|
Post by Bismarck on Aug 17, 2008 12:01:42 GMT
Gianluca Zambrotta faces old club Juventus in tonight’s Trofeo Berlusconi, but assures ‘his’ Bianconeri were better.
The World Cup winner is back in Italy with Milan after two years at Barcelona and comes face to face with his former teammates, who are on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League.
“Momo Sissoko, Christian Poulsen, Mauro Camoranesi and Cristiano Zanetti are very strong, but perhaps my Juventus with Patrick Vieira and Emerson had a bit more quality,” he mused in La Stampa.
That team was disbanded following the Calciopoli scandal that saw the club demoted to Serie B, so those who remained like Gigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved, became heroes to the fans.
Zambrotta has already crossed paths with Juve once this summer, as he was jeered by supporters during the Trofeo TIM mini-tournament, much to Nedved’s anger.
“Pavel is a friend and we were roommates in pre-match training camps for five years, but I don’t get upset by the jeering,” assured the Italian.
“In fact, I prefer it to indifference, as this means that at least the fans still feel something for you.
“I did honestly expect this kind of reception, so I was prepared. I hope one day the people will understand. I spent extraordinary years at Juventus and if it weren’t for Calciopoli, I would never have left.
“Juve didn’t ask if I wanted to return, but Milan sought me out and it felt just like coming home. I grew up right near the Milanello training ground on Lake Como.”
The Rossoneri have struggled badly in pre-season and risk another humiliating defeat to the on-form Juventus tonight.
“I wouldn’t make a crisis out of it, as it’s normal to have a few problems at the start, especially if you have many injuries.
“Besides, those who were at Euro 2008 like me found themselves having to dive straight back into the sport, so it takes a while to gain full fitness.
“We want to beat Juventus, but above all to make a good impression.”
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Aug 23, 2008 21:23:59 GMT
Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho does not believe Roma, his team's opponents in Sunday's Italian Supercoppa, will be affected by the loss of Francesco Totti - but insists they will miss former winger Mancini.
The Brazilian winger became Mourinho's first signing at Inter when he made the switch from the Italian capital to the San Siro for 13 million euros in July.
He was one of Roma's best players last season, as the Giallorossi pushed Inter all the way in the race for the Scudetto and beat the Nerazzurri in the final of the Coppa Italia.
Roma captain Totti, who is yet to recover following knee surgery in April, is likely to sit out the game despite being named in the squad.
But Mourinho believes the loss of Mancini is what will hurt Roma the most.
'Totti is a fantastic player, but things won't change much just because he can't be there from the first minute (of the season),' he told a press conference on Saturday.
'Roma have been working for many years with the same squad, it is not a drama if they lose a single player. Also, last year they were in the race for the Scudetto until the last day.
'But football is all about titles, if it wasn't that way we would be in the garden playing with the children. And the title was won by Inter, even if Roma were stronger in the cup.
'Today, however, I told my team today that Roma are not the same without Mancini.'
The rivalry between Roma and Inter has grown over the past season as the capital club have emerged as the main rivals to the Milan side's recent dominance of Italian football.
While the Supercoppa may not be the most prestigious title the two sides will compete for this season, Mourinho insists he is keen to win a hat-trick of trophies.
'The Supercoppa is obviously not the Champions League final, nor is it the final of a national cup, but it's a beautiful game to play,' he said.
'I've won it in Portugal and in England, and I lost it in England too, and if possible I want to win this one at the first time of asking.'
Roma come into the game following a difficult week for the club.
As well as missing their captain, the Serie A runners-up go into the game still shaken by the death of club president Franco Sensi last Sunday.
The club's longest serving - and most successful - president had been unwell for a long period and had spent the past few weeks in the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome undergoing treatment for respiratory problems.
New signing Julio Baptista, who joined the capital club five days before the president passed away, never met Sensi.
However he still believes a win over Inter would be a fitting tribute.
'With determination we will win for Sensi,' he said.
'The passing away of a person like him is a always sad situation. I hope that the team wins to make him happy.
'He will be watching us. And I am ready.'
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Aug 26, 2008 16:29:27 GMT
Internazionale president Massimo Moratti has revealed coach Jose Mourinho has asked the club to sign Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma.
