Football

Napoli secured their first victory under Antonio Conte with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Bologna, while Roma suffered a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Empoli.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who recently became a father, played a pivotal role in Napoli's victory. The Georgian star scored the second goal with 15 minutes remaining, ensuring the three points for his team. However, his most impressive moment came in stoppage time of the first half when he delivered a delightful pass over the Bologna defense to Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who opened the scoring.Di Lorenzo, who faced criticism after his performances at Euro 2024, redeemed himself with his goal. Substitute Giovanni Simeone added to Napoli's tally in added time, converting a low cross from David Neres.In contrast, Roma's struggles continued as they lost to Empoli at home for the first time in their history. Emmanuel Gyasi and Lorenzo Colombo scored for Empoli, while Eldor Shomurodov's late goal proved to be a mere consolation for Roma.Paulo Dybala, who recently saw his move to Al Qadsiah collapse, was unable to inspire Roma to victory. The team was booed off the pitch for their lackluster performance, which saw them fall two goals behind against a relegation-threatened side.Meanwhile, Che Adams emulated Denis Law by scoring the decisive goal in Torino's 2-1 win over Atalanta. The Scottish striker netted his first goal for Torino since joining as a free agent last month, tapping home the hosts' second four minutes after half-time.Adams' goal and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic's penalty save in stoppage time secured Torino's second victory in two matches. The win came after thousands of fans protested outside the stadium, demanding the sale of the club's owner.Fiorentina were held to a goalless draw by Venezia in the day's other early kick-off.

Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee has completed a high-profile move to Manchester United from Bologna, signing a five-year contract with the Premier League giants. The transfer fee is reported to be in the region of 42.5 million euros ($46.35 million), payable over three years.Zirkzee, 23, enjoyed a stellar season with Bologna in Serie A last term, emerging as the club's top scorer with an impressive tally of 11 goals and five assists. His contributions played a pivotal role in securing Bologna's qualification for the Champions League group stage.The Dutch international expressed his delight at joining Manchester United, stating, "It is a privilege to join such an iconic club. I have to take a short break now after being with the national team, but I'll be coming back ready to make an impact straight away."Zirkzee's arrival at Old Trafford is seen as a significant boost to United's attacking options. The Red Devils endured a disappointing Premier League campaign last season, finishing eighth in the standings, their worst-ever performance in the top flight. However, they managed to salvage their season with a victory in the FA Cup.Zirkzee's addition to the squad is expected to provide manager Erik ten Hag with greater depth and versatility in the forward line. The Dutch striker is known for his pace, power, and clinical finishing ability. He has also demonstrated an impressive work rate and a willingness to press from the front.Zirkzee's move to Manchester United marks a significant step in his career. The young striker has shown great promise at Bologna and has now earned the opportunity to prove himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world. With his talent and determination, Zirkzee has the potential to become a key player for United and help them challenge for major honors in the years to come.

In a thrilling encounter that could potentially shape Thiago Motta's future, his Bologna side surged ahead against Juventus but ultimately succumbed to a dramatic 3-3 draw on Monday.Motta, whose contract with Bologna expires at the end of the season, has been linked with a move to Juventus following Massimiliano Allegri's dismissal. His team, a revelation this season, has already secured Champions League qualification and currently sits third in the Serie A standings.Juventus, playing their first match since Allegri's departure, started sluggishly. Bologna capitalized on their lethargy, with Riccardo Calafiori and Santiago Castro scoring within the first 11 minutes. Jens Odgaard's goal was ruled offside, but Bologna continued to dominate.After a halftime pep talk from interim coach Paolo Montero, Juventus emerged with renewed vigor. Castro's error in midfield allowed Federico Chiesa to pull one back for the visitors. Substitute Arkadiusz Milik equalized with a deflected free kick, and Kenan Yildiz completed the comeback just a minute later.Montero celebrated wildly on the touchline, while Motta's Bologna imploded in the closing stages. The draw preserved Bologna's third-place position, but it also raised questions about Motta's ability to handle the pressure of a top club like Juventus.Motta has remained coy about his future, stating that he has not made any decisions or signed any contracts. However, the speculation surrounding his potential move to Juventus is likely to intensify following this rollercoaster match.

Juventus and Bologna's Champions League aspirations suffered setbacks on Saturday as they were held to goalless draws by Torino and Monza, respectively. The Turin derby stalemate and Bologna's second consecutive draw leave Juve four points ahead of their rivals in the race for a top-four finish.Despite Italy's strong performances in European competitions this season, securing an additional Champions League spot for Serie A next year, Juve's recent form has been concerning. Massimiliano Allegri's side has won only twice in their last 11 matches and now trail Inter Milan by 19 points in the title race."We haven't obtained our goals yet... it's a football goal for those of us involved with the team but an economic one for the club," said Allegri, whose team missed out on European football last year due to a points deduction.Juve failed to capitalize on their chances against Torino, with Dusan Vlahovic hitting the post in the opening minutes and being denied by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic later in the game. Torino also had a goal ruled out for a foul, leaving them in ninth place.Bologna's hopes of a historic Champions League debut were also dented by Monza. The Rossoblu have not played in Europe's top club competition since 1964, but their recent form has been disappointing.Meanwhile, Roma can move within a point of Bologna with a win at Udinese on Sunday. The Giallorossi are in fifth place and boosted by their first-leg victory over AC Milan in the Europa League quarter-finals.In other Serie A action, Nicola Sansone's late strike gave Lecce a crucial 1-0 win over Empoli. The victory lifts Lecce six points clear of the relegation zone.

Inter Milan's relentless march towards the Serie A title continued on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at in-form Bologna. The win extended Inter's massive league lead to 18 points, making the championship a virtual certainty.Yann Bisseck's headed goal in the 37th minute proved to be the difference in a tight contest at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. The German defender's second goal of the season extended Inter's all-competitions winning streak to 13 matches, emphasizing their dominance in the league."This is one of the most difficult places to play... beating Bologna is not easy. We gave everything," said Nicolo Barella to DAZN. "Who knows how soon we can win it (the league), it depends on the other teams. It's difficult for those chasing us, let's hope it stays difficult for them."Second-placed Juventus have a chance to reduce the gap when they host Atalanta on Sunday. However, with the title race effectively over, Atalanta will have more to play for as they battle Bologna for a spot in next season's Champions League.Bologna's defeat snapped a six-match winning streak and opened the door for other teams aiming for the top four. Atalanta are five points off Bologna in sixth, while Roma can move to within one point with a win at Fiorentina on Sunday.Despite Bologna's impressive season, they were unable to find a way past Yann Sommer in goal. "You can't concede in the way we did because once you're behind against a team like Inter, they know how to manage the game," said Bologna coach Thiago Motta.Inter now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they defend a 1-0 lead against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. "It will be a great match, the Champions League is possibly the best competition and we need to stay in it as long as we can," said Barella.In other Serie A action, Cagliari moved out of the relegation zone with a thrilling 4-2 win over Salernitana, who continued to slide towards the drop. Sassuolo also picked up their first win under new coach Davide Ballardini, defeating Frosinone 1-0.