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☆ José Mourinho sent off after making ‘crying’ gesture as Roma scores dramatic winner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —José Mourinho was sent off during Roma’s dramatic 1-0 Serie A victory over Monza with the Roma manager seen making a ‘crying’ gesture towards the opposition’s bench. However, after the game Mourinho said he “didn’t know why” he was shown a red card. “I only made a gesture to the bench, not a single word,” Mourinho said, per Reuters. In stoppage time, Mourinho could be seen mimicking someone crying in a gesture made in the direction of the Monza bench. The Roma manager was sent off three times in Serie A last season.

Persons: CNN — José Mourinho, Mourinho, “, ” Mourinho, Sunday, Stephan El Shaarawy, Monza Organizations: CNN, Monza, Reuters, Roma, Stadio Olimpico, Inter Milan, Champions League, Serie Locations: Monza

☆ Soccer Juventus midfielder Fagioli faces investigation for illegal betting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli is under investigation for alleged illegal betting activities, an Italian prosecutor said on Wednesday, confirming earlier press reports. "I confirm the news of the investigation," Turin Chief Prosecutor Enrica Gabetta said in an emailed statement, without elaborating. "Nicolo is calm and fully focused on Juventus and the (Italian Serie A) league," they added. Italian soccer authorities ban players from betting on soccer matches but not from other types of gambling. A player found to have bet on soccer matches risks being banned for at least three years and fined at least 25,000 euros ($26,520) under the FIGC's code of conduct.

Persons: Nicolo Fagioli, Enrica Gabetta, Luca Ferrari, Armando Simbari, Nicolo, Fagioli, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Elvira Pollina, Gavin Jones, Ed Osmond Organizations: Juventus, La Stampa, A, Italian national, Albania, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italian

☆ Soccer Serie A looks at media platform as right sale faces stalemate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Italy's top flight soccer league Serie A is pressing ahead with plans to launch its own media operations with the support of financial investors as a sale process of domestic broadcasting licences struggles to gain traction, club and league officials said. The creation of a media platform to distribute Serie A matches to other TV outlets as well as the launch of a league-run live video streaming subscription service have been repeatedly floated in recent years. The launch of a TV streaming service platform to broadcast matches would a first for any major soccer league in Europe. The 20 clubs may also decide to use the league's streaming platform to screen only some of the matches, awarding part of the rights to the established broadcasters. TV rights are a key source of revenue for Serie A clubs such as this year's champions Napoli, Juventus (JUVE.MI) and Milanese clubs AC Milan and Inter.

Persons: Elvira Pollina, Keith Weir Organizations: MILAN, Serie, Sky Italia, Napoli, Juventus, Milanese, AC Milan, Inter, English Premier League, Premier League, Thomson Locations: Europe

☆ Roma's Haavi relishes chance to build on Women's Champions League experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

STOCKHOLM, Oct 10 (Reuters) - AS Roma forward Emilie Haavi cannot wait for another crack at the Women's Champions League after falling at the quarter-final stage last season, as they prepare to face Vorskla in a qualifying clash on Wednesday. The addition of the Norwegian provided a boost for Roma's attack, and they made last season's Women's Champions League quarter-finals after finishing second in their group behind German powerhouses VfL Wolfsburg. POSITIVE EXPERIENCE"I think it was a very positive experience last year, the whole Champions League was a little adventure for us. We had a little bit of luck with the draw, at the same time as we met a good level of opposition,” Haavi explained. Haavi believes the likes of Roma are getting closer to their European rivals thanks to the games they play against them.

Persons: Emilie Haavi, Haavi, LSK Kvinner, ”, Roa, I've, ” Haavi, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Roma, Stadio Tre Fontane, Philip O'Connor, Toby Davis Organizations: AS Roma, Women's, League, Roma, Olimpico, Reuters, Roa IL, Serie, VfL Wolfsburg, Champions League, Stadio, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Norway, Italy, France, Norwegian, Barcelona

☆ Clinical Juventus go third after derby win against Torino
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Massimiliano Allegri's side have 17 points, two behind Inter Milan and one behind AC Milan who play Genoa later on Saturday. That doesn’t preclude us from looking at other things, because naturally, we are Juventus," he told DAZN. "We must keep our feet on the ground and bring back what for many years was normality at Juventus, in other words winning games." Substitute Milik doubled the lead after 62 minutes with a header from another corner, which Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic misjudged. "We should’ve gone for the shot to finish off the moves and not allow Torino to stay in the game when they were struggling."

Persons: Federico Gatti, Arkadiusz, Massimiliano Allegri's, Allegri, DAZN, Gatti, Milik, Vanja Milinkovic, Savic, Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Chiesa, Moise Kean, Fabio Miretti, Kean, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Juventus, Torino, Serie A, Juve, Inter Milan, Milan, Genoa, Napoli, Fiorentina, Thomson Locations: TURIN, Italy, Gdansk

☆ Milan go top with late Pulisic strike at Genoa as Giroud ends match in goal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENOA, Italy, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A late strike by Christian Pulisic earned AC Milan a 1-0 win at promoted Genoa that put them top of Serie A on Saturday but the game ended in chaos as both keepers were sent off and striker Olivier Giroud went in goal for the visitors. U.S. international Pulisic netted in the 87th minute with a half-volley from near the penalty spot after he was brilliantly set up by Yunus Musah to give Milan the lead. But the three points were hanging by a thread as the game took a chaotic turn when Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan saw red for a foul on Caleb Ekuban late in stoppage time and Giroud took his spot in goal. "I like to think that what Giroud did is part of our mentality," coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN. "Pulisic wanted to go in goal and perhaps he had already done it, but I told him that he was too short.

Persons: Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Mike Maignan, Caleb Ekuban, Giroud, Frenchman, Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson, George Puscas, Stefano Pioli, DAZN, Milan, Pioli, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Rade Krunic, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao, Josep Martinez, Martinez, Theo Hernandez, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Milan, Serie, U.S, Inter Milan, Lazio, AS Roma, Napoli, Genoa, Juventus, Thomson Locations: GENOA, Italy, Genoa, Milan, Bologna, Gdansk

☆ Jude Bellingham stars as Real Madrid defeats Napoli in the Champions League
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Real Madrid continued its winning start in the Champions League by coming from behind to defeat Napoli 3-2 on Tuesday. Midfielder Jude Bellingham scored his eighth goal in nine appearances for Los Blancos after Vinícius Jr. had canceled out Leo Østigård’s opener for the home side. Alessandra Tarantino/APMadrid responded midway through the first half, Vinícius finishing well after Bellingham had intercepted Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s loose pass. Bellingham scores Real Madrid's second goal against Napoli. Francesco Pecoraro/Getty ImagesThe result puts Madrid top of Group C, three points ahead of Napoli and Braga.

Persons: Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr, Leo Østigård’s, Piotr Zieliński’s, Alex Meret –, Federico Valverde –, “, ”, Carlo Ancelotti, Natan, Østigård, Leo Østigård, Napoli's, Alessandra Tarantino, Vinícius, Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s, Meret, Zieliński, Nacho, –, Francesco Pecoraro, André, Ancelotti, “ I’m, he’s, ” Ancelotti Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, Champions League, Napoli, Madrid, AP, Real Madrid, Bellingham, Real, Braga, Portuguese, Union Berlin, ” Madrid, Osasuna, Fiorentina, Sunday Locations: Naples, AP Madrid, Bellingham, Madrid, Napoli, LaLiga

☆ Unstoppable Martinez scores four as Inter cruise past Salernitana
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Inter captain Martinez has now scored nine goals in seven Serie A matches and holds a clear lead as the league's top scorer. While Inter dominated the match's early stages, Salernitana gradually found their footing and managed to control the tempo in a goalless first half. Martinez opened the scoring for Inter in the 62nd minute when he expertly collected Marcus Thuram's low cross into the box and delicately chipped the ball over Salernitana keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Martinez completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, after a foul by defender Matteo Lovato, who had pulled Thuram's shirt. Inter host a Champions League group-stage match against Benfica on Tuesday, followed by a Serie A home game against Bologna next Saturday.