However, the Inter supremo insists his club cannot bid for the Portugal international unless they sell one of their players.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to the San Siro all summer, and Mourinho recently claimed there was still time to complete a deal before the transfer deadline passes.
Following Inter's win over Roma in Sunday's Supercoppa, Mourinho reiterated his belief that Quaresma would be 'useful' for his squad.
While Moratti agrees, he insists unless the Nerazzurri sell first they can not meet Porto's reported asking price of 25million euros.
'Yes, Mourinho asked for Quaresma,' he told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo. 'He didn't ask me but he did ask (sporting director) Marco Branca and (club director) Gabriele Oriali.
'There's no doubt he'd be very useful for our style of play, but Mourinho knows perfectly well that if we don't sell another player first then we can't advance with our pursuit of Quaresma.'
According to the newspaper, Moratti also denied the Italian champions have entered into negotiations for the player.'
Inter might not be Chelsea, but Mourinho did well in Portugal as well. He just tries to make the best use of whatever resources he gets. People seem to forget what he managed to do prior to him joining Chelsea.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Sept 3, 2008 21:41:20 GMT
Italian Serie A 2008/2009 DATE Home SCORE OPPONENT 08/30 Udinese 3 - 1 Palermo 08/30 Sampdoria 1 - 1 Inter Milan 08/31 Atalanta 1 - 0 Siena 08/31 Cagliari 1 - 4 Lazio 08/31 Catania Calcio 1 - 0 Genoa 08/31 Chievo Verona 2 - 1 Reggina 08/31 AC Milan 1 - 2 Bologna 08/31 Roma 1 - 1 Napoli 08/31 Torino 3 - 0 Lecce 08/31 Fiorentina 1 - 1 Juventus
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Sept 11, 2008 13:01:52 GMT
AC Milan's Kaka could return from injury and make his first Serie A appearance of the season at Genoa on Sunday.
The FIFA World Player of the Year missed Milan's opening-day defeat by Bologna and most of the pre-season after suffering pain in his left knee, which was operated on in June.
However, the Brazilian playmaker is expected to return to competitive action this weekend after coming through the second half of a 2-0 defeat at second-division Swiss side Lugano in a friendly on Wednesday.
"I don't feel any pain and that's the most important thing, so I expect to be there at Genoa," Kaka was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Milan, who finished a disappointing fifth last season, looked out of sorts after struggling in pre-season friendlies and striker Filippo Inzaghi pulled up with a thigh problem.
Also on the mend is Inter Milan's Patrick Vieira, who has made progress from a leg muscle problem and may be used by the champions against Catania at the San Siro on Saturday.
Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is one of several players who will not return until Friday from internationals in South America.
AS Roma captain Francesco Totti is battling to come back from an ankle knock for Saturday's visit to Palermo, who are under new coach Davide Ballardini after Stefano Colantuono was sacked following a 3-1 defeat to Udinese.
Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri, meanwhile, should be able to call on fit-again striker David Trezeguet and midfielders Marco Marchionni and Cristiano Zanetti for Sunday's home game against Udinese.
Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu is expected to play at Napoli on Sunday with strapping on his elbow after hurting it in training with the Romanian national team last month.
Inter, Juventus, Milan and Roma are all seeking their first wins of the new season.
Away fans have been banned from the Inter-Catania, Napoli-Fiorentina and Genoa-Milan games, which are considered high risk by Italian authorities.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Sept 17, 2008 3:18:36 GMT
September 14, 2008 Napoli 2-1 Fiorentina
Lecce 2-0 Chievo Verona
Reggina 1-1 Torino
Lazio 2-0 Sampdoria
Siena 2-0 Cagliari
Bologna 0-1 Atalanta
Genoa 2-0 AC Milan September 13, 2008 Inter Milan 2-1 Catania Calcio
Palermo 3-1 Roma
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Sept 17, 2008 3:19:42 GMT
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has vehemently denied considering sacking coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Galliani, the board and Ancelotti were locked in crisis talks for more than two hours on Monday following the Rossoneri's 2-0 defeat at Genoa on Sunday, which followed their 2-1 loss to Bologna in their opening Serie A game.
"Neither the club nor I have ever thought of having a coaching change," said Galliani. "The meeting went well.
