Ed Summers, Author at The Cult of Calcio

Juventus See Off Parma in Crushing Routine Win

December 19, 2020 Ed Summers Italian Football, Juventus, Parma, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021 2 comments

Juventus sort to keep pressure on leaders AC Milan in the Saturday evening kick off when they made the trip to mid-table Parma and their performance did not disappoint routing the side from Emilia-Romagna. Cristiano Ronaldo was the author of a brilliant brace sandwiched between Dejan Kulusevski's low strike and Alvaro Morata's standing header as the match ended 4-0.

Matteo Darmian is the Unlikely man of the match in the encounter between Inter and Napoli

Throwback Thursday: The Parma – Juventus 1995 Battle for Supremacy

December 17, 2020 Ed Summers Italian Football, Juventus, Parma, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

Parma and Juventus are well known amongst Italian football fans and the two side’s fortunes have wildly varied since the glory days of the 1990s. Juventus have basked in glory, amassing a vast domestic trophy haul and becoming one of the most feared sides in Europe. Parma have had a far less successful period but have slowly turned things around.

Inter and Napoli were the headline game during the midweek fixtures, and the Milan side emerged victorious thanks to a penalty strike from Romelu Lukaku

Inter Win Big Game Against Fellow Title Challengers Napoli

December 16, 2020 Ed Summers Inter, Inter Women, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021 3 comments

Inter and Napoli were the headline game during the midweek fixtures, and the Milan side emerged victorious thanks to a penalty strike from in form striker Romelu Lukaku. The day was Inter's as the Nerazzurri gained some precious three points in their quest for the Serie A title while Napoli will be left to rue their missed chances but have little time to dwell on the defeat.

In the Champions League Group D’s decider, Ajax and Atalanta went head to head to qualify for the last 16 alongside group winners Liverpool

Atalanta Top Ajax in Champions League Group D Big Tie

December 9, 2020 Ed Summers Ajax, Assi di Coppe, Atalanta, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football 2 comments

In the Champions League Group D’s decider, Ajax and Atalanta went head to head to qualify for the last 16 alongside group winners Liverpool. With no game at the weekend due to the postponement of their match-up with Udinese, La Dea came into the match fresh and raring to go despite the shocking rumors of Gian Piero Gasperini's potential resignation.

Sunday afternoon saw the return to domestic duty for Roma and Sassuolo who played out a cautious and a sometimes testy stalemate at the Stadio Olimpico

Roma and Sassuolo Play Out Feisty Goalless Stalemate

December 6, 2020 Ed Summers Roma, