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Tag: AC Milan

  • Last chortle for Lukaku as Inter beats Ibrahimovic’s Milan 3-0

    Romelu Lukaku had the final chortle — and objective — as his Inter Milan aspect beat Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s AC Milan 3-0 on Sunday of their greatest derby match in a decade.
    The sport happened virtually a month after a heated spat between the 2 star gamers.
    Lukaku arrange Lautaro Martínez for an early opener and sealed the consequence within the 66th minute with Inter’s third. Martínez had doubled his tally early within the second half, throughout Milan’s finest spell of the match.
    “Lukaku works a lot and always makes himself available for the team,” Martínez stated. “He is a great person and a great player, we are happy to have him with us. I am convinced that he can still improve a lot.”
    Inter remained prime however prolonged its benefit to 4 factors over second-place Milan. .
    “It’s been a difficult week but we’ll get back on track,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli stated. “If you advised us a 12 months in the past, and even simply three months in the past, that at this level of the season we’d be second, we’d have leapt within the air with pleasure.
    “That shouldn’t make us satisfied now. We have had three matches in which we haven’t managed to show our true qualities … we need to get our level back up, we have the quality to continue to do well right until the end.”
    The stakes within the Milan derby have been greater than they’ve been within the final 10 years. The final time Inter and Milan went into the Derby della Madonnina occupying the highest two spots within the desk was in 2011, when Milan was above Inter. The Rossoneri received that match and went on to win the league title — the final workforce aside from Juventus to take action.
    There have been no supporters within the stadium due to coronavirus restrictions, however hundreds of followers from either side gathered exterior to welcome the groups.
    “We want to dedicate this win to our fans. The welcome they gave us at the stadium gave us goosebumps,” Inter coach Antonio Conte stated. “Credit goes to the lads, they put in a unprecedented efficiency.
    “We prepared really well for the game and they carried out to perfection what we’d been practicing beforehand. There is great satisfaction in seeing this team’s growth and I am pleased because the lads deserve to see the fruits of their labor.”
    The match was much more extremely charged as a result of the final time the 2 sides met, on Jan. 26 within the Italian Cup quarterfinals, Lukaku and Ibrahimovic have been concerned in a heated confrontation that’s at present beneath investigation by the Italian soccer federation.
    It was Lukaku who helped Inter get off to the right begin, with lower than 5 minutes on the clock. His first cross was charged down by a terrific block from Milan defender Simon Kjær however the ball got here again out to Lukaku, who floated one other cross in for Martínez to simply head into the highest proper nook.
    Inter dominated for lengthy stretches of the primary half however Milan appeared a aspect remodeled after the break. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic needed to make three excellent saves in fast succession within the opening couple of minutes to disclaim Ibrahimovic twice after which Sandro Tonali.
    But Milan’s good work was undone within the 57th when, following a speedy counterattack, Perišic rolled the ball throughout for Martínez to faucet into the underside left nook.
    And Lukaku all however secured the win when he raced from close to the midway line earlier than firing into the underside left nook.
    RACE FOR TOP FOUR
    Atalanta beat Napoli 4-2 to maneuver into fourth place, 10 factors behind Inter.
    Napoli slipped to seventh.
    Third-place Roma visits Benevento later.
    At the opposite finish of the desk, Udinese fought again from two targets down to attract 2-2 at Nineteenth-place Parma.

  • Watch: Man United, Spurs win large in relocated Europa League video games

    Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Manchester United took a giant step towards the final 16 of the Europa League with a 4-0 “away” win over Spanish crew Real Sociedad in Italy on Thursday.
    The first leg was performed in Turin, certainly one of numerous video games relocated away from their authentic venues as a consequence of coronavirus-related journey restrictions from sure nations affecting groups from Britain.
    Portugal’s Benfica needed to host Arsenal in Rome, the place Bukayo Saka’s away objective put the Premier League aspect in place with a 1-1 draw.
    Tottenham defeated Austrian crew Wolfsberg 4-1 in Budapest, Hungary.
    Germany’s Hoffenheim was additionally affected by pandemic-related journey restrictions.
    Hoffenheim’s recreation with Norwegian aspect Molde was performed at Villarreal’s stadium in Spain, whereas Villarreal beat Salzburg 2-0 in Austria.
    Hoffenheim ahead Munas Dabbur scored two targets, arrange one other, after which missed a penalty earlier than Molde got here again from two targets down to attract 3-3.
    UNITED FLYING
    Fernandes had Sociedad’s protection to thank for his first objective within the twenty seventh, when two defenders collided with their very own goalkeeper, leaving him free to attain into an empty web. He then completed off a fast counterattack to make it 2-0 within the 57th. Fernandes let Marcus Rashford’s cross go behind him to Daniel James, then obtained the ball again and fired inside the suitable submit.
    Rashford added the third within the sixty fourth and James accomplished the scoring within the final minute.
    United is taking part in within the Europa League for the third time in 5 seasons, a drop for a membership as soon as thought to be a continental heavyweight.

    BALE’S BOW
    Gareth Bale reminded his detractors of his qualities as he scored one objective and arrange one other for Tottenham.
    The Wales ahead, again at Tottenham on mortgage from Real Madrid to the tip of the season, minimize the ball again for Son Heung-min to open the scoring within the thirteenth, earlier than he illustrated why Madrid paid Tottenham a report switch charge for his companies in 2013.
    Bale confirmed Matt Doherty precisely the place he needed the ball, outpaced Jonathan Scherzer to succeed in it, then stopped to depart the Wolfsberg defender sprawling, earlier than curling a strong shot previous goalkeeper Alexander Kofler together with his left boot.
    Bale has been struggling in his second spell at Tottenham, making simply seven Premier League appearances. He not too long ago irked Jose Mourinho for posting “Good session today” on Instagram with the Tottenham coach saying there was “ a contradiction between the post and the reality.”
    Lucas Moura eluded numerous defenders to make it 3-0 within the thirty fourth.
    A penalty from Michael Liendl gave the Austrians some hope within the second half, however Vinicius, who had come on through the break for Son, scored from shut vary within the 88th.
    Wolfsberg is taking part in for the primary time within the knockout phases of a European competitors.

    LATE DRAMA
    Ajax left it late to beat Lille 2-1 in France, the place United States ahead Timothy Weah opened the scoring for Lille within the 72nd.
    It was Weah’s second objective within the competitors. The 20-year-old ahead is the son of former Milan nice George Weah, the present president of Liberia.
    Renato Sanches gave away a penalty for a foul on Nicolas Tagliafico, and Dusan Tadic equalized from the spot within the 87th, two minutes earlier than the 19-year-old Brian Brobbey scored the winner.
    A final-minute penalty from Borna Barisic, his second of the sport, gave Rangers a 4-3 win at Belgian crew Antwerp.
    Milan Pavkov scored in damage time for Red Star Belgrade to attract 2-2 in opposition to visiting AC Milan.

    LEVERKUSEN UNREWARDED
    Bayer Leverkusen fought again from three targets down on the break in opposition to Young Boys, earlier than Jordan Siebatcheu scored within the 89th to offer the Swiss crew a 4-3 win.
    “We showed we’re a team in the second half,” Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah stated. “It’s disappointing and such a shame to lose in the end.”
    The German crew is used to disappointment, mockingly referred to as “Bayer Neverkusen” by rival supporters for sometimes ending runner-up.

    NAPOLI UPSET
    Two targets in two minutes from Brazilian ahead Kenedy and Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera gave Spanish aspect Granada a stunning 2-0 win over Napoli.
    Shakhtar Donetsk gained 2-0 at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Dynamo Kyiv drew 1-1 with Club Brugge, Leicester drew 0-0 at Slavia Prague, Roma gained 2-0 at Sporting Braga, Dinamo Zagreb beat Russian crew Krasnodar 3-2 away, and Olympiakos earned a 4-2 win at residence over PSV Eindhoven.