"It was not just our coach that was present but our athletic trainer Daniele Tognaccini and (team doctor) Jean Pierre Meersseman.
"We spoke about everything, we tackled all the problems for more than two hours and life continues. Are Milan's problem more physical than psychological? I don't know, I don't think it is psychological."
Last season, Milan endured a poor start and ended up finishing fifth, missing out on qualification for the Champions League.
The Rossoneri have not won the Serie A title since 2004 and Ancelotti is under pressure to deliver this campaign.
Milan host FC Zurich in Thursday's UEFA Cup first-round first-leg tie before entertaining in-form Lazio this weekend at the San Siro.
Ancelotti is the longest-serving coach in Italy's top flight, having been at the club since November 2001.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Sept 23, 2008 16:38:54 GMT
Serie A champions Inter Milan are considering hiring former Argentina great Diego Maradona as a consultant, club president Massimo Moratti has said.
The Argentina legend could be back in the game.
"I think we'll link up with him. He still has great appeal and it seems to me that he is out of the tunnel," Moratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Since his retirement from soccer, Maradona, 47, has suffered a string of health problems related to obesity and his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
In Italy, El Pibe d'Oro is best remembered for his seven year spell at Napoli, where he led the romantic southerners to the only two Scudetti in their history in 1987 and 1990
It is believed that the ex-Boca Juniors hero will be offered the job as a South American talent scout.
It doesn't really matter how good he was as a player. I believe he was a coach twice, and he was sucked. Didn't he also try to get Napoli to sign his brother or something? Will he really be all that useful as a scout? Sounds like PR stunt to me.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Sept 25, 2008 2:23:57 GMT
September 24, 2008 Bologna 0-3 Udinese
Chievo Verona 1-1 Torino
Inter Milan 1-0 Lecce
Siena 0-0 Sampdoria
Juventus 1-1 Catania Calcio
Lazio 3-0 Fiorentina
Reggina 1-2 AC Milan
Atalanta 1-0 Cagliari
Napoli 2-1 Palermo
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Oct 6, 2008 22:34:38 GMT
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has given coach Claudio Ranieri a vote of confidence despite his team failing to win in their last four games.
Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Palermo brought to an end Juve's unbeaten run this campaign and saw them drop to 11th in the standings, four points behind the Serie A lead.
"It's a difficult time for us," admitted Cobolli Gigli. "But I am confident that soon we will come out of this situation.
"As for Ranieri, we have no doubts in our minds regarding his job."
The Turin giants have failed to impress this campaign, with a lack of goalscoring having hindered the Bianconeri, whose biggest margin of victory so far has been 1-0.
After domestic draws against Catania, Sampdoria and Bate Borisov in the Champions League, Ranieri had hoped for a better outcome at Turin's Stadio Olimpico but it was not to be.
Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero had cancelled out Fabrizio Miccoli's opener.
The Bianconeri then suffered a setback after Mohamed Sissoko was given his marching orders before the interval leaving Juve to play a man light for the entire second half.
Palermo took advantage with Levan Mchedlidze scoring the winner nine minutes from time.
"This defeat at home is a blow," admitted Ranieri. "We really wanted the victory after three consecutive draws but it became an uphill battle.
"I don't want to give any excuses but to play with 10 men is not easy and I think my players did the best they could."
Ranieri will be under pressure to win at Napoli on October 19 when Serie A resumes after the international break.
They should find the way of how they'll score goals because matchdays 3 and 4 with Real Madrid are fast approaching...
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Oct 6, 2008 22:35:17 GMT
October 5, 2008 Cagliari 0-0 AC Milan
Reggina 1-1 Catania Calcio
Atalanta 4-2 Sampdoria
Juventus 1-2 Palermo
Udinese 2-0 Torino
Siena 1-0 Roma
Chievo Verona 0-2 Fiorentina
Genoa 3-2 Napoli
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Oct 6, 2008 22:37:08 GMT
Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has warned Chelsea they would waste their time making an offer for their Argentinian striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Reports in England claim Chelsea are keen to lure the 23-year-old forward to Stamford Bridge as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Lavezzi has established himself as one of the top young strikers in Europe since arriving at the San Paolo from San Lorenzo last summer and Chelsea are thought to be willing to offer €13million to acquire his services.
