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Post by Bismarck on Dec 17, 2007 13:34:50 GMT
Serie A: Cruz and Suazo increase Inter lead
Inter Milan extended their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points after second-half goals from Julio Cruz and David Suazo secured a 2-0 win at struggling Cagliari on Sunday.
The unbeaten defending champions, on 40 points from 16 games, were always on top in rainy Sardinia despite being without a host of injured midfielders and suspended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Argentine Cruz grabbed his ninth league goal of the season on 57 minutes when he found the corner of the net from the edge of the area. Suazo tapped in 10 minutes from time after Ivan Cordoba's header had been saved.
AS Roma earlier moved back up to second on 33 points but were fortunate to get away with a 0-0 draw at Torino after the hosts wasted several good chances.
Roma are one point above third-placed Juventus, who won 3-2 at Lazio on Saturday thanks to Alessandro Del Piero's second-half double.
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 17, 2007 13:37:36 GMT
AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini announced shortly after winning the FIFA Club World Cup that he will retire at the end of the season.
The Rossoneri beat Boca Juniors 4-2 today to clinch the trophy and cap off an impressive year for the Italian club.
'Today I truly feel satisfied with what I have achieved,' said Maldini, who earlier this year lifted the Champions League trophy.
'In June I will absolutely retire without any regrets.'
As far as honours go, the 39-year-old defender has had his fair share including five Champions League titles, two Intercontinental Cups, four European SuperCups and seven Serie A titles.
But the FIFA Club World Cup is the icing on the cake for the iconic Rossoneri player who made his debut in 1985.
'It's great to have won this trophy because it's difficult to be playing at 39 in a great club like AC Milan,' said the former Italian international.
'Milan has allowed me always the possibility to play for important trophies.
'I have had everything in my football career but I have pain and I struggle. I still have a lot of fun but the pain is beginning to take over.'
Maldini retired from the Italy national side shortly after the 2002 World Cup with a record number of caps.
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Post by arover on Dec 19, 2007 15:07:04 GMT
He's not been too bad a player has he?
He would have to be good looking too, is there anything he can't do.
One of the last surviving one club men along with Totti, Giggs and Raul.
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Post by arover on Dec 19, 2007 15:16:00 GMT
This is how its looking now;
| Home | Away Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS 1 Inter Milan 16 7 1 0 21 4 5 3 0 14 4 27 40 2 Roma 16 4 2 1 17 13 5 4 0 14 5 13 33 3 Juventus 16 6 1 1 20 3 3 4 1 13 12 18 32 4 Udinese 16 5 1 1 12 10 3 3 3 8 9 1 28 5 Fiorentina 16 3 3 2 13 10 3 4 1 8 5 6 25 6 Palermo 16 3 4 1 9 7 3 2 3 14 18 -2 24 7 Napoli 16 5 1 2 11 6 1 3 4 13 15 3 22 8 Atalanta 15 3 3 1 14 9 2 3 3 8 11 2 21 9 Sampdoria 16 4 3 1 14 7 2 0 6 8 15 0 21 10 Catania 16 5 1 2 10 4 0 5 3 6 12 0 21 11 AC Milan 13 0 5 2 3 5 4 1 1 17 5 10 18 12 Parma 16 4 4 1 16 12 0 2 5 3 11 -4 18 13 Lazio 16 3 2 4 11 13 1 3 3 6 10 -6 17 14 Torino 16 2 5 1 8 6 0 5 3 6 13 -5 16 15 Genoa 16 2 3 3 10 13 1 4 3 5 10 -8 16 16 Siena 16 1 6 2 11 10 1 2 4 6 13 -6 14 17 Livorno 15 1 3 3 8 12 2 2 4 10 14 -8 14 18 Empoli 16 2 4 2 10 8 1 1 6 2 14 -10 14 19 Reggina 15 1 3 3 5 8 0 4 4 4 16 -15 10 20 Cagliari 16 1 2 5 5 12 1 2 5 7 16 -16 10
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 21, 2007 19:16:50 GMT
This might be El Clasico weekend in Spain but you wouldn’t be able to sell that to the Italians. Just like La Liga, the Italian Serie A too batters itself into a Christmas and New Year hibernation after this weekend’s round of matches but for Italy, this is Derby della Madonnina weekend. Yes, it’s Internazionale versus AC Milan, or rather in affectionate terms, Inter Milan verus AC Milan and the fashion capital of the world (well, to the Italians at least) Milan will be ripped apart into two distinctly opposite halves. On one side there will be the Inter fans clad in blue and black colors while on the other side of the divide there will be the Milan fanatics clothed in red and black. Milan could be entirely dressed in mourning black by the end of the weekend should they fail to register a win at the San Siro. For Milan are a ridiculously unassailable 22-point behind cross-city rivals and league leaders Inter. Although they’ve 3 games in hand and have only just lifted the 2007 Club Would Cup, there’s no running away from the fact that the Rossoneri’s title hopes have already withered to ashes. Milan are still going strong in the UEFA Champions League but just like last season, they lost the plot in the Serie A right from the word go. The other hand, after a somewhat indifferent start, Inter have picked up pace and picked up points. The Nerazurri are the only side among the Big Five leagues in Europe to be still unbeaten in the domestic championship. Inter have 40 points from 16 Serie A matches, have won their last 5 matches and have scored 35 goals and concede just 8. Roberto Mancini’s side is the favorite to win the Milan derby but as the cliché has it, when there’s a derby at stake, the book flies out of the window leaving its dirty underwear behind. But unlike last season, Inter are not running away with the Scudetto this time around although like last season, AS Roma are their nearest challengers. This season Roma have added depth to their exquisite side by signing the likes of Juan, Ludovic Giuly and Cicinho and have scored 31 goals in the league so far. Roma have lost just 1 match this season and are 7 points behind Inter in second. The Giallorossi play mid table Sampdoria