Persons: Stadio, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Alberto Lingria, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Marcus Thuram's, Guillermo Ochoa, Mateusz Legowski's, Nicolo Barella, Matteo Lovato, Carlos Augusto's, Simone Inzaghi, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis, Clare Fallon Organizations: Soccer, Salernitana, Inter Milan, Stadio Arechi, Inter Milan's, Rights, Serie, Inter, Milan, Lazio, Sky Sport Italia, Champions League, Benfica, Bologna, Thomson Locations: Salerno, Italy, San Siro, Gdansk

☆ Victor Osimhen: Napoli ‘never intended to offend of make fun of’ striker with TikTok video
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Italian soccer club Napoli has said that it “never intended to offend or make fun of” star player Victor Osimhen after coming under fire for posting – and then deleting – a video of the striker missing a penalty on TikTok. “To avoid any potential exploitation of the matter, SSC Napoli would like to explicitly state that the club never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen, who is an asset to the club,” Napoli said in Thursday’s statement. “Over the course of the summer Napoli rejected all offers to sign the striker – firm proof of the club’s appreciation of him. “A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted. Osimhen scored in Napoli’s match against Udinese but celebrated in muted fashion before embracing his teammates.

Persons: “, Victor Osimhen, ”, –, Osimhen, ” Napoli, Victor, Roberto Calenda, Calenda, Gennaro Del Vecchio, Giuseppe Santoro Organizations: CNN, Napoli, Nigeria international Osimhen, Serie, Bologna, SSC Napoli, Udinese, Wednesday, Lecce Locations: Italian, Nigeria

☆ Saudi soccer league says big-money player purchases are only the first step in a long-term strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The big-spending Saudi Pro League is aiming to build its global broadcasting presence and become one of the top 10 soccer leagues in the world, its chief operating officer, Carlo Nohra, told CNBC on Thursday. The league dominated the sports headlines over the summer as Saudi clubs cumulatively spent more than $1 billion in transfer fees and attracted some of the biggest names from Europe's top leagues with mammoth contract offers. Speaking to CNBC at the APOS conference in Bali, Indonesia, on Thursday, Nohra said that Saudi Arabia's strategy is "extremely long term," but that the acquisition of players was the first step. watch nowThe kingdom's massive investment in sport is part of a broader effort to diversify its economy away from oil by investing in commercial infrastructure to become a tourism, leisure and entertainment powerhouse. Nohra explained that the objectives handed down to the Saudi Pro League's bosses were to firstly improve on-pitch performance through the acquisition of world-class players, to fill the country's stadia and ultimately to drive the commercialization of the vastly improved overall product.

Persons: Carlo Nohra, cumulatively, Neymar, Sadio Mane, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nohra, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Saudi Pro League, CNBC, English Premier League, Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Serie, Ligue, Saudi, Fox News, Saudi Pro Locations: Saudi, Bali , Indonesia

☆ Napoli say they never intended to offend Osimhen amid row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Napoli said on Thursday they never intended to offend their striker Victor Osimhen with mocking social media videos, but the Serie A champions stopped short of apologising to the Nigeria international. Osimhen's agent Roberto Calenda later threatened legal action, while the 24-year-old player removed all images of himself in a Napoli shirt from his social media accounts. "On social media, and TikTok particularly, expressive language is used in a light-hearted and playful manner. Osimhen helped Napoli end their 33-year wait for a league title last season as he was Serie A's top scorer with 26 goals. Champions Napoli are fifth in the league standings and will face Lecce on Saturday before hosting Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Persons: Napoli, Victor Osimhen, Roberto Calenda, Victor, Osimhen, Janina Nuno Rios, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Serie, Nigeria, Bologna, Napoli, Serie A's, Napoli's, Udinese, Lecce, Real Madrid, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Mexico City

☆ Marseille appoint Italian Gattuso as coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Olympique de Marseille have named Italian Gennaro Gattuso as coach following the departure of Marcelino, the French Ligue 1 club said on Wednesday. The 45-year-old Gattuso takes over after Spaniard Marcelino left the club amid a feud with the Marseille supporters. Gattuso left Valencia in January, seven months after his appointment with the LaLiga side just above the relegation zone. Marseille are eighth in Ligue 1 after two wins, three draws and a 4-0 loss to Paris St Germain. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Italian Gennaro Gattuso, Marcelino, Spaniard Marcelino, Gattuso, Paris St Germain, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Osmond Organizations: Olympique de Marseille, Ligue, Spaniard, Marseille, AC Milan, Napoli, Serie, Paris St, Champions League, AS Monaco, Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion, Europa League, Thomson Locations: Italian, Valencia, Italy, Mexico City