When asked about Chelsea's reported interest on Lavezzi, Marino said: "I know nothing regarding that story.
"But I would not advise Chelsea to make any offer because we would turn it down immediately."
Lavezzi, who was a member of Argentina's gold medal team at the Beijing Olympics this summer, has scored one goal in three appearances for the Serie A outfit this campaign.
The South American sensation joined Napoli from San Lorenzo last summer and is under contract until the 2011-12 campaign.
hYou know the saying? Everyone has a price? My Chelsea can and will buy themselves whoever their bank account wants. I'm not saying that's fair or that I like it but I have no control over how my team throws around money. Lavezzi is a beast but I still would prefer Aguero over him. He's younger and a better finisher...
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Oct 18, 2008 23:32:26 GMT
Napoli moved top of Serie A on Saturday after a late Ezequiel Lavezzi goal secured a 2-1 come-from-behind home win over Juventus.
Juve's second consecutive league defeat extends their winless run to five games in all competitions and increases the pressure on coach Claudio Ranieri before Tuesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid in Turin.
Brazilian striker Amauri volleyed Juventus in front just after the hour mark, but Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik equalised for the hosts three minutes later when he glided in unmarked to head home a Lavezzi cross.
The Argentine striker then pounced on a loose clearance and sprinted into the area to fire Napoli to victory in the 80th minute.
Napoli have 14 points from seven games, one more than Lazio, Udinese, Inter Milan and Fiorentina, who beat 10-man Reggina 3-0 earlier on Saturday with the help of two late Alberto Gilardino goals.
Juve are five points off the pace before the rest of the Serie A programme on Sunday, when champions Inter visit struggling AS Roma.
"We played a good match. We made some silly mistakes but we also did some good moves," Ranieri told Sky television.
"It's not a crisis. We're going through a tough spell but it's not a crisis."
In Florence, Giampaolo Pazzini drilled home a penalty five minutes before halftime to set the home side on their way after Reggina goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo was given a red card for felling Mario Alberto Santana as he raced towards goal.
In-form Italy forward Gilardino, resting on the bench for most of the game ahead of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Bayern Munich, steered a diagonal shot into the far corner in the 75th minute.
He then headed past substitute keeper Christian Puggioni, who had rushed out of his goal, and ran on to slot the ball into an empty net nine minutes from time for his sixth league goal this season.
Winless Reggina stay second from bottom with two points.
The Juve match was the last of three homes games Napoli had to play with the end stands of their stadium closed as punishment for the trouble that marred their opening day fixture at Roma.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Oct 26, 2008 20:08:24 GMT
Last term's runners-up AS Roma slumped to their fifth defeat of the Serie A season when they lost 3-1 at new leaders Udinese on Sunday.
Italy forward Antonio Di Natale struck twice to ratchet up the pressure on Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, who made his name as boss of the Udine club.
Inter Milan are level with Udinese on 17 points from eight games after drawing 0-0 with Genoa in another drab home display.
Napoli are also on 17 after Sebastiano Siviglia's unlucky own goal secured a 1-0 victory at fast-sinking Lazio, who were early pacesetters but have now not won in three games.
AC Milan are a point behind after Kaka scooped home 10 minutes from time to seal a fortunate 1-0 win at Atalanta, who had troubled a shaky visiting defence.
Kaka's shot from Marco Borriello's pass went into the ground and bounced high into the net.
Roma, a point above the drop zone, have been hit by injury and suspension this season but the problems look to be far deeper and Spalletti could be in trouble if they lose to Sampdoria in Wednesday's fixtures.
A 4-0 thumping at home by Inter last weekend was followed by a 1-0 defeat by Chelsea in midweek despite a battling display.
They started poorly against confident Udinese, who beat Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, when Max Tonetto needlessly brought down Antonio Floro Flores to concede a 10th-minute penalty, although it may have been just outside the box.
Di Natale slotted home and striker Floro Flores added the second midway through the half with Roma looking ragged. Di Natale extended the lead after the break in another flowing move with Francesco Totti's late penalty useless for the away side.
"I probably made a mistake because everyone knows about the long balls Udinese play to their front three. We didn't react well to that," Spalletti told Sky television.