at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. But Sampdoria aren’t going to be easy pushovers—they have won 3 of their last 5 away matches and are chasing a UEFA Cup spot. Juventus are third in the table, just 1 point behind Roma. The Old Lady of Turin were anticipated by many to be struggling for even a UEFA Champions League spot but Claudio Ranieri’s team are now serious title contenders. Juve play fifth from bottom Siena at home this weekend. Juve have lost just 2 matches in the league so far this season and have won 9. Juve have also scored 33 goals with 12 of them bearing the signature of David Trezaguet. Fourth place Udinese are 4 points behind Juve and are expected to dominate Empoli, who with 14 points are third from bottom. Any slip-up from Udinese at home and Fiorentina could move into the Champions League places. Cesare Prandelli’s side are virtually out of the title race and have 25 points from 16 matches so far and welcome rock bottom Cagliari at home. Cagliari are at the foot of the table with 10 points so far this season. Palermo in sixth host underachieving Lazio on Sunday. Promoted side Napoli are going pretty strong in the Serie A and are with a shout for a UEFA Cup spot. Napoli have won 3 of their last 5 home matches and are 7th in he table. The Azzurris welcome lowly placed Torino at Stadio San Paolo. Newcomers Genoa are struggling in 16th with 16 points from as many games and welcome modest Parma on Saturday. Only goal difference separates Livorno from the dropzone and they would certainly like to win against Atalanta at home this weekend to spend Christmas and New Year basking in optimism. Reggina too would like to do the same but with just 10 points and an unenviable 19th position in the league table, the Amaranto wouldn’t be expecting too much when mid-table Sicilian side Catania pay them a visit on Sunday.
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 22, 2007 22:29:13 GMT
Captain Francesco Totti scored twice as second-placed AS Roma kept in touch with Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a 2-0 win over 10-man Sampdoria on Saturday.
Totti set the home side on their way in the 18th minute with one of his trademark chipped penalties, awarded for Stefano Lucchini's foul on Matteo Ferrari.
Lucchini wasted a good chance to equalise in the 31st minute, firing wide after Sergio Volpi had found him on the left side of the six-yard box with a free kick.
Roma pressed forward after the break and Samp keeper Luca Castellazzi did well to tip a spectacular Simone Perrotta effort from outside box on to the bar.
Sampdoria's hopes of grabbing a point suffered a big blow just before the hour when Volpi was sent off for a second yellow card.
Totti tucked away a Marco Cassetti cross to seal the win and claim his ninth league goal of the season in the final minute.
Roma, who had drawn their last two Serie A games and lost 3-1 to Torino in an Italian Cup first-leg tie on Wednesday, are four points behind Inter with 36 points from 17 games.
Earlier, Genoa beat Parma 1-0 at home to halt a two-month winless run in the league thanks to a Marco Borriello penalty shortly before halftime.
On Sunday, Inter face European champions and Club World Cup winners AC Milan in the city derby, while third-placed Juventus entertain Siena.
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Post by arover on Dec 24, 2007 8:30:38 GMT
Inter running away with it for the 2nd season in a row;
| Away Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS 1 Inter Milan 17 8 1 0 23 5 5 3 0 14 4 28 43 2 Roma 17 5 2 1 19 13 5 4 0 14 5 15 36 3 Juventus 17 7 1 1 22 3 3 4 1 13 12 20 35 4 Udinese 17 5 2 1 14 12 3 3 3 8 9 1 29 5 Fiorentina 17 4 3 2 18 11 3 4 1 8 5 10 28 6 Palermo 17 3 5 1 11 9 3 2 3 14 18 -2 25 7 Napoli 17 5 2 2 12 7 1 3 4 13 15 3 23 8 Atalanta 16 3 3 1 14 9 2 4 3 9 12 2 22 9 Sampdoria 17 4 3 1 14 7 2 0 7 8 17 -2 21 10 Catania 17 5 1 2 10 4 0 5 4 7 15 -2 21 11 Genoa 17 3 3 3 11 13 1 4 3 5 10 -7 19 12 AC Milan 14 0 5 2 3 5 4 1 2 18 7 9 18 13 Parma 17 4 4 1 16 12 0 2 6 3 12 -5 18 14 Lazio 17 3 2 4 11 13 1 4 3 8 12 -6 18 15 Torino 17 2 5 1 8 6 0 6 3 7 14 -5 17 16 Livorno 16 1 4 3 9 13 2 2 4 10 14 -8 15 17 Empoli 17 2 4 2 10 8 1 2 6 4 16 -10 15 18 Siena 17 1 6 2 11 10 1 2 5 6 15 -8 14 19 Reggina 16 2 3 3 8 9 0 4 4 4 16 -13 13 20 Cagliari 17 1 2 5 5 12 1 2 6 8 21 -20 10
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Post by arover on Dec 28, 2007 17:16:38 GMT
Interesting one this:
Palermo deny Mafia extortion reports ROME, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Palermo have refuted Italian media reports that the Serie A club may have been the victim of Mafia extortion attempts. "Palermo categorically denies that the club, its administrators or directors have ever received demands or pressures of an extortive nature from anyone or, even less so, from anyone linked to organised crime," said a statement on the club's Web site (www.ilpalermocalcio.it). La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said on Friday that a letter written to captured Mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo mentioned one of Palermo's youth team coaches and the club's plans to build a new stadium. The letter was among documents seized when Lo Piccolo was arrested at his Sicilian hideout last month, it said. "We are only at the planning stage (for the stadium), there is no call for tenders," Palermo Managing Director Rinaldo Sagramola told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It is an important project and who knows if it might have stirred the interest of the criminal world, as well as that of honest entrepreneurs. "Anyway this club has never received any type of pressure, demand or contact, zero.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 1, 2008 20:26:32 GMT
Lazio slam Pandev rumours Monday Dec 31 2007 12:37 Lazio have dismissed speculation linking striker Goran Pandev with an imminent move to Bayern Munich.