☆ Milan fight back to beat promoted Cagliari 3-1
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAGLIARI, Italy, Sept 27 (Reuters) - English duo Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were on target as AC Milan fought back after falling behind at promoted Cagliari to secure a 3-1 Serie A victory on Wednesday. "We did well to turn it around with our principles and win a game that was certainly not easy. Shortly before halftime, Loftus-Cheek went close to securing Milan's third goal, but Radunovic denied his attempt with an outstretched foot. Cagliari went close to a consolation goal in the final minutes when Gaetano Oristanio volleyed Luvumbo's cross, only to be denied by Milan goalkeeper Marco Sportiello. Milan host Lazio on Saturday in Serie A before they travel to Borussia Dortmund on Oct. 4 for their second Champions League group stage match.

Persons: Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Tomori, Noah Okafor, Stefano Pioli's, Sassuolo, Tijani Reijnders, Pioli, Zito Luvumbo, Okafor, Boris Radunovic, Loftus, Radunovic, they’d, DAZN, Cagliari, Gaetano Oristanio volleyed, Marco Sportiello, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Milan, Cagliari, Loftus, Serie, Inter Milan, Sky Sports, Lazio, Serie A, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Thomson Locations: CAGLIARI, Italy, Cagliari, Sardinian, Milan, Gdansk

☆ Inter's perfect start ended by Sassuolo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v U.S. Sassuolo - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 27, 2023 U.S. Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi in action with Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni REUTERS/Massimo Pinca Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Inter Milan's perfect start to the Serie A season ended as Sassuolo mounted a fine comeback to secure a shock 2-1 victory on Wednesday. Inter led through a first-half goal by Denzel Dumfries but Sassuolo, coming off Saturday's 4-2 home victory over Juventus, secured all three points with goals from Nedim Bajrami and Domenico Berardi. For what we created, we should’ve scored more than one goal," Inter manager Simone Inzaghi told DAZN. If you lose your shape against a team like Sassuolo, it becomes very difficult." Inter visit Salernitana on Saturday in Serie A before hosting Benfica on Oct. 3 in the Champions League group stage.

Persons: Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, Alessandro Bastoni, Massimo Pinca, Denzel Dumfries, Nedim Bajrami, Domenico Berardi, Stefano Pioli's, should’ve, Simone Inzaghi, DAZN, Dumfries, Sassuolo, Bajrami, Yann Sommer, Berardi, Inzaghi, Victor Osimhen, Matias Vecino, Mattia Zaccagni, Tommy Lund, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer, Inter Milan, Inter, Alessandro Bastoni REUTERS, Serie, Wednesday, Juventus, Milan, Cagliari, Salernitana, Serie A, Benfica, Champions League, Napoli, Udinese, Lazio, Torino, Thomson Locations: San Siro, Milan, Italy, U.S, Sassuolo, Gdansk

☆ Juventus move up to second after Milik secures win against Lecce
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TURIN, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Arkadiusz Milik's 57th-minute goal secured Juventus a 1-0 home victory over Lecce on Tuesday, moving them up to second in the Serie A standings. Juve moved up to 13 points, two behind Inter Milan, who host Sassuolo on Wednesday. Lecce are fourth on 11 points after suffering their first Serie A defeat of the season. Lecce went down to 10 men three minutes into stoppage time after Mohamed Kaba earning a second yellow card for diving. "I don’t want to hide here, Inter, AC Milan and Napoli have better resources than us to win the title.

Persons: Milik, Adrien Rabiot's, Massimiliano Allegri, DAZN, Sassuolo, Allegri, Federico Chiesa, Mohamed Kaba, Tommy Lund, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Juventus, Lecce, Serie, Juve, Inter Milan, Wednesday, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, Thomson Locations: TURIN, Sassuolo, Gdansk

☆ Osimhen's agent threatens legal action against Napoli after video 'mocks' striker
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Roberto Calenda released a statement on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the video caused "very serious damage to the player". "What happened today on Napoli's official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable. A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted," said Calenda. "We reserve the right to take legal action and any other useful initiative to protect Victor." Osimhen missed a late penalty in a goalless draw against Bologna in Serie A on Sunday.

