Football

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 resilience was tested to the limit as they overcame a numerical disadvantage to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Udinese at the San Siro. The win propelled Milan to within two points of Serie A leaders Napoli, while Udinese remained in third place with 14 points.Milan's triumph was marred by the early dismissal of Tijjani Reijnders in the 29th minute for a reckless foul on Sandi Lovric. Despite the setback, Samuel Chukwueze's 13th-minute strike proved to be the decisive moment.Milan's task became even more daunting as Tammy Abraham missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead with 15 minutes remaining. However, the hosts' resolve was unwavering, and they held on for a crucial victory.Udinese thought they had snatched a late equalizer in stoppage time through Christian Kabasele, but VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside. The decision sparked jubilation among the Milan faithful, who had endured a tense and emotional match.The victory was overshadowed by the absence of Milan's "ultras" supporters, who staged a silent protest against perceived persecution by law enforcement and the Italian media. The ultras' banners and flags were replaced by a message of support for their arrested allies.Meanwhile, Juventus have the opportunity to join Napoli at the summit of Serie A with a win over Lazio later on Saturday. However, Thiago Motta's side has been hampered by a string of injuries.

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."

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.

Marcus Thuram's hat-trick propelled Inter Milan to a 3-2 victory over 10-man Torino on Saturday, propelling the reigning Serie A champions to within two points of league leaders Napoli.Thuram's first-half headers from Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi gave Inter a commanding lead. However, Duvan Zapata pulled one back for Torino after poor defending by Yann Bisseck. Thuram restored Inter's two-goal advantage with a bundled finish on the hour mark.Hakan Calhanoglu's late penalty gave Torino hope, but Inter held on for a crucial win. The victory keeps Inter in the title race and extends their winning streak to three matches in all competitions.Meanwhile, Mateo Retegui's hat-trick condemned his former club Genoa to a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Atalanta. Ederson and Marten de Roon also scored spectacular goals for Atalanta, who moved up to ninth in the standings.Retegui opened the scoring in the 24th minute and doubled Atalanta's lead five minutes after half-time. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 74th minute.Atalanta's convincing win comes after another strong display in the Champions League, where they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0.

Romelu Lukaku's impressive form continued as he led Napoli to a 3-1 victory over Como, solidifying their position at the top of Serie A. The Belgian striker assisted Scott McTominay's opening goal within 25 seconds and converted a penalty in the second half. He also set up David Neres for Napoli's third goal, extending their league lead to four points.Lukaku has quickly become a key player for Napoli under Antonio Conte, scoring three goals and providing four assists in just five league appearances. His impact has been significant, helping Napoli emerge as a serious contender for the league title."We're getting there. It's going to take time because I got here late. It's all thanks to my teammates, the coaching staff, and fans that we're doing so well," Lukaku said after the match.Despite Napoli's dominance, Como proved to be a challenging opponent. Cesc Fabregas' team equalized in the first half with a stunning strike from Gabriel Strefezza. However, Napoli regained control in the second half, with Neres scoring the decisive goal in the 86th minute.McTominay has also been impressive since joining Napoli from Manchester United, adding a new dimension to the midfield. He scored his second goal for the club, following his strike against Palermo in the Italian Cup."It was great to get off to a good start. It was a great ball. Obviously for me it's nice to get a goal and then we lost a little bit of control in the first half and then we tweaked a through things at half-time and it made a difference," McTominay said.Napoli's unbeaten run continues, with their only defeat coming on the opening day of the season against Verona. Under Conte, they have rediscovered the form that led them to the Scudetto in 2023."We just want to take it game by game. We want to play football and hopefully win as many games as we can," McTominay added. "The boys have been great with helping me bed in. Game by game, no-one's looking any further past the next game."

Antonio Conte's Napoli have surged to the summit of Serie A, but the pragmatic manager remains grounded despite the fans' title aspirations. Napoli's next challenge comes on Friday against Cesc Fabregas' in-form Como.Napoli's resurgence is partly attributed to their absence from European competition, which allows them to focus solely on domestic matters. However, Conte acknowledges both the advantages and disadvantages of this situation."There is an advantage and a disadvantage," Conte said. "The advantage is that you can train the team all week, the disadvantage is that the squad is not as competitive as those that do play in Europe."Despite Napoli's impressive start, Conte emphasizes the need for patience and realism. "Not even three months have passed," he said. "The president is the first to have spoken of a total reconstruction."Conte's cautious approach stems from the recent departures of Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski. "I know there are high expectations for me because I have done important things," he said. "Let's let the fans dream, but I have to keep my feet on the ground."Meanwhile, Fabregas' Como have impressed in their first two Serie A matches, winning both 3-2. Patrick Cutrone has been in fine form, scoring four goals in the campaign. However, Fabregas is concerned about his defense, which has conceded 11 goals."We can't keep conceding two goals in every match," Fabregas said. "We should keep analyzing our mistakes and improve."

Napoli's resurgence continued on Sunday as they ascended to the summit of Serie A with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Monza at home. The triumph marked their fourth win in six outings under the guidance of coach Antonio Conte, who has revitalized the team after a disappointing 10th-place finish last season.Matteo Politano opened the scoring for Napoli in the 22nd minute, showcasing his clinical finishing by slotting the ball past the goalkeeper from a tight angle. Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sealed the victory just 11 minutes later, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box to emphatically slam home from a central position.Conte's impact on Napoli has been evident since his arrival, with the team now sitting atop the table for the first time since June 2023, when they claimed the Scudetto. However, the former Italy boss remained cautious, dismissing talk of title aspirations."I have to look at the reality and that says we are very far from flying high," Conte told DAZN. "We've got to sweat it out game after game, like we did today where we had to sweat hard to earn those points."Napoli's 13 points after six matches put them one point ahead of Juventus in second spot and two ahead of AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Torino.Meanwhile, Torino's bid to regain top spot was thwarted as they suffered their first league defeat of the season, falling 3-2 at home to Lazio. Matteo Guendouzi and Boulaye Dia gave Lazio a commanding lead, but Torino's Che Adams reduced the deficit before Tijjani Noslin sealed the victory for the visitors.Other notable results included Roma's come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Venezia, inspired by goals from Bryan Cristante and Niccolo Pisilli. Como, managed by former Arsenal and Spain star Cesc Fabregas, claimed a second successive victory with a 3-2 triumph over 10-man Verona, thanks to a brace from Patrick Cutrone.

In a thrilling Serie A derby, AC Milan emerged victorious over Inter Milan with a dramatic late header from Matteo Gabbia. The 2-1 win snapped Inter's six-match derby winning streak and propelled Milan out of their early season slump.Milan started brightly and took the lead in the 10th minute through a brilliant individual effort from Christian Pulisic. However, Inter equalized just before the half-hour mark when Federico Dimarco converted a penalty.In the second half, Milan dominated possession and created numerous chances. Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham both came close to scoring, but they were denied by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.With time running out, Milan earned a free-kick in a dangerous position. Tijjani Reijnders whipped in a perfect cross, and Gabbia rose highest to power a header into the net. The goal sent the Milan fans into raptures and sealed a memorable victory.Meanwhile, Roma secured their first win of the season with a 3-0 triumph over Udinese. Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala, and Tommaso Baldanzi scored the goals for the Giallorossi.However, the match was overshadowed by protests from Roma fans over the shock sacking of Daniele De Rossi. Supporters hurled abuse at the team and left the Curva Sud section of the Olimpico empty for the first half hour.Despite the off-field drama, Roma played with determination and secured a much-needed victory. They now sit 10th in the Serie A standings, while Udinese drop to third.