Football

Inter Milan maintained their grip on second place in Serie A with a dominant 3-0 victory over 10-man Empoli on Wednesday. The defending champions showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, while Atalanta climbed to third with a 2-0 win over Monza.Inter's triumph was fueled by a brace from Davide Frattesi, who scored in the 50th and 67th minutes. The first goal came from a deflection, while the second was a composed finish that put Simone Inzaghi's side in control. Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory in the 79th minute after a defensive blunder by Empoli.The match took a significant turn in the first half when Empoli's Saba Goglichidze was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Marcus Thuram. Inter capitalized on the numerical advantage, dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities.Inter captain Martinez expressed the team's satisfaction with the victory, especially after Napoli's win on Tuesday. "It was important to win after Napoli's victory," he said.Meanwhile, Atalanta continued their impressive form with a 2-0 win over Monza. Lazar Samardzic and Davide Zappacosta scored late goals to secure the victory for the Bergamo-based side. Atalanta now sit third in the standings, one point ahead of Juventus.Juventus, who were unbeaten in Serie A this season, suffered a setback with a 2-2 home draw against Parma. Enrico Del Prato gave Parma an early lead, and although Weston McKennie equalized, a second defensive lapse allowed Simon Sohm to restore Parma's advantage before halftime. Timothy Weah leveled the score for Juventus after the break, but the Bianconeri remain seven points behind leaders Napoli.In other matches, Udinese lost 3-2 to promoted Venezia, while Napoli maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over AC Milan on Tuesday.

Napoli's relentless pursuit of the Serie A title continued on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Empoli, a team that has historically posed challenges for the Neapolitans. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian winger who has emerged as a key figure for Napoli, converted a penalty in the 63rd minute to secure the three points.The victory extends Napoli's winning streak to four matches in all competitions and solidifies their position at the top of the Serie A standings. With three points separating them from second-placed Juventus, Napoli is well-positioned to maintain their lead for at least another week.Despite Empoli's reputation as a bogey team for Napoli, the hosts put up a valiant effort and were arguably the better side for much of the match. Napoli's only shot on target came from Kvaratskhelia's penalty, highlighting the defensive resilience of Empoli.Napoli manager Antonio Conte acknowledged the challenges posed by Empoli and emphasized the importance of celebrating every victory. He stressed the need for consistency and the long-term vision of building a team that can sustain success beyond a single season.Kvaratskhelia's winning goal has further cemented his status as a vital cog in Conte's plans. However, the Georgian's contract situation remains unresolved, with reports suggesting that he is seeking a significant salary increase. Napoli is reportedly reluctant to meet his demands, potentially casting a shadow over the club's future prospects.Despite the uncertainty surrounding Kvaratskhelia's contract, Napoli's focus remains on the present. The absence of European football has allowed them to concentrate solely on domestic competitions, giving them an advantage over rivals who are juggling multiple fixtures.As the Serie A title race intensifies, Napoli will face further tests of their mettle. However, their impressive form and the leadership of Conte suggest that they are well-equipped to challenge for the Scudetto and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in Italian football.

AC Milan's emphatic 4-0 victory over Venezia on Saturday served as a resounding statement ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash with Liverpool and next weekend's Milan derby. The Rossoneri, under pressure after a disappointing start to the season, responded with a dominant performance that showcased their attacking prowess.Theo Hernandez opened the scoring within two minutes, followed by Matteo Gabbia's header in the 16th minute. Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham converted two soft penalties to put the game beyond Venezia's reach before the half-hour mark. Abraham's goal marked his first for Milan since joining from Chelsea.Despite Venezia's valiant efforts, they were unable to overcome Milan's relentless attack. Francesco Zampano's consolation goal was ruled out for offside, and Joel Schingtienne's rash challenge on Rafael Leao resulted in a red card.Meanwhile, Juventus stumbled to a goalless draw at Empoli, leaving them with a temporary lead in Serie A. Thiago Motta's team struggled to create chances, with Dusan Vlahovic's shot straight at the goalkeeper being their closest attempt. Federico Gatti's goal-saving tackle in stoppage time prevented Empoli from snatching a late victory.The draw was a disappointing result for Juventus, who will face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday. Coach Motta acknowledged the need to improve their performance, emphasizing the importance of being at their best against the Dutch side.Elsewhere, Bologna's Samuel Iling-Junior rescued a point for his team with a late equalizer in their 2-2 draw at Como. The Rossoblu, who will make their Champions League debut against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, have yet to secure a win this season.

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.

Napoli's Champions League aspirations took a significant blow on Saturday as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Empoli in Serie A. The loss leaves the defending champions languishing in eighth place, six points adrift of Roma, who currently hold the fifth and final qualifying spot for next season's elite club competition.Empoli, battling to avoid relegation, stunned Napoli with a lightning-fast start. Just four minutes into the match, Alberto Cerri rose unmarked at the back post to head home a cross, marking his first Serie A goal in three years. The hosts could have doubled their lead later in the first half, but Nicolo Cambiaghi's powerful drive rattled off the post.Napoli, despite their dominance in possession, struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resolute Empoli defense. The visitors' hopes were further dashed when Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario produced a string of impressive saves to deny Victor Osimhen and Hirving Lozano.The result leaves Napoli facing an uphill battle to secure a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League. With just six games remaining in the season, they must overcome a significant points deficit and hope that their rivals falter.Meanwhile, Empoli's victory provides a much-needed boost in their fight against relegation. The win lifts them to 15th place in the table, four points clear of the drop zone.