Persons: Renato Dall'Ara, Napoli's Victor Osimhen remonstrates, Rudi Garcia, Ciro De Luca, Victor Osimhen's, Roberto Calenda, Victor, Napoli, Osimhen, Angelica Medina, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, Bologna, Napoli, Serie, Udinese, Thomson Locations: Bologna, Italy, Mexico

☆ Juve's Allegri sticks with Szczesny despite costly mistakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"With Sassuolo it was not a bad performance, but we defended badly and there were single inexplicable errors. At Juventus we have to live with pressure and a sense of responsibility," Allegri told reporters on Monday. Other mistakes will happen, maybe not like Saturday's but they will happen. "Szczesny is the starting goalkeeper and tomorrow he will play, aware, however, that (Mattia) Perin is an important keeper." "We have Danilo, there is Szczesny, and then Alex Sandro even though he is currently injured.

Persons: Wojciech Szczesny, Adrien Rabiot, Alberto Lingria, Massimiliano Allegri, Szczesny, Federico Gatti, Allegri, " Gatti, Mattia, Perin, Leonardo Bonucci, Juan Cuadrado, Angel Di Maria, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Daniele, Rugani, Federico Chiesa, Dusan Vlahovic, Chiesa, Roberto, D'Aversa, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer, Sassuolo, Juventus, Mapei, Tricolore, Reggio, Polish, Lecce, Juve, Inter Milan, Thomson Locations: Reggio Emilia, Italy, European

☆ Napoli's Osimhen misses late penalty in goalless draw with Bologna
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BOLOGNA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Napoli's underwhelming start to the season persisted after a missed penalty by Victor Osimhen condemned the Serie A champions to a 0-0 draw at Bologna on Sunday. The Nigerian striker fired his penalty wide of the target in the 72nd minute after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's deflected cross had struck the arm of substitute Riccardo Calafiori. In the first half, Osimhen missed a chance to put Napoli ahead in the fifth minute when he struck the post. As for when he (Osimhen) went off, we talked about that, what I say to my players remains in the locker room," Garcia said. During a tense finale, Napoli's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa blocked a Bologna shot with his arm inside the penalty box.

Persons: Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's, Riccardo Calafiori, Rudi Garcia, DAZN, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia, Garcia, Napoli's Andre, Frank Zambo Anguissa, Tommy Lund, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Serie, Bologna, Inter Milan, Napoli, Udinese, Thomson Locations: BOLOGNA, Nigerian, Bologna, Gdansk

☆ Juventus suffer 4-2 defeat at Sassuolo after Szczesny blunders
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Eight minutes from time Szczesny inadvertently parried a rebound into the path of Andrea Pinamont, who headed home to make it 3-2 to Sassuolo. Juve had first equalised after 21 minutes when Sassuolo defender Matias Vina inadvertently poked the ball into his own net from close range while attempting to clear a cross. Sassuolo had a chance to make it 3-1 around the hour mark, but Lauriente fired over the bar from close range. Chiesa then levelled for the visitors in the 78th with a deflected shot before Sassuolo struck twice to take the points. In the post-match press conference, Allegri reaffirmed Szczesny as his starting goalkeeper but hinted at unspecified changes for the upcoming match.

Persons: Sassuolo's Matias Vina, Alberto Lingria, Wojciech Szczesny's, Armand Lauriente's, Szczesny, Andrea Pinamont, Federico Gatti, Massimiliano Allegri, DAZN, Juve, Matias Vina, Domenico Berardi, Federico Chiesa, Sassuolo, Lauriente, Chiesa, Allegri, It’s, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris, Clare Fallon Organizations: Soccer Football, Sassuolo, Juventus, Mapei, Tricolore, Reggio, Weston, Serie, Polish, Inter Milan, Empoli, Milan, Hellas Verona, Juve, Lecce, Thomson Locations: Reggio Emilia, Italy, Gdansk