The 24-year-old FYR Macedonia international had suggested that an agreement between the two clubs was close at hand, but Lazio say that that is not the case.
A statement from the Roman club read: "With relation to the stories that are totally without foundation, Lazio repeat that Goran Pandev is under a long-term contract and will continue to play for Lazio.
"Lazio warn anyone against spreading news items that are destabilising and lacking in foundation."
Pandev had earlier told Sky Sports: "My managers and the two clubs will meet for final talks, that is when everything will be known and whether I will be heading to Munich.
"There has been also interest from Liverpool and Valencia, but Bayern made the most serious approach."
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 1, 2008 20:29:13 GMT
Inter consider their options Friday Dec 28 2007 10:54 Internazionale president Massimo Moratti has admitted the club's lack of defensive midfielders could force them into the transfer market in January.
Coach Roberto Mancini is currently without injured duo Patrick Vieira and Olivier Dacourt, while defender Walter Samuel could miss the rest of the campaign with knee ligament damage.
"I did not really want to look at alternatives for the midfield because I had no intention of entering into the market, but now Samuel is injured," said Moratti.
"There is a dialogue open with (sporting director Marco) Branca to see what would be the most intelligent move.
"I don't think it could be an Italian player, it could easily be a foreigner.
"If he is not able to play in the Champions League then he will play in Serie A and allow somebody to rest for the cup."
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 2, 2008 17:13:38 GMT
Lazio have dismissed speculation linking striker Goran Pandev with an imminent move to Bayern Munich.
The 24-year-old FYR Macedonia international had suggested that an agreement between the two clubs was close at hand, but Lazio say that that is not the case.
A statement from the Roman club read: "With relation to the stories that are totally without foundation, Lazio repeat that Goran Pandev is under a long-term contract and will continue to play for Lazio.
"Lazio warn anyone against spreading news items that are destabilising and lacking in foundation."
Pandev had earlier told Sky Sports: "My managers and the two clubs will meet for final talks, that is when everything will be known and whether I will be heading to Munich.
"There has been also interest from Liverpool and Valencia, but Bayern made the most serious approach."
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 3, 2008 19:29:53 GMT
Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano is arguably the best anchoring midfielder in Europe and it’s no surprise whatsoever that Italian giants Juventus are eager to import him. Italian newspapers are rife with the reports lining the Argentina international up with Juve and now Sky Sports has picked up the cue, too. With Liverpool still in two minds on whether to make the loan deal with West Ham United a permanent one or not, it appears the story could run for quite a number of days.
Juventus are looking for a defensive midfielder at the moment and aren’t worried about money. Mascherano has been on loan at Liverpool since January 2007 and although the player himself has stated that he is quite happy at Anfield and would like to continue his life as a Red, the Liverpool hierarchy is not certain on the £17million that they would have to spend to acquire the player on a permanent deal.
Juventus are also looking at racking up Liverpool’s out-of-favour defensive medio Mohamed Sissoko. Sissoko has been largely neglected this season and manager Rafael Benitez isn’t quite buoyant about the player. Sissoko himself has openly declared that he would be ready to leave Anfield should he get more chances at his new club and it appears that Juventus might just be able to get him.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 6, 2008 2:42:52 GMT
ROME, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Palermo have refuted Italian media reports that the Serie A club may have been the victim of Mafia extortion attempts.
'Palermo categorically denies that the club, its administrators or directors have ever received demands or pressures of an extortive nature from anyone or, even less so, from anyone linked to organised crime,' said a statement on the club's website.
La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said on Friday that a letter written to captured Mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo mentioned one of Palermo's youth team coaches and the club's plans to build a new stadium.
The letter was among documents seized when Lo Piccolo was arrested at his Sicilian hideout last month, it said.
'We are only at the planning stage (for the stadium), there is no call for tenders,' Palermo Managing Director Rinaldo Sagramola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
'It is an important project and who knows if it might have stirred the interest of the criminal world, as well as that of honest entrepreneurs.
'Anyway this club has never received any type of pressure, demand or contact, zero.'
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 6, 2008 3:32:46 GMT
Figo yet to commit to MLS for next season
Inter Milan midfielder Luis Figo says he has yet to commit to joining Major League Soccer next season.
Media reports in his native Portugal had said the 35-year-old was close to following Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham by signing for a US team when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
'I don't like talking about suppositions. I'm not considering the possibility at the moment because I have other things on my mind,' Figo told a news conference in Dubai where Serie A leaders Inter are holding a mid-season training camp.
Figo broke his leg in November and wants to concentrate on getting fully fit.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 8, 2008 13:20:10 GMT
Casiraghi must name 18 players for the games in Beijing, and 15 of these must have been born after January 1, 1985.
However he is also allowed to include three over-aged players, and the ex-Juventus and Lazio star has his eyes on some big names.