Inter, who sneaked a 1-0 home win over Anorthosis Famagusta in the Champions League on Wednesday, again struggled and apart from coach Jose Mourinho's new shorn haircut, their closest shave came when Maicon's cross deflected on to the bar.
Genoa also struck the woodwork and although they had Ivan Juric dismissed for a second booking, the visitors could easily have snatched victory.
Midtable Juventus, who had lost their last two matches in Serie A, beat Torino 1-0 in Saturday's Turin derby thanks to a third goal in a week from striker Amauri.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Nov 9, 2008 15:56:20 GMT
Torino hauled themselves out of the Serie A relegation zone on Saturday thanks to a late goal by Jurgen Saumel against the 10 men of Palermo.
Toro looked to be heading for a frustrating draw until a red card for Antonio Nocerino seven minutes from time changed the face of the game, and Saumel was able to produce the winner with 89 minutes played.
It seemed a fair reward for the home side, who had looked the sharpest in front of goal throughout and who were still coming to terms with their 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria last week when they had a legitimate goal chalked out for offside.
Palermo meanwhile remain in ninth after their third defeat in six games, but they could slide a further two places depending on Sunday's results.
Despite being on the defensive for large parts of the game, the visitors still caused some concern for Torino in the opening moments of the match.
Fabio Simplicio went close with a right-footed effort from 25 yards out after 14 minutes, before Fabrizio Miccoli went even closer two minutes after with a shot that cannoned off the crossbar from around the same range.
But immediately after Torino began to stamp their authority on the game, with the lively Blerim Dzemaili causing problems for the Palermo defenders.
He shot just wide after 18 minutes from Aimo Diana's cross, then five minutes later he shaved the bar from a free-kick.
The hosts were well on top now, and they should have taken the lead when Nicola Amoruso cut the ball back to Simone Barone in the box and the Italian midfielder sent his shot onto the bar.
Dzemaili hit the post with a shot 10 minutes after the restart as Torino continued their domination in the second half. Amoruso fired home the rebound but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Their thoughts at this point could have turned to last week's events, but Torino continued to push for an opener as Alessandro Rosina winded Palermo keeper Alberto Fontana with a fierce shot after 70 minutes.
He then laid on crosses for Amoruso, Angelo Ogbonna and Roberto Stellone as the game entered the final 10 minutes, but all three missed their chance.
Then just as it looked like it would not be Toro's day, the referee decided Nocerino had directed his elbow at Dzemaili's head as the pair jumped for the ball and produced a straight red card, leaving Palermo to play the last seven minutes with 10 men.
They lasted six without conceding the decisive goal but as the game entered the 90th minute, Ogbonna's cross from the right was headed clear only as far as Saumel, who struck an unstoppable volley from 22 yards out past Fontana.
A stoppage-time own goal from Cicinho gave third-from-bottom Bologna a 1-1 home draw against AS Roma in Sinisa Mihajlovic's first game in charge on Saturday.
The Brazilian defender's diving header cancelled out Francesco Totti's 68th-minute strike when the Roma captain made light of a nagging knee problem to smash in the ball at the near post after cleverly controlling a deflected cross.
Roma, runners-up last term, had lost six of their previous nine Serie A games and remain a point above the drop zone despite looking a more confident side following the 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek.
Former firebrand defender Mihajlovic, who won the scudetto with Roma's city rivals Lazio in 2000, was given the Bologna job on Monday after Daniele Arrigoni was sacked following last weekend's 5-1 defeat at Cagliari.
The two sides failed to create many clearcut chances. Visiting keeper Doni was carried off with a head injury after bravely denying Marco Di Vaio.
Leaders AC Milan visit Lecce in Sunday's late game (1930 GMT) with Inter Milan and Udinese, both a point behind, meeting at the San Siro in the main programme of matches (1400).
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Nov 18, 2008 16:36:29 GMT
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho believes Italian football needs to do a much better job of selling itself abroad.
Mourinho, who took the helm of the three-time defending champions Inter in the summer, said: "The fact is that Italian football as a product is not liked abroad.
"My family back in Portugal have to wait until midnight to watch a Serie A game while at seven in the evening they have to watch an ugly Getafe v Valladolid (Spanish Primera Liga). I also look at the Asian market where Serie A is not sold much."