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic nets five hundredth membership objective

    AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the five hundredth and 501st membership targets of his profession in a 4-0 Serie A win over Crotone on Sunday to proceed his outstanding kind on the age of 39.
    The Swede, who turns 40 in October, swept a shot into the highest nook earlier than tapping in a second after the break to succeed in a landmark that has been achieved in a profession spanning greater than 21 years and 9 totally different golf equipment.
    Ibrahimovic scored his first objective for Malmo in 1999 and he netted 18 instances for the Swedish membership earlier than spells at Ajax (48 targets), Juventus (26), Inter Milan (66), Barcelona (22), AC Milan (56), Paris St Germain (156), Manchester United (29), LA Galaxy (53) and his second spell with Milan (27).

    Road to the goal pic.twitter.com/daEEZfqMqq
    — Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) February 7, 2021
    “It means I’ve scored some goals in my career,” he stated when requested concerning the landmark by Sky Italia.
    “But the necessary factor is to proceed serving to the staff in the easiest way. My job is to attain targets and create goalscoring conditions.
    “He has racked up 16 targets in 17 video games in all competitions for the Italian membership this season to spearhead their bid for a primary league title in 10 years, with Milan at present two factors clear in first place after 21 matches.
    Ibrahimovic has received league titles in 4 totally different international locations throughout his globe-trotting profession and notched his five hundredth objective on his 825th membership look.In that point he has scored 395 targets in league video games, 57 in European cup matches and 48 in home cup matches.

  • Serie A: Atalanta stun leaders AC Milan; Conte sees pink in Inter Milan draw

    Atalanta consigned AC Milan to their second league defeat of the season with a 3-0 win at San Siro on Saturday, however Stefano Pioli’s facet had been nonetheless named ‘winter champions’ in Serie A.
    A Cristian Romero header put the guests forward at halftime earlier than a Josip Ilicic penalty and Duvan Zapata strike accomplished a dominant victory for the Bergamo facet.Atalanta had the possibilities to win by an excellent wider margin as an out-of-sorts Milan put in one in every of their worst performances of the season.
    The dwelling facet did not muster a shot heading in the right direction till debutant Mario Mandzukic drew an excellent save from Pierluigi Gollini within the 71st minute together with his first contact after coming off the bench.

    “Today a lot of things were lacking,” Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic instructed Sky Sports.
    “I don’t want to make excuses, you need to go into every game to get the result. Today we didn’t manage that.”
    Milan nonetheless declare the title of winter champions as they high the standings on the midway level of the season with 43 factors, two forward of Inter Milan after their 0-0 draw at Udinese.
    It’s normally an excellent indicator of what’s to return, as solely two Serie A winter champions have failed to complete on high for the reason that league reverted to twenty groups in 2004: Napoli in 2015-16 and 2017-18.”We’re midway there, which means we’ve performed nicely up till now,” Ibrahimovic added.
    “Now is the most difficult period with a lot of games. We need to stay well physically.”
    Atalanta moved into the highest 4 on 36 factors, a report tally for the Bergamo membership on the halfway stage of a Serie A season that includes 20 groups.
    The guests began strongly and a objective appeared inevitable by the point Romero stooped to go in, whereas Ibrahimovic volleyed Milan’s finest probability of the primary half vast on the again submit.
    Franck Kessie caught Ilicic within the face with an elbow early within the second half to concede a penalty that the Slovenian transformed.Mandzukic, who joined Milan on a free switch this week, got here on for his debut within the seventieth minute and wanted a matter of seconds earlier than testing Gollini’s reflexes with a close-range shot.
    But Atalanta’s dominance continued as Zapata powered a header off the foot of the submit earlier than discovering the goal when he raced clear within the field to complete on the close to submit.
    Conte sees pink as Inter Milan are held to Udinese stalemate
    Inter Milan missed out on the prospect to go high in Serie A as coach Antonio Conte was despatched off for dissent in a 0-0 draw at strugglers Udinese on Saturday.
    The guests travelled to Udine on a excessive after beating title rivals Juventus 2-0 final weekend however they couldn’t break down the decided hosts, who grew to become the primary crew to maintain a clear sheet towards Inter in Serie A this season.
    Inter striker Lautaro Martinez got here closest when his first half shot drew a spectacular one-handed save from Juan Musso, however the guests’ frustration confirmed when Conte was dismissed for dissent in stoppage time.