"It'll depend on the choices Roberto Donadoni makes for the European Championships," said Casiraghi.
"The priority will have to go to the 1984 players, like Alberto Aquilani and Giorgio Chiellini [who helped us qualify for the Olympics].
"But that's not excluding some national team heroes - Pippo Inzaghi and Alex Del Piero. I'd also like Gigi Buffon and Luca Toni."
Aquilani, Chiellini, Buffon and Toni seem virtual certainties to be called by Donadoni for June’s European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
However the places of Del Piero and Inzaghi, in particular the latter, are less certain, leading to the possibility of the veterans playing in Beijing this August.
Other high-profile possibilities, although unlikely, are Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta, who will not play at Euro 2008, due to their international retirements.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 8, 2008 13:21:04 GMT
AC Milan are gearing up for tonight's friendly against a United Arab Emirates representative team in Dubai, a game that could see striker Ronaldo back in a Rossoneri shirt.
The former Real Madrid, Inter and Barcelona man has been plagued by troubles since moving back to Italy last year and has started just one competitive match so far this season, but both club and player are hopeful that this frustrating period can now be consigned to the past.
"Ronaldo should play some part in the game," said Ancelotti from Milan's base in Dubai. "Ronie has been one of our best players these last few days, as has been [Yohann] Gourcuff and so this training camp has been very positive.
"Ronaldo is fine," added Ancelotti of the three-time world player of the year. "His condition has improved a lot and consequently so has his mood.”
No Sale Planned
Ronaldo had been heavily linked with a move back to his native Brazil this January, not least after he was spotted wearing a Flamengo shirt at a party.
But Ancelotti stressed his striker's future remained at San Siro. "There has never been any doubt between him and the club, he wants to play for Milan."
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 8, 2008 13:22:27 GMT
It will be an important year for Milan midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. After arriving at the club in 2006, it's time for the 21-year-old Frenchman to start showing his real worth.
Everyone at the club is still full of confidence in him, but if things don't change soon, the former Rennes player's adventure at the club might be over before long. The youngster is aware of this, and says he is ready to fight for more playing time at the club.
"When the league season resumes we'll have a lot of games in a short amount of time," he said, "and perhaps some of the players who haven't had many chances to play will get a chance now. When the coach has to call on reserve players, we have to make sure we are ready. Only then can we earn his complete trust."
Lately, inevitable transfer rumours surrounding the player have come up, but he has very clear ideas regarding his intentions, and is determined to show his worth at Milan.
"Personally, I'm doing well here and I hope that I can improve day after day, and eventually be a first team player," he continued. "In this club you play important matches like in the Champions League, it's not like playing in smaller clubs.
"Playing at Milan is more difficult, because you always have to win, and to win you need to play well. This club has allowed me to grow and improve a lot," Gourcuff concluded.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 13, 2008 21:02:58 GMT
Inter Milan are close to signing playmaker Maniche, who was reportedly also interesting Tottenham Hotspur.
The 30-year-old Portugal international is said to be set to undergo a medical for the Serie A champions after a reported £4 million move from La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid.
Spurs were linked with the former Porto star, who also has Premiership experience from his loan spell in 2006 at Chelsea.
However, Roberto Mancini’s side seem to have got Maniche to give them a great option in the midfield while Patrick Vieira and Olivier Dacourt have been troubled with injury problems.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 15, 2008 16:19:55 GMT
It’s a sad truth that racism against African players is so long-standing in Italy that it’s hardly even discussed anymore, at least not in the English and Italian sources I read. It’s not gone, but it seems to be accepted as just a tragic fact of life now, worth reporting only when someone at a victim club makes issue of it in the press, as the president of Serie C1 side Pro Sesto did yesterday:
It happened before, in the away game when every time one of our black players touched the ball they started to boo … On Saturday it happened at our ground when one of our players was injured and they hurled abuse at him. Verona should be fined repeatedly for the attitude of their fans. It is incredible to believe that people could chant ‘die’ at a player on the floor.
And, again, these aren’t isolated incidents. I remember reading (possibly in John Foot’s Calcio) about how Udinese didn’t buy their first black player until years after the taboo has been broken — I want to say it wasn’t until the mid-to-late 1980s, at the earliest — because their supporters were so abusive of opposing players of African descent that they were afraid of the response. And this is to the team’s own players. Obviously Udine got over it and now have a great recording of finding and nurturing talent, but the abuse continues to be a factor all over Italy, whether it’s from pockets of support or bigger, more organized groups.
The racism extends to Asians, too, as Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura discussed last week, and to certain European populations, as Adrian Mutu has found out repeatedly this season, most recently at Parma yesterday. (Not surprisingly, the only on-pitch support Mutu got was from Parma’s Senegalese defender Ferdinand Coly, who described the behavior of his team’s supporters as “disgusting.”)
So, why is this allowed to continue? I know it’s a problem in a lot of European leagues, but I’m talking about Italy here — why hasn’t the racism been tackled by the FIGC? Why hasn’t there been an EPL-style anti-racism campaign? Or has there been one that didn’t work? When Marco Zoro was so badly abused by Inter traveling support that he tried to stop the match three years ago, the response was wide condemnation of the behavior of the fans, and a delayed start for the next week’s matches as a protest against racism, but then what? Surely massive fines against clubs and the chucking out of guilty supporters would be a start — is the problem, like a lot of the other ones in the Italian game, so big that it’s impossible to imagine fixing it, and so it’s just ignored?
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 26, 2008 16:26:14 GMT
It seems very unlikely that any side has the means to stop Inter Milan retaining the scudetto.
