Serie A – Sports Africa

Milan victory jeopardizes Juve’s Champions League hopes

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ROME, May 9 (Xinhua) — The much-hyped clash between Juventus and AC Milan turned out to be a lopsided one, as Milan ended its nine consecutive Serie A defeats against Juve with a comfortable 3-0 away victory on Sunday.

It was a head-to-head for Champions League qualification as both sides, along with Atalanta, were level on 69 points before Sunday’s game. Federico Chiesa returned to action for Juve while Zlatan Ibrahimovic led Milan’s forward line.

The home side failed to manage one shot on target in the first half, while Milan broke the deadlock in stoppage time as Brahim Diaz cut inside to finish with a stunning curler.

The Rossoneri should have doubled the lead in the 57th minute as Diaz won a penalty when his attempt struck Giorgio Chiellini’s arm, but Franck Kessie saw his attempt saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

Milan was forced to replace Ibrahimovic as the talisman limped off in the 65th minute, but substitute Ante Rebic quickly made impact with another blockbuster, as the Croatian gathered the ball before unleashing a missile which left Szczesny stranded.

It was not over yet, as Fikayo Tomori sealed the match with a powerful header in the 81st minute, marking the Chelsea loanee’s first goal for Milan.

Milan now is still level with Atalanta who crushed Parma 5-2, while Juve dropped to fifth.

Also on Sunday, Roma, who appointed Jose Mourinho as head coach for next season, staged a second-half show to conquer relegated Crotone 5-0, with both Borja Mayoral and Lorenzo Pellegrini grabbing a brace.

In Sunday’s other fixtures, Sassuolo beat Genoa 2-1, Cagliari won 3-1 away to Benevento, while Hellas Verona drew with Torino 1-1.

Inter move top after beating Lazio

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ROME, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) — Romelu Lukaku took the center-stage at the San Siro on Sunday, as the Belgian scored two and set up another, helping Inter Milan conquer Lazio 3-1 to leapfrog AC Milan, into the top place of Serie A.

Both sides were in sharp form as a win would secure Inter the top place while Lazio was coming off six consecutive Serie A victories.Inter players wore a special edition jersey with their names in Chinese characters to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.

The home side went ahead in the 21st minute as Lukaku laid it off for Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine broke into the box and was brought down by Wesley Hoedt. Lukaku stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, sending Pepe Reina the wrong way.

The Nerazzurri doubled the lead before the interval, when Marcelo Brozovic’s tackle bounced off Manuel Lazzari, turning into an assist for Lukaku to drill home. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the referee corrected it after consulting the VAR.

The Biancocelesti seemed to be getting a lifeline on the hour mark, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s free-kick took a huge deflection off Gonzalo Escalante to go beyond a helpless Samir Handanovic.

But Inter shattered Lazio’s hopes three minutes later with a textbook counter-attack as Lukaku sprinted from his own-half, resisting a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge against Marco Parolo, and squaring for Lautaro to tap in totally unmarked.

The win, coupled with AC Milan’s stunning 2-0 defeat to Spezia, sent Inter to the top of the table with 50 points, one point clear of its city-rivals.

Also on Sunday, Roma swept Udinese aside 3-0, as Jordan Veretout’s brace put the Giallorossi firmly in charge in the first half, and Pedro Rodriguez sealed the win before the whistle.

Elsewhere, Luis Muriel’s last-gasp winner helped Atalanta edge past Cagliari 1-0.In Sunday’s other fixtures, Sampdoria defeated Fiorentina 2-1, and Sassuolo won 2-1 away to Crotone.

Juve ends Milan’s unbeaten run in Serie A

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ROME, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — AC Milan saw its 27-match unbeaten run in Serie A ended by Juventus as it lost 3-1 to the Bianconeri at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Both sides were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic as Ante Rebic, Rade Krunic, Juan Cuadrado and Alex Sandro tested positive, and Milan also missed the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the suspended Sandro Tonali.

The Old Lady broke the deadlock in the 18th minute as Paulo Dybala’s fantastic back-heeled pass found Federico Chiesa who blasted in an angled drive. The home side got back on level terms before the break when Davide Calabria equalized from the edge of the box from Rafael Leao’s assist.

Dybala and Chiesa combined again in the 62nd minute, as La Joya spread the play down the right, before Chiesa finished with a daisy-cutter. Juve sealed the match in the 76th minute as Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench to provide an assist for Weston McKennie to drill home.

It was the first league defeat for the Rossoneri since last March, but Stefano Pioli’s side still leads the table with 37 points.

