this week. Lazio's hopes of a first Serie A title since 2000 are effectively over as the defeat ...

20Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter held to a 2-2 draw at Roma to leave Juventus closer to title

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale scores second goal during the Serie A match between Roma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy on 19 July 2020. Inter Milan missed a chance to keep the pressure on Juventus after being held 2-2 at Roma, leaving the way clear for the Turin giants to close in on a ninth consecutive Serie A title. Romelu Lukaku's penalty two minutes from time rescued a point for Antonio Conte's Inter, who are second, five points behind Juventus. Juve can open up an eight-point lead on the top of the table when they host fourth-placed Lazio on Monday. Stefan De Vrij had got Inter off the mark at the Stadio Olimpico when he headed home an Alexis Sanchez corner after 14 minutes. But Roma captain Edin Dzeko set up Leonardo Spinazzola for the eq...

19Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

AC Milan thrash Bologna 5-1 to go sixth in Serie A

Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on July 18, 2020 in Milan, Italy. AC Milan continued their fine form since the return from lockdown extending their unbeaten run to eight games, including six wins, with a 5-1 success over Bologna to move sixth and into the Europa League places. It's their biggest win of the season. Alexis Saelemaekers scored his first Milan goal after ten minutes with Hakan Calhanoglu adding a second after 24 minutes. Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu gave Bologna hope, firing in for just outside the box for his first Serie A goal just before the break. But Calhanoglu set up Ismael Bennacer for the third just after the break with Ante Rebic grabbed the fourth, three minu...

15Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Kessie inspires Milan comeback as Napoli held at Bologna

Hakan Calhanoglu of AC Milan celebrates 3-1 with Franck Kessie of AC Milan, Davide Calabria of AC Milan, Alessio Romagnoli of AC Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan during the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan v Parma on July 15, 2020. Franck Kessie scored for the third consecutive Serie A game as AC Milan boosted their Europa League hopes with a 3-1 comeback win over Parma on Wednesday to move equal on points with sixth-placed Napoli who were held 1-1 at Bologna. Stefano Pioli's Milan are unbeaten in seven league games since Serie A returned after the coronavirus pandemic. And goals from Kessie, Alessio Romagnoli and Hakan Calhanoglu sealed the three points against 12th-placed Parma who had taken the lead thanks to a Jasmin Kurtic goal just before the break in the San Siro. ...

15Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Atalanta beat Bresica 6-2 to go second in Serie A

Mario Pasalic of Atalanta Bergamo celebrates 1-0 during the Italian Serie A match between Atalanta Bergamo v Brescia at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d Italia on July 14, 2020 in Bergamo Italy. Atalanta thrashed troubled Brescia 6-2 with Mario Pasalic scoring a hat-trick of goal as the hosts jumped up to second in the Italian Serie A. The Bergamaschi have now scored a whopping 93 goals in 33 league games this season - 25 more than any other team. They trail leaders Juventus by six points and are two points above third-placed Inter Milan and fourth-placed Lazio - who all have a game in hand. Brescia remain second-last in the three-team drop zone and appear doomed - nine points adrift of safety. Pasalic met no telling opposition when he entered Brescia's box to fire the ball into th...

13Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Napoli held to a 2-2 draw by AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo

Matteo Politano of SSC Napoli competes for the ball with Theo Hernandez of AC Milan ,during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo on July 12, 2020 in Naples, Italy. Napoli were held to a 2-2 draw by AC Milan at the Stadio San Paolo to remain sixth and seventh respectively in the table. Theo Hernandez put the visitors ahead in the 20th minute, Napoli turned things around with goals from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Dries Mertens and Franck Kessie then levelled with a penalty in the 73rd minute, before Milan substitute Alexis Saelemaekers was sent off late on. Genoa rose out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 home win against rock-bottom SPAL. Goran Pandev (24) and Lasse Schone (54) scored either side of Iago Falque having a penalty saved by SPAL goalkeeper K...