Only Roma are even within striking distance and even they are seven points adrift. If Roma had hopes of putting the squueze on the leaders, last weekend crushed their ambitions.
Unbeaten Inter were losing at home to Parma with three minutes left. Not only did Roberto Mancini's side get on level terms with a penalty, they then pinched all three points with a late strike by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Even Roma fans probably now know that Inter are marching to another title. Juventus lie even further back, fully 12 points behind Inter and Claudio Ranieri would be happy to just tie up Champions League qualification.
The Champions-elect are still in with a chance of an unbeaten season. While there are many rumblings about lack of opportunities for English players in the Premiership, Internationale have hardly any Italians in their starting line up- remarkable considering Italy are World Champions.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 28, 2008 11:56:39 GMT
MILAN, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Leaders Inter Milan failed to win in Serie A for the first time in nine matches when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Udinese on Sunday.
The unbeaten champions had Brazilian winger Cesar sent off for two quick bookings after just 21 minutes but still had the better chances to beat fifth-placed Udinese with Julio Cruz and strike partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic going close.
Inter's lead from last week has been cut to five from seven points after second-placed AS Roma won 1-0 at home to Palermo on Saturday. Juventus, 13 points behind Inter in third, visit Livorno in the late game.
Brazilian striker Pato scored twice in the second half to give AC Milan a 2-0 win over 10-man Genoa and lift the stuttering European champions to seventh.
The 18-year-old has now scored three in his first four games for the club and three in two at the San Siro where Milan had failed to win against Italian opposition before his arrival at the start of the month.
Milan again lacked bite in the first half and were wasteful in the second before Pato nodded in after Clarence Seedorf's header across goal on 69 minutes.
Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho was then dismissed for handling outside the box when he denied the onrushing Pato, who was playing upfront alone with Ronaldo again out injured.
He grabbed his second eight minutes from time when he walked the ball into the net to boost Milan, who have two games in hand including Wednesday's trip to Reggina.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina moved level on points with Juventus after Adrian Mutu's 13th league goal of the season set up a 2-0 victory at second bottom Empoli.
Basement side Cagliari are now just three adrift of Empoli after a stunning late comeback against Napoli. Alessandro Matri and Daniele Conti both scored late in stoppage time to record a 2-1 win, their first since Sept 30.
Substitute Rolando Bianchi had a debut to forget when he was sent off after five minutes of Lazio's 0-0 draw at Torino.
Reggina staged a great comeback against Atalanta to move out of the bottom three with Luca Vigiani scoring at the near post and Edgar Barreto snatching the equaliser on 67 minutes from the edge of box.
Defender Claudio Rivalta lashed a stunning strike into the top corner from 25 metres to put the hosts Reggina ahead on 18 minutes and Antonio Langella doubled their advantage a minute after the break.
Catania's Gionatha Spinesi headed home late in the first half against Parma but the effort was controversially ruled out for a push. The game ended goalless.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 29, 2008 15:18:03 GMT
Juventus have completed the signing of Mohamed Sissoko from Liverpool - but will not allow fellow midfielder Tiago to leave during the January transfer window.
Tottenham had been interested in the former Chelsea player but Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco stated the 26-year-old would be given more time to prove himself with the Italian club.
Secco told Gazzetta dello Sport: 'We have received several inquiries regarding Tiago.
'Tottenham have been following him in the last couple of days but they have now changed their mind. Therefore, there is no time for the transfer to be completed.
'Tiago is not on the market. He will be given time to prove his best qualities.'
Tiago joined Juve from Lyon last summer but has struggled to make an impact under Claudio Ranieri, making just nine Serie A appearances this season.
He may see even fewer opportunities over the second half of the campaign with Sissoko signing a four-and-a-half-year deal in Turin.
Juventus signed Sissoko for £8.2million.The Mali midfielder jetted to Italy at the weekend for a medical before heading back to the African Nations Cup in Ghana, where his side face Ivory Coast later on Tuesday.
Sissoko, who went to Anfield in 2005 but fell out of favour following the arrival of Javier Mascherano, has signed a five-year contract with the Turin club, a statement said.
The former Valencia player replaces Argentine Sergio Almiron, who was sent on loan to Monaco after an ineffective first few months at Juve, having signed from Empoli in the close season.
'I am happy to come to such an important club, this experience is certainly a step forward in my career,' Sissoko said in a statement.
'I am excited at the thought of soon being able to play with great champions and to work again with Claudio Ranieri, a great coach who I already appreciated during my time at Valencia.'
If Mali reach the African Nations Cup final on Feb. 10, Juve could be without their new signing until mid February.
Juve, third in Serie A, signed Lazio defender Guglielmo Stendardo on loan until June on Monday and also announced that Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg would be joining the club in July.
Sissoko's move was also due to be sealed on Monday but was delayed slightly. The fee will be paid in three instalments and could rise by a further two million euros depending on Juve's performance.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 29, 2008 15:18:36 GMT
MILAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Serie A side Palermo are looking to have Saturday's 1-0 defeat to AS Roma overturned or the match replayed due to the actions of a ball boy.
Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini told reporters the ball boy had returned the ball to Roma too quickly at a corner kick, which led to Brazilian Mancini's headed winner.
'I have dispatched my lawyers and I have asked for a 3-0 win or at least for the match to be replayed,' Zamparini said.
'We have read the rules -- the ball boys must stay behind the advertising boards and throw the ball to the nearest player. What happened on Saturday is against the rules.'
Roma are second in the league while Palermo have lost four in a row in all competitions and slipped to ninth.