    “We didn’t agree about the amount of stoppage time,” Conte instructed Sky Sports.”The referee has to take his choices and we have now to simply accept them, even when we don’t agree.”
    Conte’s facet stay second on 41 factors, two behind AC Milan on the midway stage of the season, whereas Udinese are 14th on 18 factors however with no win in 9 video games.
    The Inter coach caught with the identical crew that defeated Juve, however his facet had been flat and failed to search out the web for the primary time in 21 Serie A matches, a streak stretching again to a 0-0 draw towards Fiorentina in July 2020.
    It was a missed alternative as a win would have moved Inter forward of leaders AC Milan on objective distinction and be named winter champions after their rivals misplaced 3-0 to Atalanta.
    “We need to look at ourselves, we can’t think about Milan and the fact that they lost,” Conte mentioned.”There is room for enchancment, immediately we may’ve been extra exact. Above all we had been missing high quality within the remaining ball, which is prime.
    “We can and must improve from this point of view if we want to have ambitions of fighting to the end for something important.”
    Martinez appeared sure to attain when he pounced on a free cross and fired a shot at objective, however Musso by some means saved it out with a one-handed save.
    Nicolo Barella despatched a dipping volley over the bar, whereas the hosts additionally couldn’t discover their vary as Roberto Pereyra blasted over and Rodrigo De Paul shot narrowly vast.

  • Mario Mandzukic returns to Italy, indicators for league chief AC Milan

    Image Source : AP In this May 19, 2019 file photograph, Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic holds the Serie A soccer title trophy, on the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy. 
    AC Milan signed 34-year-old Mario Mandžukić on Tuesday, giving 39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic help in assault for the Italian league chief’s title problem.
    Milan mentioned the Croatia veteran “agreed on a deal till the tip of the present season with an possibility to increase the contract for the following one.”
    Mandžukić returns to Serie A — the place he gained 4 straight titles with Juventus from 2015-19 — after a spell in Qatar with league champion Al-Duhail.

    Milan is in search of its first Serie A title in 10 years and leads metropolis rival Inter by three factors. Milan can be within the spherical of 32 of the Europa League and faces Red Star Belgrade subsequent month.
    Mandžukić will put on the No. 9 shirt, the membership mentioned.
    The Croatian gained a Champions League title with Bayern Munich in 2013 and scored for Juventus in a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid within the 2017 closing.

  • Zlatan Ibrahimović scores two as Milan beats Cagliari 2-0 to go clear

    Zlatan Ibrahimović scored twice to assist 10-man AC Milan win 2-0 at Cagliari on Monday and reclaim first place outright in Serie A.
    Ibrahimović transformed a first-half penalty and doubled his tally early within the second interval. They had been his first objectives since his current return from harm, taking his tally to 12 in eight league matches.
    Milan substitute Alexis Saelemaekers was despatched off after selecting up two yellow playing cards in fast succession shortly after coming off the bench.
    Milan moved three factors away from second-place Inter Milan. The two play one another within the league on Feb. 21.
    Ibrahimović had performed the ultimate jiffy of Milan’s final league match in his first look since Nov. 22 and in addition began final week’s cup match — each in opposition to Torino.
    The 39-year-old Swede received and transformed a penalty within the seventh minute in Sardinia after being barged over by Cagliari defender Charalampos Lykogiannis. Ibrahimović had missed three of his final seven spot kicks.