12Jul

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

SERIE A

Cristiano Ronaldo Converts Penalties to Salvage 2-2 Draw for Juventus against Atalanta

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus scores the second goal to make it 1-1 during the Italian Serie A match between Juventus v Atalanta Bergamo at the Allianz Stadium on July 11, 2020 in Turin Italy. Cristiano Ronaldo converted two penalties in the game against Atalanta on Saturday, drawing at 2-2, denying the visitors 10th straight win. Juventus is now eight points clear at the top of Serie A. Atalanta went ahead twice when Duvan Zapata gave Atlanta the lead in the 16th minute and Ruslan Malinovskyi fired Atalanta back in front in the 81st minute. Ronaldo, however, scored twice from penalties awarded for handballs at the 55th and the last minute, bringing his personal tally to 28 goals in 28 Serie A games this season, moving within one score of Lazio's Ciro Immobile atop the league scorin...

10Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter Milan held to a 2-2 draw at Hellas Verona

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale competes for the ball with Marash Kumbulla of Hellas Verona during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on July 9, 2020 in Verona, Italy. Inter Milan were held 2-2 by Hellas Verona on Thursday as Antonio Conte's side failed to move into third place in Serie A. Inter, stunned by 10-man Bologna 2-1 at the weekend, were a goal down after just two minutes when Darko Lazovic scored. The Serbian winger got the better of the recalled Milan Skriniar to hit the target from a tight angle. It was almost 2-0 for the team only promoted to the top flight last season when Miguel Veloso saw a shot come back off the post. Inter, however, were level after 49 minutes through Antonio Candreva who was quickest to...

9Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A wrap up: Atalanta defeats Sampdoria to go third

Luis Muriel of Atalanta BC celebrates with team-mates after scoring the his goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and UC Sampdoria at Gewiss Stadium on July 8, 2020 in Bergamo, Italy. Atalanta continued their remarkable season by beating Sampdoria 2-0 to extend their winning run to nine Serie A games and climb to third in the table, although they left it late against stubborn opponents. Serie A's leading scorers struggled to break down relegation-threatened Sampdoria until Ruslan Malinovskyi's in swinging corner found Rafael Toloi at the far post and the Brazilian out jumped two defenders to head home in the 75th minute. Substitute Luis Muriel fired the second 10 minutes later, his ninth goal of the season scored from the bench, although the Colombian did not celebrate a...

4Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first free-kick for Juventus

Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates with teammates at the end of the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Torino played behind closed doors on July 4, 2020 at the Juventus stadium in Turin, as the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Cristiano Ronaldo finally scored a free-kick for Juventus - from his 43rd attempt - as he became the first player to score 25 Serie A goals in a season for the club since 1961. The derby win over Torino was also notable for Gianluigi Buffon's record-breaking 648th Serie A appearance. Paulo Dybala put Juve ahead and Ronaldo set up a Juan Cuadrado goal. Andrea Belotti pulled one back before Ronaldo struck, with the final goal a Torino own goal. ...

2Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Atalanta thrash Napoli 2-0 in Serie A to stay in hunt for third place

Mario Pasalic of Atalanta BC celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and SSC Napoli at Gewiss Stadium on July 2, 2020 in Bergamo, Italy. Atalanta thrash Napoli 2-0 in Serie on Thursday to keep up the pressure on Inter Milan in the fight for third place. Mario Pasalic and Robin Gosens scored in the second half to extend Atalanta’s club record tally to 82 league goals this season, in 29 matches. It was Atalanta’s seventh successive Serie A win and saw Gian Piero Gasperini’s team move back to within four points of Inter, which beat Brescia 6-0 on Wednesday. It halted a run of five straight league wins for Napoli, which also won the Italian Cup last month. Napoli remained sixth, three points below Roma which was pl...

29Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

De Vrij and Bastoni nets as Inter Milan grab late win over Parma

Stefan De Vrij of FC Internazionale celebrates his goal with his team-mate Alessandro Bastoni during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on June 28, 2020 in Parma, Italy. Third-placed Inter Milan scored twice in the last six minutes through Stefan De Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni to grab a 2-1 win at Parma in Serie A on Sunday despite a subdued display. The scarcely-deserved win left Inter eight points behind leaders Juventus and four adrift of second-placed Lazio with 10 games each to play. Gervinho put Parma ahead with a solo goal in the 15th minute and a lacklustre Inter rarely looked like forcing their way back into the match until the closing minutes. De Vrij headed an equaliser from a corner in the 84th and substitute Bastoni n...

28Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Lazio stay in title race with comeback win over Fiorentina

Franck Ribery of ACF Fiorentina compete for the ball with Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on June 27, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Lazio fought back from a goal down to beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Serie A on Saturday and keep its fading title hopes alive. Luis Alberto struck seven minutes from time to cut the gap to league leader Juventus back to four points. Ciro Immobile converted a penalty to cancel out Franck Ribery’s opener for Fiorentina. Lazio’s hopes of claiming a first league title since 2000 took a hit midweek when its 21-match unbeaten run ended with a defeat at Atalanta in its first match back following the hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. And it seemed as if it was going to slide further when Ribe...

27Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus beats Lecce 4-0 to go seven points clear

Juventus's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with team mates after scoring from the penalty mark to give the side a 2-0 lead during the Serie A match between Juventus and US Lecce at Allianz Stadium on June 26, 2020 in Turin, Italy. Juventus moved seven points clear at the top of Serie A on Friday after hammering struggling Lecce 4-0 in Turin and piling the pressure on title rivals Lazio. A superb Paulo Dybala strike and Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty just after the hour mark made sure of the result at the Allianz Stadium before two late strikes from Gonzalo Higuain and Matthijs de Ligt completed the rout against a Lecce team who had to play for an hour with 10 men. The away side meanwhile stay third-from-bottom, level on 25 points with Genoa a place above them and a poin...

24Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Inter Milan draws 3-3 at home against Sassuolo

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale competes for the ball with Gian Marco Ferrari of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Sassuolo at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on June 24, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Inter Milan's title hopes diminished further as it again dropped points from a leading position to draw 3-3 against Sassuolo in Serie A on Wednesday. Inter had fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 at halftime and also led 3-2 with four minutes remaining before Giangiacomo Magnani leveled again for Sassuolo. The Nerazzurri have now lost 15 points this season from leading positions. Inter remained third but is now eight points behind Serie A leader Juventus and four behind Lazio. Francesco Caputo gave Sassuolo an early lead at San Siro but Inter turned the...

23Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty and Paulo Dybala strike sealed Juventus win over Bologna

Bologna player Riccardo Orsolini competes for the ball with Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Juventus at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on June 22, 2020 in Bologna, Italy. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a first-half penalty as Serie A leaders Juventus resumed their campaign with a 2-0 win at Bologna on Monday, lifting some of the pressure off coach Maurizio Sarri. After missing a spot kick in a Coppa Italia match against AC Milan 10 days ago, Ronaldo made no mistake in the 23rd minute and Paulo Dybala curled in a brilliant second before halftime to give the Turin side a comfortable win. Juventus, with 66 points from 27 games and chasing a ninth successive title, extended their lead to four points over Lazio, who visit Atalanta on Wednesday. Bolo...

22Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Romelu Lukaku nets as Inter Milan returns to winning way against Sampdoria

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on June 21, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Romelu Lukaku scored his 18th league goal of the season as Inter Milan marked their return to Serie A action with a 2-1 win against Sampdoria. Former Manchester United striker Lukaku struck from 10 yards and celebrated by taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Lautaro Martinez made it 2-0 from Lukaku's cross but Morten Thorsby pulled one back from close range. The win means Inter are third with 57 points, six behind leaders Juventus. Serie A returned this week after being suspended since 9 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.