The Italian game has been hit by a number of controversial refereeing decisions recently. Some clubs have said the current crop of match officials, whittled down by the 2006 match-fixing scandal, are too young and lack experience.
There have also been calls for foreign officials to be brought in but Italian referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has defended his men.
'They make mistakes but it is absurd to judge them with television,' he told Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport.
'In France, Spain, England they have more problems than us. Who do I call?
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 31, 2008 18:12:23 GMT
His name is Mario. Born in Palermo in August 1990 from Ghanaian parents, he is officially adopted by the Balotelli family at age 2. His height is 1m89, his weight 88kg, his touch & technique already reminiscent of the greats of football history. On Wednesday this week, he officially became the Inter Milan hero when the Nerazzurri knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia, thanks to two goals by the young striker and a penalty shot by Cruz. Some might say he is Inter’s response to a certain young Brazilian recently acquired by AC Milan, but Mario Balotelli is unique in his own way and this week, has proven that your name doesn’t have to be Alexandre Pato for everyone to say “A Star is Born in Milan”. . Tactically, aside from the usual “give your backup players a chance to shine” drill, this match had two very important novelties, one on each side. For Juve, it was the very first match for Guglielmo Stendardo (recent loan acquisition from Lazio) who occupied the Bianconeri central defense (now devoid of Jean-Alain Boumsong, on his way to Lyon). For Inter, it was the starting lineup spot of the aforementioned Mario Balotelli, a choice which had matured in Roberto Mancini’s mind due to David Suazo’s non-ideal athletic conditions. Oh also, it was Mauro Camoranesi’s return to action after (yet another!) month-long injury…
Based on the result of the first leg (2-2 at the San Siro, with goals by Cruz (double), Del Piero, and Boumsong), you might have expected the home team to play it safe, keep their defense locked tight and operate on counter-attacks. Not this Juve. Instead, it very much seemed as if Claudio Ranieri instructed his troops to go full steam ahead, gnarl at their opponents, and take one big bite in their carotid artery to wrap up the ticket to the next round. As a result, the spectacle enoyed by the 20,616 spectators of the Stadio Olimpico was majestic, and didn’t take very long at all to get started.
Minute 10: exploiting a very long ball forward by Maniche, Mario Balotelli waited for the ball to bounce, got rid of Birindelli (who, challenged by the striker’s superior physique, slipped), and slammed his shot past Belardi (before Stendardo could close him down). Not the prettiest of goals and certainly not the prettiest of defenses, but 1-0 Inter.
However, just 4 minutes later came the reaction of Juventus: following a foul of Jiménez on Cristiano Zanetti, the Bianconeri obtained a free-kick a few meters away from Inter’s box, and who else to take it but Alessandro Del Piero (in absolutely storming form tonight). On this one, the Juve captain was actually also fortunate, because the wall (Stankovic) deflected his effort and fooled Toldo by sending him the wrong way. 1-1.
With momentum going their way after the equalizer, Juventus continued to push forward and break through their opponents’ defense. Maicon wasn’t being particularly attentive in his covering work, and his right-side was often the playground of choice for Pavel Nedved and his trademark rushes forward. Del Piero in particular, was being absolutely devastating tonight: dribbles, recovered balls, key passes, he was doing everything. His “coast-to-coast” run in minute 56, a sprint of over 50m from one side of the field to the next (before a foul of Pelé finally brought him down) was a delight to witness, and anyone watching the game tonight would really have to be wondering who was the 33 year-old, and who was the youngster in this particular case.
Unsurprisingly, based on what was seen in the first 30 minutes of play, Juve eventually took the lead on the development of yet another set piece. In minute 31 Del Piero delivered the free-kick from the left wing, and found Stendardo’s header inside the box: the effort of the new Bianconeri recruit beat Toldo but not the woodwork, however fortunately for the home team the ball rebounded straight to Vincenzo Iaquinta, who deposited into the empty net with his head. 2-1 Juve.
Inter in all of this? Struggling. Considerably. Especially when it came to the defensive work, the Nerazzurri were leaving way to much space to their rivals, who were being allowed all kinds of real estate on both sides of the field. The only glimpse of Inter’s presence during this time, was a slamming shot of Maniche stamped on the post in minute 20, but not much else.
Fortunately for Mancini however, the Juve defense wasn’t devoid of criticism either. Especially in occasion of Inter’s tying goal: a corner-kick by Dejan Stankovic was followed by an effort of Luis Jimenez, Hasan Salihamidzic got a touch with his hand, penalty. Julio “El Jardinero” Cruz transformed the spot-kick, and it was 2-2 at the break despite the clearer domination of the home team.
At the restart, neither manager decided to make any changes. In the case of Mancini, while the rest of the team wasn’t shining particulary brightly, no one could have blamed the Inter coach for keeping his star youngster onto the field: up until then, Balotelli had been one of the best Nerazzurri players of the night, and his show continued all the way throughout the 2nd half. Two back-to-back technical displays (minute 46, perfect cross for Stankovic, shot wide; minute 48, assist for Cruz, shot parried by the keeper, chance wasted) were just the appetizer to show everyone that the lad meant business.