☆ Leao scores as AC Milan beat Verona 1-0
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 23 (Reuters) - AC Milan returned to winning ways when Rafael Leao scored in a 1-0 home win over Hellas Verona in Saturday's Serie A game that was delayed by 25 minutes due to a hailstorm. Leao gave Milan the lead in the eighth minute when Olivier Giroud pinched the ball from Verona near the halfway line and released the winger, who sprinted past two defenders scrambling to track back before slipping his shot past the goalkeeper. At the other end, Milan were rarely threatened by Verona who remain in ninth place, five points behind Stefano Pioli's side. Milan keeper Marco Sportiello pulled off a fine save from a Michael Folorunsho header in the 20th minute, but he was rarely troubled after that. Milan forward Christian Pulisic also got away from his marker in the 72nd minute but his curling shot was pushed away by Verona keeper Lorenzo Montipo.

Persons: Rafael Leao, Leao, Olivier Giroud, Stefano Pioli's, Pioli, DAZN, Marco Sportiello, Michael, Christian Pulisic, Lorenzo Montipo, Marco Baroni, Rohith Nair, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge, Clare Fallon Organizations: Milan, Hellas Verona, Saturday's Serie, Inter, Champions League, Newcastle United, Empoli, Portugal, Verona, Thomson Locations: Saturday's, Milan, Verona

Meanwhile, failed uprisings in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia were followed by years-long crackdowns and a continuing civil war in Syria. “What we’re beginning to see in Saudi Arabia right now is the emergence of a new social contract. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and nearly two-thirds of its income still comes from selling fossil fuels. If Saudi Arabia can become a hub for major sporting events, then that’s a way of attracting interest to the country,” said Maguire. In response to previous criticism about Saudi Arabia’s purported “sportswashing,” the kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “People that don’t know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they’ve lived there for 30 years, 40 years.

Persons: Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Neymar Jr, Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Patricia de Melo Moreira, it’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman –, Leon Neal, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, spender, –, Carlo Nohra, Jordan Henderson, Henderson, “, ’ ” Simon Chadwick, “ We’ve, ” Chadwick, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Nassr, Stringer, you’re, Kieran Maguire, they’re, Everybody’s, ” Maguire, Chadwick, Ronaldo, Maguire, … Mohammed bin Salman, ” James Dorsey, ”, Chadwick –, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al, Faisal, don’t, they’ve, LIV Golf, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Dunne, Aleksander Ceferin, Erling, Haaland, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Emenalo, Steven Gerrard, Nohra, ” “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Pro League, Ligue, Liga, Serie, Bundesliga, English Premier League, Deloitte, Investment Fund, AFP, Getty, SPL, Saudi Crown, Spanish, Arsenal, CNN Sport, English, Newcastle United, Liverpool, The Athletic, SKEMA Business School, Argentina, Zamalek, King Fahd Sports City, Anadolu Agency, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, AFC Asian, FIFA, Greece, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Super, ”, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Middle East Soccer, Saudi Ministry, Sport, PGA Tour, European, UEFA, Premier League, Ettifaq Media, Reuters New Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Investigations, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabian, Brazil, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Real Madrid, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Liverpool, China, Qatar, Taif, Egypt, Spanish, East, North Africa, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, “, ”, Europe, ” Liverpool

GENEVA (AP) — Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham made $100 million moves in the offseason and proved their worth Wednesday in Champions League debuts for their new clubs. England captain Kane and his likely successor Bellingham scored key goals for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively, to show why they are adored already by their new home fans. PSV Eindhoven was thrashed 4-0 in a no-doubt win sparked by England winger Bukayo Saka’s goal in the 8th. Late goals got Italian teams off to good starts in the last-ever group stage before the new Champions League format takes effect next year. OLD MASTERSReal Madrid was playing its 477th game in the European Cup or Champions League.

