Football

Juventus emerged victorious in the Turin derby, defeating city rivals Torino 2-0 to climb within a point of Serie A's summit. Timothy Weah and Kenan Yildiz scored in each half to secure the win for the Old Lady, who now sit third in the standings with 24 points.Juventus coach Thiago Motta praised his team's performance, saying, "It was another good performance where we brought the three points home. I am happy both with the result and the performance, in a derby on home turf, and thank our fans for their support."Torino's form has plummeted in recent weeks, with only one win in their last seven league outings. They now languish in 11th place, 10 points behind their city rivals.The deadlock was broken in the 18th minute when Weah tapped into an open net after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic failed to hold onto Andrea Cambiaso's effort. Both sides struggled to create chances in a match that lacked excitement.Yildiz sealed the victory for Juventus six minutes from time with a stooping back-post header.Meanwhile, AC Milan dropped points in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Cagliari, falling further behind in the title race. Rafael Leao scored twice in the first half to give Milan the lead, but Cagliari fought back through Gabriele Zappa and Tammy Abraham. Zappa scored a sensational equalizer in the final stages to deny Milan the win.Milan coach Paulo Fonseca expressed disappointment, saying, "This draw is clearly a step backwards. Our problem today was our defense, we lacked aggression, we let them cross too much, we lost too many aerial duels, it's not possible to win a match in those conditions."For Cagliari, the draw lifted them to 16th place, one point clear of the drop zone.In other Serie A action, Parma came from behind to beat bottom-of-the-table Venezia 2-1 away from home. Hans Nicolussi Caviglia opened the scoring for Venezia, but goals from Emanuele Valeri and Ange-Yoan Bonny secured the win for Parma, who moved up to 14th place.The highlight of Sunday's action will be the clash between 2023 Scudetto winners Napoli and reigning champions Inter Milan.

Paul Pogba, the French World Cup winner, has expressed his unwavering desire to return to Juventus despite facing a reduced doping ban. In an exclusive interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Pogba revealed his willingness to sacrifice financial gains for the opportunity to don the Bianconeri jersey once again."I'm ready to give up money to play for Juve again. I want to come back with this club," Pogba declared. "I'm a Juve player, and I'm preparing to play for Juve."Pogba's current contract with Juventus, which expires in June 2026, reportedly earns him eight million euros annually. However, during his suspension, he has been receiving only the minimum salary stipulated in the Serie A collective agreement, amounting to just over €2,000 per month.Despite the financial implications, Pogba remains adamant about his return. "It will be a new Pogba, a hungrier, wiser, and stronger one," he asserted. "I just want to play football. I want to be ready to train and play for Juve. That's all that matters to me right now."Pogba's four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in October 2023. He will be eligible to return to action on March 11, 2024, just days before his 32nd birthday.The midfielder tested positive for testosterone in August 2023 after a match between Juventus and Udinese. He was provisionally suspended in September and subsequently banned for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024.Pogba's representatives have maintained that the testosterone originated from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.Juventus are reportedly considering terminating Pogba's contract despite the reduced ban. However, Pogba remains resolute in his desire to return to the club. "I'm a Juve player, and I'm preparing to play for Juve," he reiterated. "That's all there is at the moment."

French football star Paul Pogba expressed his eagerness to return to the pitch after his doping ban was reduced from four years to 18 months. In an interview with L'Equipe television, Pogba stated that football was "the strawberry cake that was taken out of my mouth."Pogba, who plays for Italian giants Juventus, will be eligible to return to competitive football on March 11, 2024, just days before his 32nd birthday. The 91-time France international tested positive for testosterone in August 2023 after a match between Juventus and Udinese.Initially suspended for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal, Pogba's representatives argued that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) subsequently reduced the ban to 18 months."The nightmare is over," said Pogba, expressing his relief and anticipation for his return. When asked about a potential move to Ligue 1, where he has never played professionally, Pogba responded with a positive "why not?"Pogba played a pivotal role in France's 2018 World Cup victory in Russia. He also won four Serie A titles during his first stint at Juventus. However, his return to the club in 2022 was marred by injuries and off-field issues, including an alleged extortion attempt involving his brother Mathias.Pogba's return to football will be a welcome boost for Juventus and the French national team. His experience, skill, and leadership will be invaluable as they aim for success in the upcoming seasons.

Juventus' injury woes continue to mount as Teun Koopmeiners has been diagnosed with a fractured rib, adding to the growing list of absentees for coach Thiago Motta.The Netherlands midfielder, who joined Juventus from Atalanta in August, was forced off at half-time during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Cagliari. Subsequent tests revealed a "slightly dislocated fracture of the second right anterior rib."The club has not provided a specific timeline for Koopmeiners' return, stating that his recovery will be "evaluated according to his symptoms." However, reports suggest he could be sidelined for up to four weeks.This latest setback is a significant blow for Juventus, who are already without key defender Gleison Bremer due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season.Wingers Nicolas Gonzalez and Timothy Weah, as well as striker Arkadiusz Milik, are also currently on the treatment table. Milik has been struggling with persistent left knee problems.Juventus' injury crisis comes at a crucial time, with the team sitting third in Serie A, three points behind leaders Napoli. They face a tough test next against Lazio, who are level on points with them.The absence of Koopmeiners and other key players will undoubtedly test Motta's squad depth and tactical flexibility. The Italian coach will need to find solutions to compensate for the loss of his influential midfield presence.Juventus will be hoping that Koopmeiners and their other injured players can make swift recoveries and return to action as soon as possible. However, the club's injury woes serve as a reminder of the challenges they face in maintaining their title challenge and competing on multiple fronts this season.