Mourinho once matched wits with the likes of Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger while guiding Chelsea, and he believes coaching in the Italian game is every bit as challenging.
"It's true that Italian football is difficult," said Mourinho. "It demands great preparation by a coach.
"Against Genoa, for example, I had to change three or four times my tactical approach and Genoa always adapted to my formula. For me as a coach, this is a fantastic show."
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Nov 23, 2008 14:01:39 GMT
Sulley Muntari's scrappy goal gave leaders Inter Milan a deserved 1-0 win over old rivals Juventus in a lively Serie A encounter on Saturday.
Inter, now four points clear at the top pending AC Milan's trip to Torino on Sunday, dominated at a packed San Siro to end third-placed Juve's streak of seven wins in a row in all competitions.
Ghana midfielder Muntari netted his first league goal for the club on 72 minutes after former Juve striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scuffed an effort across goal.
The match is known as the 'derby of Italy' because of the fierce rivalry and it was given extra spice by some verbal spats between Inter coach Jose Mourinho and Juve's Claudio Ranieri, sacked by Chelsea in 2004 to make way for the Portuguese.
Mourinho sprang a surprise by starting with Brazil forward Adriano, who had been dropped for the previous four league games for breaches of discipline.
Inter again lacked shape in midfield but the champions quickly began to dominate, the referee waving away appeals for a penalty after the ball clipped Giorgio Chiellini's hand in the first minute.
Dejan Stankovic then found himself in space in the box but the ball became stuck under his feet and he wasted the first of a number of good chances for the hosts.
Ibrahimovic twice shot wide from good positions and Muntari forced goalkeeper Alex Manninger into two smart saves.
Juve, who won 2-1 at Inter last term, barely threatened although Marco Marchionni felt he had a penalty claim after going down under Muntari's challenge.
Julio Cesar also beat away Juve striker Alessandro Del Piero's header after Muntari had broken the deadlock on a chilly night.
Juve, whose 2006 title was stripped and handed to Inter after a match-fixing scandal, trail the leaders by six points.
In the day's early game, Riccardo Montolivo struck twice to help Fiorentina go fourth with a 4-2 home win over Udinese.
Early season pacesetters Udinese, who have now lost three league games on the trot, took the lead through a 20-metre strike from Antonio Floro Flores. Adrian Mutu's chipped penalty put the hosts level before Montolivo's double and Alberto Gilardino's tap-in took them clear.
Antonio Di Natale converted a late penalty for the visitors after Fiorentina's Gianluca Comotto was sent off for handling on the line.
Second-placed Milan meet Torino in Sunday's late game (1930) with the main programme of matches kicking off at 1400.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Dec 6, 2008 20:34:03 GMT
December 6, 2008
Chievo Verona 0-1 AS Roma
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Dec 6, 2008 20:34:41 GMT
Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano and Genoa striker Diego Milito can each claim to be the revelations of Serie A this season even if their clubs have been more inconsistent.
The in-form pair will be on opposing sides on Sunday in the hotly-contested Genoa derby, a rare occasion for the two famous Italian clubs to snatch back some of the limelight from the dominant trio of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
Genoa are the oldest surviving Italian soccer club having been founded in 1897 while Samp shook up the Serie A order by winning the 1991 title and reaching the 1992 European Cup final.
Sampdoria finished sixth last term and reached this season's UEFA Cup, where they still have a chance of going through to the knockout phase despite Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Standard Liege.
Their success last term was largely down to playmaker Cassano, who joined from Real Madrid and was so influential that he bagged a late spot in Italy's Euro 2008 squad.
Many wondered if the colourful 26-year-old could continue his fine form this season, but he has again wowed fans with his close control, beautiful goals and creative spark.
"He is the one who can break the deadlock, by creating and finishing," Genoa midfielder Thiago Motta, who will have to mark Cassano, told reporters.
Despite Cassano's contribution, Samp are languishing in the bottom half with 16 points from 13 games and look up at seventh-placed Genoa with envy.
Genoa have won six and drawn one of their seven home league games thanks to the goals of Argentine Milito, who joined from Real Zaragoza despite interest from a host of bigger clubs.