    Davide Calabria hit the put up earlier than establishing Milan’s second, seven minutes into the second half, with a protracted ball excessive for Ibrahimović to run onto and place into the underside far nook.
    The solely damaging word was the dismissal of Saelemaekers. The 21-year-old Belgian was introduced on within the 66th minute, booked two minutes later and proven one other yellow card six minutes after that.

  • Watch: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores 2 as AC Milan beat Cagliari to go high of Serie A

    Image Source : AP Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) celebrates after scoring the second aim of the sport, with Samu Castillejo (far left) and Alessio Romagnoli (far proper), throughout their Italian Serie A match between Cagliari and Milan on the Sardegna Arena stadium in Cagliari on Monday evening.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice to assist 10-man AC Milan win 2-0 at Cagliari on Monday and reclaim first place outright in Serie A.

    Ibrahimovic transformed a first-half penalty and doubled his tally early within the second interval. They had been his first objectives since his latest return from damage, taking his tally to 12 in eight league matches.
    Milan substitute Alexis Saelemaekers was despatched off after choosing up two yellow playing cards in fast succession shortly after coming off the bench.

    Milan moved three factors away from second-place Inter Milan. The two play one another within the league on Feb. 21.
    Ibrahimovic had performed the ultimate jiffy of Milan’s final league match in his first look since Nov. 22 and likewise began final week’s cup match — each in opposition to Torino.
    The 39-year-old Swede gained and transformed a penalty within the seventh minute in Sardinia after being barged over by Cagliari defender Charalampos Lykogiannis. Ibrahimovic had missed three of his final seven spot kicks.
    Davide Calabria hit the put up earlier than establishing Milan’s second, seven minutes into the second half, with an extended ball excessive for Ibrahimovic to run onto and place into the underside far nook.
    The solely unfavorable notice was the dismissal of Saelemaekers. The 21-year-old Belgian was introduced on within the 66th minute, booked two minutes later and proven one other yellow card six minutes after that.

  • Italian Cup: AC Milan beats Torino on penalties to achieve quarterfinals

    AC Milan beat Torino on penalties to achieve the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup, the place it might face Serie A title rival Inter Milan.
    After the match completed 0-0, Milan scored all its penalties and received the shootout 5-4, with Hakan Calhanoglu changing the decisive kick.
    Torino defender Tomas Rincan, who took his facet’s third penalty, had his effort saved by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
    Milan will face Inter or Fiorentina, who play on Wednesday in Florence. The two Milan groups are additionally main the race for the Serie A title with the Rossoneri prime of the league, three factors forward of second-place Inter.
    Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is often first alternative however was rested, can be suspended for the quarterfinal as he was proven a purple card on the bench for dissent.

    Milan had overwhelmed Torino 2-0 within the league on Saturday and that match additionally marked the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from harm.
    The cup match noticed the 39-year-old make his first begin since Nov. 22 though he was taken off at halftime.
    There had been few possibilities within the first half however Milan got here out extra energetic after the break and hit the publish twice in fast succession.
    Apart from alhanoglu, Franck Kessi, Theo Hernandez, Sandro Tonali and Alessio Romagnoli scored their penalties.
    Andrea Belotti, Saa Lukic, Lyanco and goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic had been profitable for Torino.