Second-placed Inter Milan failed to capitalize on its city rivals’ defeat, as the Nerazzurri lost 2-1 away to Sampdoria. Ex-Inter stars Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde helped Sampdoria establish a two-goal cushion in the first-half, while Inter’s Alexis Sanchez saw his penalty saved by Emil Audero.

Inter threw on Romelu Lukaku in the 63rd minute and quickly pulled one back two minutes later with Stefan de Vrij’s header, but was unable to find an equalizer. Roma claimed its third consecutive victory after a 3-1 away victory over Crotone.

Borja Mayoral bagged a brace and earned a penalty which Henrikh Mkhitaryan converted.

Elsewhere, Spezia stunned Napoli as the newly-promoted side won 2-1 away to the Partenopei, while Atalanta registered another comprehensive victory with a 3-0 win over Parma. Also on Wednesday, Lazio beat Fiorentina 2-1, Benevento edged Cagliari 2-1, Sassuolo conquered Genoa 2-1, Bologna and Udinese drew 1-1, while Torino and Hellas Verona also shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Juve suffer first 2020-21 Serie A defeat

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ROME, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) — Juventus lost its first Serie A match this season on Tuesday, as the defending champion went down 3-0 to Fiorentina at Allianz Stadium.

The Old Lady had been unbeaten before Tuesday’s game, managing six wins and six draws in 12 matches.

The away side had a strong start, taking the lead just three minutes into the game, as Franck Ribery’s through-ball sent Dusan Vlahovic clear to beat the on-rushing Wojciech Szczesny.

Juve’s situation went from bad to worse in the 18th minute as Juan Cuadrado saw red after an awful tackle on Gaetano Castrovilli.

The dismissal forced Andrea Pirlo to replace Aaron Ramsey with Danilo. Cristiano Ronaldo had the ball in the net for Juve in the 56th minute, but it was flagged offside.

The Viola doubled their lead in the 76th minute with a stroke of luck when Cristiano Biraghi floated in a cross from the left, and Alex Sandro accidentally prodded it into his own net.

Fiorentina sealed the match five minutes later as Biraghi crossed for Martin Caceres to score against his former club. Also on Tuesday, Junior Messias’ brace helped Crotone temporarily leave the foot of the table with a 2-1 victory over Parma.

Roma ends Milan’s winning streak in Serie A

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ROME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) — AC Milan’s perfect Serie A record was snapped by Roma on Monday, as the Rossoneri fumbled the lead three times, only managing a 3-3 home draw.

AC Milan showcased fearsome form since the start of the new season, going on a run of four consecutive victories, scoring nine goals and conceding just one.

But in Monday’s match, Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Jens Petter Hauge tested positive for COVID-19 just hours before kick-off.

The home side had a dream start just two minutes into the game, as Rafael Leao whipped in a cross from the left, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic cushioned a volley into the net.

The Giallorossi got back on level terms in the 14th minute, when Edin Dzeko found the net on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner. Milan restored the lead straight after the break as Leao provided another assist for Alexis Saelemaekers to drill home.

Roma’s Jordan Veretout converted a penalty before Ibrahimovic also converted a spot-kick earned by Hakan Calhanoglu.

The game was not over, as Roma scored the leveler again in the 84th minute when Ibrahimovic’s clearance turned into an assist for Marash Kumbulla to tap in at the back post.

The Rossoneri continues its lead on the table with 13 points, while Roma ranks ninth with eight points.

Inter edge Fiorentina in Serie A season opener

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ROME, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — Inter Milan made a stunning debut to the 2020-21 Serie A season on Saturday, overturning Fiorentina in a 4-3 thriller at the San Siro.

This was Inter’s first game of the season, as its clash with Benevento was postponed to September 30.

Inter coach Antonio Conte started new arrival Aleksandar Kolarov but benched fellow summer signings Arturo Vidal and Achraf Hakimi, while Romelu Lukaku partnered Lautaro Martinez up front with Christian Eriksen behind them.

Lautaro’s scorcher before the interval wiped out Christian Kouame’s opener, and the Argentinian then forced Federico Ceccherini into scoring an own goal seven minutes after the break, helping the Nerazzurri turn around the game.

The Viola fought back to restore the lead as Gaetano Castrovilli finished with a low-strike in the 57th minute, six minutes before Federico Chiesa finished from Franck Ribery’s assist.

However, Inter ran riot in the dying minutes as Lukaku found the net from substitute Hakimi’s pass, two minutes before Danilo D’Ambrosio scored the winner with a header.

Elsewhere, last season’s fourth-placed side Lazio enjoyed a 2-0 away win over Cagliari with goals from Manuel Lazzari and Ciro Immobile.

