Football

Lazio's relentless pursuit of Serie A's top four continued with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari on Monday. The match at the Stadio Olimpico witnessed a dramatic turn of events, with Cagliari finishing the game with nine men.Mattia Zaccagni emerged as the hero for Lazio, converting a crucial penalty in the 76th minute. His goal propelled Lazio to fifth place, just a goal difference away from the coveted Champions League positions. The victory marked Lazio's eighth win in nine matches across all competitions, putting them within striking distance of league leaders Napoli.Cagliari's hopes of an upset were initially boosted by Zito Luvumbo's equalizer just before halftime, canceling out Boulaye Dia's early opener for Lazio. However, their fortunes took a nosedive after Zaccagni's penalty.Yerry Mina's second yellow card for a seemingly innocuous foul on Valentin Castellanos sparked a chain reaction. Michel Adopo's furious protests earned him a second booking and a red card, leaving Cagliari with only nine players on the field.Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli made his long-awaited Serie A return for Genoa, who secured a vital 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Parma. Andrea Pinamonti's goal with 10 minutes remaining proved decisive, lifting Genoa out of the relegation zone.Balotelli, now 34, made his first Serie A appearance in four years as a late substitute. Despite limited playing time, he managed to pick up a yellow card in stoppage time. Genoa now sits one point above the drop zone, level with Parma, Cagliari, and Como.

Napoli extended their lead atop Serie A with a dominant 4-0 victory over Cagliari, while Inter Milan stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Monza.Napoli's triumph was marred by fan disorder, with a banner mocking Cagliari fans as "sheep" sparking a barrage of objects between supporters. The match was halted for seven minutes as projectiles and flares flew.Despite the disruption, Napoli remained unfazed. Giovanni Di Lorenzo's deflected opener gave them an early lead, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Romelu Lukaku combined for two more goals before the hour mark. Alessandro Buongiorno sealed the win with a stoppage-time header.Inter's title hopes took a blow as they dropped points at Monza. Denzel Dumfries rescued a point with a late equalizer after Dany Mota's header had given the hosts the lead. Simone Inzaghi's side looked sluggish and will need to improve ahead of their Champions League opener at Manchester City.Elsewhere, Ademola Lookman marked his return to Atalanta with a decisive goal in their 3-2 victory over Fiorentina. The Nigerian forward, who had been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, netted the winner in stoppage time to secure three points for the Champions League-bound side.Genoa snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw with Roma in the final seconds, continuing their impressive start to the season.

Claudio Ranieri, the legendary Italian manager, has bid farewell to Cagliari, bringing an end to a remarkable four-decade coaching career. In his final match in charge, Cagliari suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina in the 13th minute of added time.Ranieri's departure marks the end of an era for Cagliari, a club he guided to Serie A in 1989 and 1990. He returned to the club last season and saved them from relegation, fulfilling a promise he made to the fans.Despite the defeat, Ranieri's legacy at Cagliari remains intact. He is revered as a father figure by the players and fans, who chanted his name and gave him a standing ovation before the match.Ranieri's decision to retire was made with a "heavy heart," as he feared tarnishing his two brilliant spells with Cagliari. However, he leaves behind a lasting impact on the club and the players he has coached."He's taught us things that are valuable not just on the pitch, but in life in general," said Gianluca Lapadula, a Cagliari striker. "If you don't fight for your teammate, the man next to you, you'll never go anywhere."Ranieri's career has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. He famously won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, but he has also experienced relegation and managerial dismissals.Despite the ups and downs, Ranieri remains a beloved figure in the world of football. He is known for his warmth, his tactical acumen, and his ability to inspire his players.As Ranieri steps away from club management, he leaves behind a legacy of success and a reputation as one of the most respected and admired figures in the game.

Inter Milan's pursuit of the Serie A title remains on track despite a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Cagliari. The result leaves Inter with a 14-point lead over AC Milan, who also drew 3-3 at Sassuolo.Cagliari's Nicolas Viola snatched a late equalizer for the visitors, canceling out Hakan Calhanoglu's penalty that had given Inter the lead following Eldor Shomurodov's equalizer. Inter manager Simone Inzaghi expressed frustration at the missed opportunity to extend their advantage."It's annoying not to win after going ahead twice because we wanted the victory in front of our fans," Inzaghi said. "We're very close to a big goal but we know that we still need points to make it mathematically certain."Inter now need to win their next match, the Milan derby against AC Milan, to secure the Scudetto with five games remaining. However, Milan's Noah Okafor salvaged a point for his team in their match against Sassuolo, keeping their title hopes alive.Meanwhile, Roma's Evan Ndicka is recovering after collapsing during their match at Udinese. The defender suffered an apparent chest problem, causing the game to be abandoned. Roma confirmed that Ndicka is in good spirits and undergoing further observations in the hospital.The match will be resumed at a later date, with Roma currently in fifth place in the Serie A standings. They are well-positioned to qualify for next season's Champions League, as they hold a five-point advantage over sixth-placed Atalanta.Napoli's hopes of finishing in the top five suffered a setback with a 2-2 draw at home to Frosinone. The result leaves Napoli six points behind Roma in eighth place. Frosinone remains in the relegation zone, level on points with Verona, who face Atalanta on Monday.

Inter Milan are on the cusp of securing the Serie A title, needing just a victory over Cagliari at the San Siro on Sunday to set up a potential title-clinching derby against AC Milan. Davide Frattesi's late winner at Udinese on Monday kept Inter 14 points clear of their city rivals, who have won their last five league matches.Inter's dominance has been evident since the turn of the year, with only one dropped point and no league defeats since late September. They are also on the verge of breaking several league records, including the all-time points tally, wins, and best defense in a 20-team season.However, Inter will be without suspended top scorer Lautaro Martinez, while Cagliari have shown resilience in recent weeks, pulling four points clear of the relegation zone after losing just once in their last seven matches. Claudio Ranieri's team will need to maintain that spirit to avoid the drop, with a challenging run-in that includes matches against Juventus and Milan.Juventus, currently third in the standings, will aim to strengthen their grip on a top-four finish with a local derby against Torino. Massimiliano Allegri's side are trying to fend off Bologna and Roma, who are both within striking distance.Bologna, chasing a Champions League berth for the first time, are four points behind Juve in fourth, while Roma are a further three points back. A top-five finish should be enough for a spot in Europe's premier club competition, as Serie A is in contention for an extra place in next season's revamped tournament.Napoli, despite their disappointing Champions League campaign, remain in the hunt for a top-five finish. Victor Osimhen, who scored a stunning header in their win at Monza last weekend, will be crucial to their chances. Napoli still have to face Roma and Bologna at home, and with Roma's schedule also including Juve, Bologna, and Atalanta, Osimhen's form could be decisive in determining Napoli's fate.