Juventus and Napoli played out a goalless draw on Saturday in a highly anticipated Serie A clash that saw two title contenders cancel each other out. The match marked the return of former Juventus coach Antonio Conte to his old stomping ground, but the Italian tactician's Napoli side failed to break down a resolute Juventus defense.Despite a fiercely contested battle, the match at the Allianz Stadium in Turin lacked excitement, with few clear-cut chances created. Juventus maintained their unbeaten start to the season under new coach Thiago Motta, but their third consecutive league stalemate denied them top spot.Torino currently lead the Serie A standings after their 3-2 win at Verona on Friday, followed by Udinese and Napoli, who are both a point ahead of Juventus. Conte's Napoli, despite their impressive defensive display, remain in third place.Conte, who won eight Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League during his time with Juventus as a player and coach, received a low-key welcome from his former supporters. His team effectively shut down the match, creating the two best chances of the game.Michele Di Gregorio made a fine save from Matteo Politano's free-kick in stoppage time, while Politano also slammed a shot over the bar shortly after the break. Before kick-off, fans paid tribute to former Juventus striker Toto Schillaci, who passed away at the age of 59.However, the moment of remembrance was marred by Napoli supporters in the away end, who were loudly whistled by home fans after yelling out insults. The match itself lacked goalmouth action, with the first real chance coming in stoppage time when Di Gregorio tipped away Politano's free-kick.Politano was again involved in the last major incident of the match, cutting inside and firing a curling shot just over the bar nine minutes after the break. Both teams seemed content with a draw, unwilling to risk defeat to a direct rival so early in the season.In other Serie A action, Venezia claimed their first win since being promoted, defeating Genoa 2-0 at home.

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.

The iconic No. 7 jersey in football has been adorned by some of the greatest players to grace the sport. From Cristiano Ronaldo to David Beckham, the number has become synonymous with attacking prowess and legendary status.Cristiano Ronaldo's association with the No. 7 shirt began in 2003 when he joined Manchester United. The Portuguese forward had initially been assigned the No. 28 shirt at Sporting Lisbon, but his impressive performance against United in a friendly match caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson.With David Beckham departing for Real Madrid, Ferguson bestowed the vacant No. 7 shirt upon Ronaldo, a testament to his belief in the young player's potential. Despite the pressure associated with wearing such an iconic number, Ronaldo embraced the challenge and made it his own."I was petrified," Ronaldo later admitted. "I knew Beckham wore that shirt. But I took on the challenge and since then it has been my lucky number."Ronaldo's success at Manchester United, where he won numerous trophies and established himself as one of the world's best players, cemented the No. 7 shirt's association with his name. He carried the same number to Real Madrid, Juventus, and back to Manchester United, further solidifying its iconic status.Even at his current club, Al-Nassr, Ronaldo wears the No. 7 shirt. The number has become inextricably linked to his legacy, symbolizing his exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and global recognition.

Juventus' perfect start under Thiago Motta came to an end on Sunday as they were held to a goalless draw by Roma at the Allianz Stadium. The match was short on action and goalmouth incident, leaving Juve with seven points from their first three matches of the new Serie A campaign.Motta's team are behind champions and league leaders Inter Milan on goals scored after a much less inspiring performance than the two three-goal wins which preceded it. "It was an even match and the right result," said Motta to Sky Sport."We're only on our third game and today we played a team which is hard to play against, with a good coach and good players... There are lots of things we can improve. It's very early in the season, let's see where we are at the business end of the season, for now it's too early to talk about our objectives for the season."A draw at Juve, where Roma traditionally struggle, gives coach Daniele De Rossi some breathing room for the international break after a difficult opening fortnight. His team showed a level of defensive discipline which had been lacking in their first two fixtures of the campaign but offered very little else for fans to cheer about.The closest the away side came to scoring was a speculative distance effort in the final minute from full-back Angelino which whistled past the post. "We're under a lot of pressure for right now and it was important to get away from here with a point," said De Rossi."This is a good starting point. It wasn't the best performance as we could have done better with the ball, but Juve brought on some brilliant players in the second half and we held out."Earlier Fiorentina came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 thanks to Moise Kean and debutant Robin Gosens, who looped in his new team's equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Como fell to a 1-0 defeat at Udinese -- who won of four teams level with Inter -- after Patrick Cutrone smashed a stoppage-time penalty wide, leaving Cesc Fabregas' promoted side bottom of the division on a single point.

Federico Chiesa, the Italian international winger, has completed a move from Juventus to Liverpool in a deal worth a reported 12.5 million pounds ($16.5 million). The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Reds, with an initial fee of 10 million pounds and a further 2.5 million pounds contingent on the team's performance.Chiesa's arrival at Anfield is a significant boost for Liverpool's attacking options. The Italian has been one of the most promising young players in Europe since his breakout performance at Euro 2020, where he played a key role in Italy's triumph. However, his career has been hampered by injuries, including a cruciate ligament rupture in January 2022.Despite his injury setbacks, Chiesa remains a highly talented player with exceptional technical ability and an eye for goal. He is expected to add depth and creativity to Liverpool's frontline, which already boasts the likes of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo.Chiesa's move to Liverpool comes as he enters the final year of his contract with Juventus. He was not selected for new Juventus coach Thiago Motta's first two matches in charge, indicating that he was no longer a key part of the Italian giants' plans.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be delighted to have secured the services of Chiesa, who brings a wealth of experience and quality to the team. The Italian's arrival is a clear indication of Liverpool's ambition to challenge for major trophies in the coming seasons.