He is Serie A's top scorer with 11 goals but Brazilian Motta, another surprise close-season signing having played for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, thinks teamwork is the key.
"Diego is showing that he is an extraordinary player, born to score goals. But to arrive at that level, believe me, even he needs the help of his team mates," he said.
Genoa have not won away this term and on Sunday they are the visitors at the Marassi, which they share with Samp.
Juventus fans will argue that Alessandro Del Piero, who scored his 250th club goal in last weekend's 4-0 win over lowly Reggina, is the real revelation of the season at 34-years-old.
Juve, joint-second with Milan and six points behind leaders Inter, visit struggling Lecce on Sunday.
Milan, beaten by Lazio in Wednesday's Italian Cup last 16 having lost 3-1 at Palermo in the league on Sunday, host Catania while Inter have a tricky trip to Lazio on Saturday.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Dec 20, 2008 9:12:32 GMT
Juventus beat a disorganised AC Milan 4-2 in an enthralling Serie A encounter on Sunday to go clear in second place.
Striker Amauri scored twice to put Juve six points behind leaders Inter Milan, who earlier defeated bottom side Chievo 4-2, while Milan now trail their city rivals by nine after 16 matches.
Driving rain made conditions in Turin difficult but Italy's two most successful teams of the last 20 years still put on a hugely enjoyable show.
Alessandro Del Piero gave the hosts the lead with a 16th-minute penalty after being brought down by Marek Jankulovski, who touched the ball with his sliding tackle.
Milan, without the injured Kaka, levelled on half an hour when Kakha Kaladze released Ronaldinho and the Brazilian set up compatriot Alexandre Pato to crash home from close range.
Juve went in front again just four minutes later when defender Giorgio Chiellini found space to head in a corner and Brazilian-born Amauri exposed more loose Milan defending when he nodded in Paolo De Ceglie's excellent cross.
The visitors introduced Andriy Shevchenko at halftime and they pulled one back on 56 minutes through Massimo Ambrosini's deflected shot but their hopes ended when former Juve defender Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off for a second booking.
Amauri then squeezed in his second in the 69th minute to leave Milan in joint third with Napoli, who beat Lecce 3-0 on Saturday.
INTER'S SAVIOUR
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in the last 11 minutes to seal a nervous win for Inter at home to Chievo on a day packed with goals and comebacks.
The champions were cruising at 2-0 following quality strikes from Maxwell and Dejan Stankovic but the visitors hauled themselves level through Sergio Pellissier and Simone Bentivoglio before Swede Ibrahimovic was again Inter's saviour.
"At 2-0 everyone in the stadium and on the pitch thought the game was over. It is a lesson," Inter coach Jose Mourinho said.
AS Roma triumphed in another fluctuating game, Mirko Vucinic netting the stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 victory over Cagliari.
Luciano Spalletti's side, who had a terrible start to the season, have now won five league games on the bounce to rise up to mid-table.
In-form Francesco Totti lashed in the opener for the hosts but Daniele Conti's free kick and a superb strike from Jeda put the Sardinians ahead. Simone Perrotta's overhead kick and a scruffy finish from Vucinic helped Roma roar back.
Lazio are a point ahead of their city rivals after coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Udinese, who folded like so often in recent weeks having been early season pacesetters.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Dec 20, 2008 9:14:54 GMT
I'm sick of Inter. They definitely have the most lucky stuff happen for them... they are the "Chelsea of Italy".
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Jan 14, 2009 22:48:32 GMT
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is in Milan to thrash out a loan deal for Inter forward Adriano but head coach Jose Mourinho has given no indication that he wants to strike a deal.
Redknapp was at the San Siro on Tuesday night as Inter beat Genoa 3-1 in the Coppa Italia, with Adriano getting the game's first goal.
Although the 26-year-old missed a penalty, his display was pleasing for former Chelsea manager Mourinho.
"Adriano did his job. He still has to improve his velocity and self-confidence but I'm satisfied with him and the whole team," Mourinho told Inter's website. "I'm not concerned about the missed penalty.
"We all make mistakes; the important thing is to have the right attitude, desire, respect for the team and the fans. If Adriano works like this, a missed penalty means nothing."
The 26-year-old had fallen out with Mourinho after repeatedly turning up late for training or arriving in an unfit state to train and Tottenham want to take the struggling striker on loan for six months.