But first things first. In the previous paragraph, I was saying no one except Super Mario was playing particularly well for Inter. That’s being a bit harsh. No one except Super Mario and Super Toldo. At moments tonight, it was almost as if we were watching the Inter keeper version Euro 2000: absolutely stunning reflexes worthy of the very best Gigi Buffon, in particular in minute 49 when a perfect chance for Nedved from 12 yards out was unbelievably parried away by Toldo. The Inter nº1 would be producing a similar miracle later in the game, on yet another fantastic play combining Trezeguet and Del Piero, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Firstly, it was time for Inter to re-take the lead, this time for good. Remember I said Balotelli was just getting warmed up? In minute 53, came the goal of the night: receiving a low pass inside the box, the young striker controlled the ball with his back to the goal, and (with Legrottaglie watching) tapped the ball to the left with his knee before firing a ground-to-air missile straight into the top corner. 3-2 Inter, and wow. Magical stuff from the kid.
Sadly for Juve, that was the last goal of the night. The Bianconeri now had to score twice to reduce their aggregate deficit, and really gave their hearts out in the final 30 minutes. Unsuccessfully, because as I mentioned earlier there was a certain Francesco Toldo guarding the Inter net which, you’ll excuse the comparison, isn’t exactly the same level of Emanuele Belardi. There was a little bit of space for Mauro Camoranesi in the end, but with the Bianconeri pushing forward the game got progressively nastier: yellows were handed out here and there, and Camo even managed to earn a straight red for a bad tackle on Pelé. Shameful.
Regardless, this was clearly Inter’s night, and in particular the night of a new-found hero amongst the Nerazzurri rank. It must be a real relief for Roberto Mancini, to know that if (for some obscure impossible science-fiction-like reason) Zlatan Ibrahimovic were to stop scoring all these goals for Inter, there’s someone on the bench ready to step in. And shine very very brightly, if only you give him a chance…
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Post by Bismarck on Feb 4, 2008 14:45:59 GMT
February 3, 2008
Fiorentina 0-1 AC Milan Siena 3-0 Roma Juventus 1-1 Cagliari Parma 2-3 Atalanta Reggina 1-3 Torino Inter Milan 1-0 Empoli Genoa 2-1 Catania Calcio Lazio 2-1 Sampdoria February 2, 2008
Napoli 3-1 Udinese Palermo 1-0 Livorno
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Post by Bismarck on Feb 4, 2008 14:46:39 GMT
Serie A: Ten man Inter go eight points clear
ROME, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a dubious penalty for Inter Milan to beat second-from-bottom Empoli 1-0 on Sunday and pull eight points clear at the top of Serie A.
Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar saved a late Luca Saudati spot kick for the Italian champions, who had Patrick Vieira sent off in the 39th minute.
Inter have 53 points from 21 games, while second-placed AS Roma stay on 45 after losing 3-0 at lowly Siena.
Third-placed Juventus trail the leaders by 12 after being held 1-1 at home by basement club Cagliari.
In the late Sunday game European champions AC Milan moved up to fifth with a 1-0 win at fourth-placed Fiorentina thanks to a goal by Brazilian substitute Pato.
After Empoli had made the early running, Inter took the lead at the San Siro in the 34th minute with a penalty conceded for hand ball by Ighli Vannucchi, although television replays suggested the ball hit the midfielder's face.
France midfielder Vieira went shortly afterwards for protesting about a yellow card he had just been given. It was the third time in the last four competitive games that Inter have had a player sent off.
Empoli had the chance to snatch a draw in the 83rd minute when Marco Materazzi caught Saudati in the area but Cesar guessed right and dived superbly to keep out the striker's low, angled penalty.
'The game became dangerous because once again we played the second half a man down,' Inter coach Roberto Mancini told Sky television. 'We complicated things on our own. We'll have to be more careful.
'Neither our penalty, nor theirs, should have been given'.
Simone Vergassola set Siena on their way in the 11th minute with a fine strike from the edge of the box.
The home side doubled their lead shortly before halftime, when Roma defender Max Tonetto got the last deflection off a Paolo De Ceglie shot. Mario Frick sealed the surprise win with a diagonal strike in the 83rd minute.
Pavel Nedved salvaged a point for Juventus with a blistering shot from 30 metres in the 55th minute immediately after defender Paolo Bianco had poked the ball into the net for the Sardinian side.
In Florence 18-year-old Pato controlled a Kaka cross and scored in the 77th minute to give Milan victory over their rivals for a Champions League slot.
In the early stages Fiorentina's Manuel Pasqual hit his own post while trying to clear an Alberto Gilardino chip and Romanian forward Adrian Mutu struck the woodwork with a header at the other end.
Milan played the closing stages with 10 players after Pato was carried off injured with all their substitutes used.
Milan have 33 points, four behind Fiorentina, with a game in hand.
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Post by arover on Feb 8, 2008 12:58:21 GMT
| Home | Away Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS 1 Inter Milan 21 10 1 0 27 7 6 4 0 17 6 31 53 2 Roma 21 7 2 1 22 13 6 4 1 16 9 16 45 3 Juventus 21 7 3 1 23 4 4 5 1 17 14 22 41 4 Fiorentina 21 5 3 3 20 13 5 4 1 12 6 13 37 5 AC Milan 20 2 5 2 10 7 7 1 3 22 9 16 33 6 Udinese 21 5 3 2 14 13 4 3 4 10 12 -1 33 7 Atalanta 21 4 4 2 19 14 3 4 4 13 16 2 29 8 Sampdoria 21 6 3 1 18 7 2 1 8 9 19 1 28 9 Palermo 21 4 5 2 14 12 3 2 5 14 22 -6 28 10 Genoa 21 5 3 3 15 15 2 4 4 7 13 -6 28 11 Napoli 21 6 3 2 17 10 1 3 6 16 22 1 27 12 Catania 21 5 3 2 11 5 0 5 6 8 19 -5 23 13 Lazio 21 4 2 5 14 16 1 6 3 10 14 -6 23 14 Torino 21 2 6 2 9 8 1 6 4 11 17 -5 21 15 Livorno 20 2 4 4 11 16 3 2 5 12 16 -9 21 16 Siena 21 2 6 3 16 13 2 2 6 9 18 -6 20 17 Parma 21 4 4 3 19 17 0 3 7 5 15 -8 19 18 Reggina 21 3 3 5 11 13 0 6 4 7 19 -14 18 19 Empoli 21 2 5 3 11 11 1 2 8 4 18 -14 16 20 Cagliari 21 2 2 6 7 14 1 3 7 9 24 -22 14
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Post by Bismarck on Feb 8, 2008 14:04:53 GMT
MILAN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - AC Milan hope their recent surge up the Serie A table will not be stalled by a sudden bout of injuries for Sunday's visit of struggling Siena (1400 GMT).
