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/ February 19, 2021

Ibrahimovic, Lukaku rematch as Milan rivals clash for Serie A top spot

AC Milan's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts prior to the Italian Serie A football match Spezia vs AC Milan on February 13, 2021 at the Alberto-Picco stadium in La Spezia.(Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Antonio Conte's Inter went top after Lukaku scored twice in a 3-1 win over Lazio, one point ahead of Milan who dropped to second after losing to Spezia last weekend. Juventus will be looking for a boost against rock bottom Crotone after following their Napoli defeat with a Champions League last 16, first leg loss at Porto. Inter have the advantage of being fresher having been eliminated early from European action. AC Milan return to Italy after conceding a late goal in a 2-2 draw at Red Star Belgrade in the Europa league, a game in which midfielder Ismael Bennacer was injured. "Against Spezia it was not the real AC Milan. The important thing is to turn the page," said Milan coach Stefano Pioli. It will be the third derby this season with Milan winning the first 2-1 in the league. Inter won a fiery Italian Cup quarter-final by the same scoreline, a game overshadowed by Ibrahimovic and Lukaku squaring off and trading insults, with the Swede later sent off. Inter have won five of their last six meetings. But AC Milan can win both league games against Inter for the first time since 2010-11, when they went on to lift their most recent Serie A title. Roma, seven points adrift of Inter in third place, can benefit from the Milan duel to close the gap, with the capital side travelling to 15th-placed Benevento, after a 2-0 Europa League win at Sporting Braga. Juventus, in fourth, one point behind Roma, should take all three points against Crotone on Monday, despite being held by the side from Calabria in their last two meetings. However, the Turin giants have an injury crisis with Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Arthur, Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata all uncertain. Champions League rivals Atalanta and Napoli go head-to-head on …

/ January 25, 2021

Milan, Inter look to bounce back in last-eight derby cup clash

AC Milan's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) shoots on goal during the Italian Serie A football match AC Milan vs Atalanta Bergamo on January 23, 2021 at the San Siro stadium in Milan.(MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) League leaders AC Milan were swept away 3-0 by Atalanta at the San Siro on Saturday, at the same time as second-placed Inter Milan could only manage a goalless draw at Udinese which leaves them two points behind their city rivals. The teams' star strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, who have each bagged 12 goals this league campaign, both drew a blank at the weekend but will be hoping for more from the second meeting this season between the two teams. Milan's veteran forward Ibrahimovic scored a brace the last time they met in a 2-1 league win in October, with Lukaku also netting for Inter. Ibrahimovic returned for Milan this month after seven weeks out injured, scoring a brace against Cagliari, and is looking for his first Cup goal of the season. Lukaku headed in an extra-time winner against Fiorentina in the last 16, but the Belgium forward has failed to score in Inter's last four league games. Their trophy hopes now lie on domestic success after their early European exit. "Winning the Scudetto and qualifying for the Champions League would be significant for Inter, but the Italian Cup is a trophy that we respect," said coach Antonio Conte. "We won't be taking it lightly and will try to win, as we always do." Inter's last major trophy was the 2011 Italian Cup, while Milan -- who last won the league that same year -- have not tasted success in the competition since 2003. Making it through to the last four by beating such strong opposition on Tuesday would be huge after their limp defeat by Atalanta. "The Italian Cup derby could bring us to the semi-finals but above all it's an opportunity to immediately turn the page and avoid a difficult emotional crisis," said Milan coach Stefano Pioli. Holders Napoli are also looking …

/ February 8, 2021

Ibrahimovic nets landmark goal as AC Milan return to Serie A summit

* Manchester City opened up a commanding five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Ilkay Gundogan scored twice in a 4-1 victory at Liverpool for whom keeper Alisson endured a Sunday (Feb 7) afternoon to forget. * Chelsea took another step in their recovery under new coach Thomas Tuchel when they beat bottom side Sheffield United 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday thanks to a strike by Mason Mount and a penalty by Jorginho, with Germany's Timo Werner involved in both goals. * Harry Kane scored on his return from injury to help Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday (Feb 7) and end a three-match losing run in the Premier League. * Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City shared the spoils in a 0-0 Premier League draw on Sunday (Feb 7) as both teams showed plenty of attacking intent but lacked an end product. * Barcelona winger Francisco Trincao scored his first goal for the club to snatch a 3-2 win away to Real Betis on Sunday as Ronald Koeman's side pulled off a second comeback victory in the space of four days. * Paris St Germain claimed a clinical 2-0 win at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille on Sunday to keep pace with fellow Ligue 1 title contenders Lille and Olympique Lyonnais. * Jonathan David scored twice as Lille beat Nantes 2-0 away to claim their sixth consecutive victory and restore a two-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings on Sunday. * Liverpool's Champions League last-16 away tie against RB Leipzig will be staged in Budapest as coronavirus restrictions bar the English champions travelling to Germany, UEFA announced on Sunday (Feb 7). * World number three Naomi Osaka started her Australian Open in style on Monday (Feb 8) with an easy straight-sets victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as the delayed Grand Slam finally got under way. The Japanese star faced a potentially tricky first-round contest against the world number 39, but made light work of the Russian 6-1, 6-2 in 68 minutes. …