Persons: — Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kane, Bellingham, ” Kane, Bayern “, ” Bellingham, Union Berlin, Bukayo Saka’s, Napoli, Sikou Niakaté, Lautaro Martínez, Union, Madrid’s, Jude Bellingham pirouetted, ”, Diego Armando Maradona, UNITED’S, Erik ten Hag, André Onana, Leroy Sané’s, Serge Gnabry, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, Casemiro, António Silva, Silva, Karim Konaté, Roko Šimić, Oscar Gloukh, Jonathan David, KÍ Klaksvík, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, League, England, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Tottenham, CBS Sports, Bayern, Union, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Champions League, PSV Eindhoven, Serie, Braga, Inter, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Copenhagen, Europa League, Sevilla, Lens, Real Madrid, Union Berlin, Servette, SC Motor Berlin, Napoli, Atalanta, Benfica, Salzburg, EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE, Europa Conference League, Lille, Slovenian, Olimpija Ljubljana, Slovan Bratislava, Conference League Locations: Real Madrid, England, Madrid, Spanish, Mali, Argentina, Istanbul —, Geneva —, East Germany, ” Madrid, United, Denmark, French, Portuguese, Croatian, Israel, Canada, Faeroe

☆ Former captain Bonucci starts legal battle against Juventus over club exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I have decided, after great suffering, to take the path of a lawsuit towards Juventus," Bonucci told Sport Mediaset in an interview published on Thursday. Bonucci said he did not feel remorse towards his former club nor was seeking financial reward, and that if he won the legal battle he would donate all the proceeds to charity. Juventus are the fans, the team, my former team mates," Bonucci said. "I want to continue to play and trouble Spalletti for the national team," Bonucci said. Bonucci added his hopes are to be back at Juventus one day as coach.

Persons: Leonardo Bonucci, Florion, Massimiliano Allegri, Bonucci, Luciano Spalletti, Spalletti, Anita Kobylinska Organizations: Soccer Football, Air Albania, REUTERS, Juventus, United States, Serie, Juve, Bundesliga, Union Berlin, Sport Mediaset, Thomson Locations: Albania, Italy, Tirana, Turin, Gdansk

☆ Top of the table clash gives Milan derby extra edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The match at the San Siro will be the first time since 1962 that the Milan sides meet while top of the table. But this Milan side are a different proposition from the team who put up such a disappointing defence of their league title last season. Preparations for the derby will mostly come down to the last few days with most of their starting players returning from international duty. Milan have a concern over Giroud after he went off injured in France's win over Ireland last week but are hopeful he can recover. Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, with just one point from three games, will try to kick-start their season when they host Empoli on Sunday.

Persons: Stefano Pioli, Massimo Pinca, San Siro, Stefano Pioli's, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Pulisic, Rafael Leao, Loftus, Reijnders, Milan, Sandro Tonali, Olivier Giroud's, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Simone Inzaghi, Romelu, Eden Dzeko, Marcus Thuram, Luka Jovic, Fikayo Timori, Simon Kjaer, Jose Mourinho's, Trevor Stynes, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer, Juventus, AC Milan, Allianz, Milan, Inter, Serie, Napoli, Lazio, San, Fiorentina, Champions League, Serie A's, France's, Ireland, Juve, Genoa, Lecce, Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, Empoli, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italy, Saturday's Milan, Milan, Newcastle, Monza

☆ Juventus owners are considering selling club - press
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Soccer Football - Europa League - Semi Final - First Leg - Juventus v Sevilla - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - May 11, 2023 General view of Juventus flags seen outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The Exor holding company that owns Juventus is considering putting the Serie A club up for sale, Italian daily Il Giornale wrote on Monday, without citing sources. Exor believes that after operations to clean up the accounts of Italy's most historically successful team it can put it on sale for at least 1.5 billion euros ($1.61 billion), Il Giornale added. Juventus was banned from UEFA competition for this season after finishing seventh in Serie A last term due to a 10-points deduction for alleged false accounting practices. Speculation has arisen in the past about the possibility of Exor selling Juventus, and in May a company spokesman told Reuters its commitment to the club "remains unchanged." ($1 = 0.9316 euros)Reporting By Gavin Jones, editing by Cristina CarlevaroOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Massimo Pinca, Il Giornale, Agnelli, Exor, Giornale, Gavin Jones, Cristina Carlevaro Organizations: Soccer Football, Europa League, Juventus, Sevilla, Allianz, Rights, Serie, UEFA, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italy, Netherlands

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