In Saturday’s other fixtures, Atalanta dominated Torino 4-2, while newly-promoted Benevento stunned Sampdoria 3-2.

Ibra brace helps Milan claim opening victory in

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ROME, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued to prove his value as the hitman scored twice against Bologna on Monday, helping AC Milan to a good start to the new Serie A season.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli benched new signing Sandro Tonali and selected Ibrahimovic to lead the attacking line, flanked by Ante Rebic and Samu Castillejo, with Turk Hakan Calhanoglu behind them.

Ibrahimovic was close to finding the net in the 11th minute as his attempt went just inches past the far post after a meandering run in the box.

The 38-year-old broke the deadlock in the 34th minute as Theo Hernandez whipped in a cross from the left and the Swede out-jumped two defenders to steer his powering header into the net.

Milan doubled the lead four minutes after the break as Ismael Bennacer was charged down by Riccardo Orsolini in the box, Ibrahimovic stepped up to convert the penalty.

Ibrahimovic had the chance to complete his hat-trick in the 63rd minute, but he ballooned the ball over the bar with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Bologna went a player down in the dying minutes as Mitchell Dijks saw red after his second yellow card for getting a fistful of Alexis Saelemaekers’ shirt.

Tonali joins AC Milan on loan

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ROME, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) — Italy’s starlet Sandro Tonali has completed his loan move from Brescia to AC Milan, the Serie A giant announced on Wednesday.

“AC Milan is delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Sandro Tonali from Brescia Calcio on loan with the option to make the deal permanent. The player will wear the number 8 jersey,” read a statement.

Born in 2000, Tonali started playing football with Lombardia Uno, an AC Milan academy, before moving to Piacenza and then, aged 12, to Brescia.

The midfielder came through the youth ranks of the Rondinelle, making his senior debut in Serie B aged 17. In three seasons as a professional player with Brescia, Tonali made 89 appearances, scoring 7 goals.

The playmaker made his Italian senior debut on October 19, 2019, and has earned three caps for the Azzurri.

According to Italian media outlets, the loan deal will cost AC Milan 10 million euros.

If the club activate the buy-out clause, they will pay another 10 million with add-ons up to 15 million and 10 percent of future sale.

AC Milan’s technical director Paolo Maldini said: “We are excited to welcome Sandro to the Rossoneri family. As a talented, young midfielder he will not only embrace the values of AC Milan but also make a significant contribution to the future success of the club.”

Chilean forward Sanchez joins Inter Milan

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ROME, Aug.6 (Xinhua)— Alexis Sanchez has completed his free move from Manchester United to Inter Milan, the Serie A side confirmed on Thursday.

Sanchez moved to Inter last summer on a loan deal without an option to buy, and the Chilean provided four goals and nine assists in 30 appearances.

The 31-year-old terminated his original contract with Manchester United with mutual consent, meaning it will save the transfer fee for Inter.

“FC Internazionale Milano announce that Alexis Sanchez has joined the Nerazzurri on a free transfer. The Chilean forward has signed a permanent contract with the Club until 30 June 2023,” read Inter Milan’s statement.

Inter finish second in Serie A, Immobile equals goal scoring record

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ROME, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) — Inter Milan secured their place on the table as they finished second in Serie A after a 2-0 away victory over Atalanta in a head-to-head showdown for the runners-up spot on Saturday, while Lazio hitman Ciro Immobile equaled the all time Serie A record of 36 goals.

Inter entered Saturday’s game with 79 points on the table, one ahead of Atalanta.

The Nerazzurri had a dream start as they broke the deadlock just one minute into the game as Danilo D’Ambrosio steered his header into the net.

The away side doubled the lead in the 20th minute as Ashley Young cut inside from the left, unleashing a curler into the far corner.

Inter’s striker Alexis Sanchez should have added the third, but his goal was flagged offside.

Inter finished the 2019-20 season with 82 points, only one behind defending champions Juventus who fumbled a 1-0 lead and were beaten by Roma 3-1 on Saturday.

Immobile picked up his 36th goal, equaling the Serie A record set by Gonzalo Higuain in 2015-16 season, but it was not enough as Napoli dominated Lazio 3-1.AC Milan concluded the season with a 12-game unbeaten run after the Rossoneri enjoyed a 3-0 home victory over Cagliari.

Ragnar Klavan’s own goal gave Milan an early lead, Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a penalty before the break but the Swede then atoned his error with a blockbuster in the 54th minute, two minutes before Samu Castillejo sealed the match from close range.In another game on Saturday, Brescia shared the spoils with Sampdoria 1-1.

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