  • AC Milan rebound from Juventus loss with straightforward victory over Torino

    AC Milan bounced again from its first Serie A loss by beating relegation-threatened Torino 2-0 and increasing its lead within the standings.
    Milan, which is bidding for a primary league title in a decade, was firmly in management at halftime following a Rafael Leao strike and a Franck Kessie penalty on Saturday.
    Stefano Pioli’s facet moved 4 factors forward of metropolis rival Inter Milan, which faces a doubtlessly difficult go to to third-placed Roma on Sunday.
    Milan hosts Torino once more on Tuesday, within the Italian Cup.
    Defeat to Juventus midweek was Milan’s first in Serie A since March and the Rossoneri had been nonetheless with out a number of injured gamers together with Zlatan Ibrahimovic — though the ahead was despatched in for the ultimate jiffy.
    Milan led from the twenty fifth minute when Theo Hernandez surged ahead from midfield and located Brahim Diaz, who despatched a by way of ball in for Leao to prod into the underside proper nook.
    Diaz gained a penalty 10 minutes later when he was tripped by Andrea Belotti and Kessie transformed.
    Torino defender Ricardo Rodriguez virtually scored in opposition to his former membership however his free-kick got here off the crossbar.
    Torino additionally thought it had a penalty early within the second half when midfielder Sandro Tonali appeared to foul Simone Verdi however the referee modified his thoughts after viewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Tonali was injured in that incident and brought off on a stretcher.
    SUPER ILICIC
    Josip Ilicic seems to be again to his greatest after inspiring Atalanta to a 4-1 win at Benevento.
    Ilicic scored Atalanta’s opener, hit the submit, and had a hand in one other two objectives — for Rafael Toloi and Duvan Zapata — after Marco Sau’s equalizer. Luis Muriel netted a spectacular fourth for Atalanta.

    Luis Muriel’s final 5 Serie A appearances:
    ⚽️⚽️ ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
    Half of these objectives have come as an alternative. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Pr3eaZ9dkF
    — Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 9, 2021
    Atalanta moved into fourth spot, 9 factors behind Milan. Benevento remained tenth. Atalanta has made an excellent begin to 2021, having scored eight objectives in its two matches and conceded only one.
    Ilicic placed on a masterclass at Benevento and he arrange a few possibilities earlier than opening the scoring within the thirtieth minute. The Slovenia midfielder gathered the ball on the appropriate and lower inside, dribbling previous three defenders earlier than firing into the underside close to nook.
    Benevento leveled 5 minutes after the break as halftime substitute Christian Pastina, who was making his Serie A debut, lifted a ball excessive for Sau to slip in on the again submit.
    Atalanta all however secured the win with two quickfire objectives supplied by Ilicic. In the 69th, Ilicic burst into the field following a fast one-two and though his effort was parried by Lorenzo Montipo, Toloi turned within the rebound.
    Two minutes later, a counterattack down the appropriate noticed Ilicic cross in for Zapata to volley into the underside left nook.
    Muriel was despatched on shortly after and he curled a unbelievable strike into the highest proper nook for his sixth aim in 5 matches.

  • Family Legacy: Daniel completes 1000 appearances for Maldini household with AC Milan

    AC Milan teen Daniel Maldini is part of a household legacy. Daniel’s substitute look in opposition to Juventus on Thursday was the a thousandth Serie A match performed by a three-generation Maldini dynasty with AC Milan.
    Between 1954 and 1966, Cesare Maldini made an enormous impression at San Siro as a stable defender, making 347 top-flight appearances for Milan.
    His son Paolo made 647 Serie A appearances within the well-known black and pink stripes and is broadly thought to be one of many best defenders within the historical past of the sport.
    Unlike his father and grandfather, 19-year outdated Daniel is an attacking participant. With father Paolo serving because the technical director, Daniel accomplished 1000 appearances for the Maldini household within the membership. It is a novel household legacy, a uncommon soccer prevalence which is more than likely not going to be damaged anytime quickly.
    Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has performed with Paolo and Daniel, two generations of the Maldini household, hoped he also can play with Daniel’s son sooner or later.
    The 39-year-old is at his second stint at San Siro and took the chance to replicate on a generational shift. “I feel like I’ve been here different generations. I played against Paolo Maldini and now I’m playing with his son, Daniel. Hopefully I can play with Daniel’s son also, that would be a miracle,” Zlatan informed Football Focus on the BBC.