Three years ago Adriano was one of the most revered strikers in Europe and Redknapp wants to resurrect the career of the Brazilian, who has scored an impressive 31 goals in 51 games for his country, at White Hart Lane.
But Adriano's agent Gilmar Rinaldi says there will be no deal for Adriano because "Mourinho has already said he wants Adriano at Inter.''
Meanwhile, the Gazzetta dello Sport suggest Spurs are interested is signing Inter's Argentine defender Nicolas Burdisso, but the North London club have yet to comment on the speculation.
I think Adriano should move to English clubs...he is not even getting many games at Inter.A change may do it for him...
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Jan 26, 2009 11:16:02 GMT
David Beckham has hinted he could stay at AC Milan beyond the end of his loan spell.
The England midfielder is due to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy in March and all parties have always insisted he will be back in America for the new Major League Soccer season.
However, shortly after scoring his first goal for the Rossoneri, Beckham admitted anything could happen.
"I can't say what will happen," he said. "Even if my contract says that I'll be here until March. We'll have to see.
"At the moment I'm enjoying this experience. I'm at one of the biggest clubs in the world. And having won gives us confidence to continue."
Beckham enjoyed arguably his best performance in a Milan shirt today and scored his first goal for the club on the hour mark as he helped them to a 4-1 victory at Bologna.
The former Manchester United player was delighted to get off the mark at his new club.
"It's great to score my first goal - I will keep this jersey," he said. "But it's more important the team won and we played well.
"It's special to play for Milan and also to score, but what's most important is that we won."
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with Beckham's performance today, but insists the club can do nothing to keep him at the San Siro.
However, he claims the 33-year-old holds his future in his own hands.
"If he said 'we'll see' it means he's thinking about staying," Ancelotti told Sky Italia. "However, our hands are tied as he has a clear contract.
"We can't do anything to change things, he can surely do so. He has to resolve his contract with the American team.
"I am realistic, we are capitalising on his presence at the moment and so, while we have him at our disposal, we will try to do things the best way possible."
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Jan 26, 2009 11:18:36 GMT
Are you watching Capello?
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Jan 31, 2009 23:50:29 GMT
Juventus suffered their second Serie A defeat in a row on Saturday when their defence was torn apart in a 3-2 home defeat by Cagliari.
Alessandro Matri's strike 12 minutes from time sank second-placed Juve and gives leaders Inter Milan the chance to extend their advantage over their old rivals to nine points with a home win over Torino on Sunday.
Claudio Ranieri's side, who lost 2-1 at Udinese on Wednesday, went behind on 16 minutes when Davide Biondini outjumped Marco Marchionni to head in at the far post.
Momo Sissoko then glanced in an equaliser before fellow midfielder Pavel Nedved chested down and fired home on 38 minutes to put Juve ahead, although replays suggested the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
Cagliari held Inter to a draw earlier this month and the Sardinians went one better when striker Jeda finished off a quick breakaway on 54 minutes before Matri scored a carbon-copy winner with Juve's defence nowhere.
LATE GAME
AC Milan, in third, can go above Juve if they win at Lazio in Sunday's late game.
Fabio Quagliarella earlier smashed in a stunning 20-metre volley to give Udinese a 2-2 draw at Napoli.
Stuttering Napoli were 2-0 up after 27 minutes thanks to Ezequiel Lavezzi's deflected shot and a header from midfielder Marek Hamsik, back following a two-game ban.
Antonio Di Natale pulled one back from the penalty spot before Italy team mate Quagliarella, born in Naples, struck spectacularly on the stroke of halftime.
Like all Italian games this weekend, the two matches kicked off 15 minutes late because of a protest over the Court of Arbitration for Sport banning Napoli's Daniele Mannini and Brescia's Da
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Jun 6, 2009 15:10:13 GMT
Ciro Ferrara wants to make a name for himself as coach of Juventus.
The former Juve defender was unveiled tonight as the new boss after signing a two-year contract with the Turin giants.
|
|
|
Post by Bismarck on Jun 6, 2009 15:10:32 GMT
There is a tendency after the success of Guardiola to appoint young former players as managers. I hope it works out for Juventus.....
|
|