Lukaku grateful for support after ending wait for open-play goal

Romelu Lukaku thanked Inter Milan's supporters and fitness staff after ending his long wait for a goal from open play in Serie A with a double in Sunday's 3-0 victory at Empoli. The Belgium striker opened the scoring early in the second half at Stadio Carlo Castellani with a precise finish past Samuele Perisan and …

Sassuolo stun Juventus, Roma in race for second place

Milan (AFP) – Juventus were beaten 1-0 by modest Sassuolo to remain stuck in seventh in Serie A on Sunday when Gregoire Drefel reacted fastest to score from a fluffed clearance. The defeat leaves Juventus below the European spots after the Turin giants were docked 15 points for illicit transfer activity in January. Sassuolo beat Juve …

Osimhen ‘could not ask for more’ from Napoli as transfer speculation increases

Victor Osimhen says he "could not ask for more" at Napoli amid increased speculation over his future. The Nigeria international has been instrumental to the Partenopei's success this season, as they close in on a third Scudetto title and first since 1990. Victor Osimhen has no intention of leaving Napoli With 25 goals in 30 …

Immobile avoids serious injury after Lazio captain’s car collides with tram

Lazio captain Ciro Immobile walked away without suffering any serious injuries after his car collided with a tram on Sunday morning. The Italy striker was reportedly taken to the Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Hospital following the crash in Rome. Ciro Immobile was not seriously hurt when his vehicle was hit by a tram It was reported …

Napoli, Milan and Inter all stall ahead of Champions League deciders

Milan (AFP) – Napoli and AC Milan both dropped points ahead of the Serie A sides' Champions League showdown following respective draws with Verona and Bologna on Saturday, while Inter Milan were beaten 1-0 by Monza with Benfica looming. Italy's champions-elect Napoli have had their imposing league lead cut to 14 points after a second-string XI …

Inter suffer Fiorentina defeat, Juventus boost top-four hopes

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by Fiorentina on Saturday as Giacomo Bonaventura's second-half goal dealt a blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League from Serie A. Simone Inzaghi's Inter, who will face Benfica in this season's Champions League quarter-finals, remain in third place. Giacomo Bonaventura (R) scored …

Milan fall at Udinese despite Ibrahimovic’s goal record

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest goalscorer in the history of Serie A on Saturday but couldn't stop AC Milan from falling to a 3-1 defeat at Udinese. Ibrahimovic, 41, was in Milan's starting line-up for the first time since January last year and smashed home a penalty at the second attempt in first-half …

Osimhen fires ‘dreaming’ Napoli into Champions League last eight

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Victor Osimhen says Napoli are dreaming of Champions League glory after his brace shot the Serie A leaders to a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history on Wednesday. Nigeria striker Osimhen struck either side of half-time to ensure no slip-ups in Naples …

Milan slip in top four race with Salernitana draw

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan slipped up in Serie A's race for the Champions League on Monday after allowing struggling Salernitana to escape the San Siro with a 1-1 draw. Champions Milan could have drawn level on 50 points with second-placed Inter Milan but stay fourth following Boulaye Dia's 61st minute leveller after Olivier Giroud had …

Ten-man Roma stunned by Sassuolo and out of Serie A top four

Milan (AFP) – Roma dropped out of Serie A's Champions League places on Sunday after falling to a shock 4-3 home defeat to Sassuolo. Roma could have moved level on points with second-placed Inter Milan who lost at struggling Spezia on Friday but were stunned by an Armand Lauriente double, Domenico Berardi's penalty and Andrea Pinamonti's …

Napoli ‘to keep hands on wheel’ as Pogba return boosts Juve

Milan (AFP) – Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti says his players are drowning out what he sees as premature title chatter despite knowing victory over Lazio on Friday would send them 21 points clear in Serie A. The league leaders have won eight games in a row and 19 of their past 20 in the top flight …

‘Hot like chip fat’ Frankfurt ready for Napoli in Champions League

Berlin (AFP) – Eintracht Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner said on Monday his side are "hot like chip fat" for this week's Champions League last 16 first leg with Serie A leaders Napoli. In their first Champions League campaign, the Europa League holders made it through a group featuring Tottenham, Marseille and Sporting Lisbon. Frankfurt' head coach …

Inter squeeze past Udinese, Messias fires Milan third

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan made sure the gap separating them from runaway Serie A leaders Napoli stayed at 15 points with a 3-1 success over Udinese on Saturday. Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lautaro Martinez all scored in a hard-fought win against ninth-placed Udinese, who have won only once in their last 15 league matches. …

Messias fires Milan past Monza, up to third

Monza (Italy) (AFP) – Junior Messias made sure AC Milan continued their recovery from an awful start to the year by netting the only goal in Saturday's 1-0 at Monza which moved the champions up to third in Serie A. Milan's season is creaking back into gear and Brazilian Messias lashed in a powerful strike from …

Allegri ‘not nervous’ as reports cast doubt on future of Juve coach

Massimiliano Allegri insists he is not nervous amid reports suggesting his position as Juventus coach is at risk, saying critics cannot argue with his achievements in Turin. Juventus benefitted from a late VAR reprieve in a 1-0 win over Fiorentina in Serie A last Sunday, before being pegged back by Nantes in a 1-1 Europa …