The European champions endured a dreadful first half of the campaign, failing to win at home in the league, but since the turn of the year, they have hauled themselves up to fifth.
After beating fourth-placed Fiorentina last weekend, Milan are now just four points behind the Florence side and a Champions League berth.
Knee and ankle injuries to Brazilian forwards Kaka and Alexandre Pato, who has scored four goals since arriving last month, now threaten to undo the good work unless Ronaldo can recover from his series of knocks to lead the line against Siena.
Filippo Inzaghi might also have a chance of being fit while little-used French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff will be relishing an opportunity to shine.
Injured Gennaro Gattuso is also out of the game but left back Marek Jankulovski hopes to available after knee trouble.
Milan remain 20 points behind leaders Inter Milan, whose own injury problems were starting to clear before defender Marco Materazzi has picked up another twinge.
Winger Luis Figo is close to a return from a broken leg but Patrick Vieira is suspended for Sunday's trip to Catania (1930) after being sent off in last week's 1-0 win over Empoli having only just recovered from hamstring trouble.
Inter have come under pressure in the media of late for being awarded some soft penalties, but boss Roberto Mancini has been quick to point out they played their last two league games with 10 men for more than a half.
Injury worries at third-placed Juventus are definitely easing ahead of Sunday's trip (1400) to Udinese in sixth.
Keeper Gianluigi Buffon should return after missing Italy's 3-1 friendly win over Portugal to fully recover from a bad back.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini may be back from a knock, winger Mauro Camoranesi is pushing for a start after shrugging off thigh problems while David Trezeguet's muscle injury in training this week was a false alarm.
Midfielder Cristiano Zanetti returns from suspension and new signing Mohamed Sissoko could start after Tiago produced another lacklustre display in the surprise 1-1 home draw with bottom side Cagliari last Sunday.
Second-placed AS Roma, eight behind points Inter, also suffered a shock last weekend when they went down 3-0 at Siena. A home game with lowly Reggina on Saturday (1930) may offer the perfect tonic.
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Post by Bismarck on Feb 9, 2008 13:29:56 GMT
February 9, 2008
Sampdoria v Napoli: Udinese v Juventus: Livorno v Genoa: Cagliari v Parma: AC Milan v Siena: Torino v Palermo: Empoli v Lazio: Catania Calcio v Inter Milan: February 8, 2008
Atalanta v Fiorentina: Roma v Reggina:
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Post by Bismarck on Feb 9, 2008 13:31:44 GMT
MILAN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - AC Milan hope their recent surge up the Serie A table will not be stalled by a sudden bout of injuries for Sunday's visit of struggling Siena (1400 GMT).
The European champions endured a dreadful first half of the campaign, failing to win at home in the league, but since the turn of the year, they have hauled themselves up to fifth.
After beating fourth-placed Fiorentina last weekend, Milan are now just four points behind the Florence side and a Champions League berth.
Knee and ankle injuries to Brazilian forwards Kaka and Alexandre Pato, who has scored four goals since arriving last month, now threaten to undo the good work unless Ronaldo can recover from his series of knocks to lead the line against Siena.
Filippo Inzaghi might also have a chance of being fit while little-used French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff will be relishing an opportunity to shine.
Injured Gennaro Gattuso is also out of the game but left back Marek Jankulovski hopes to available after knee trouble.
Milan remain 20 points behind leaders Inter Milan, whose own injury problems were starting to clear before defender Marco Materazzi has picked up another twinge.
Winger Luis Figo is close to a return from a broken leg but Patrick Vieira is suspended for Sunday's trip to Catania (1930) after being sent off in last week's 1-0 win over Empoli having only just recovered from hamstring trouble.
Inter have come under pressure in the media of late for being awarded some soft penalties, but boss Roberto Mancini has been quick to point out they played their last two league games with 10 men for more than a half.
Injury worries at third-placed Juventus are definitely easing ahead of Sunday's trip (1400) to Udinese in sixth.
Keeper Gianluigi Buffon should return after missing Italy's 3-1 friendly win over Portugal to fully recover from a bad back.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini may be back from a knock, winger Mauro Camoranesi is pushing for a start after shrugging off thigh problems while David Trezeguet's muscle injury in training this week was a false alarm.
Midfielder Cristiano Zanetti returns from suspension and new signing Mohamed Sissoko could start after Tiago produced another lacklustre display in the surprise 1-1 home draw with bottom side Cagliari last Sunday.
Second-placed AS Roma, eight behind points Inter, also suffered a shock last weekend when they went down 3-0 at Siena. A home game with lowly Reggina on Saturday (1930) may offer the perfect tonic.
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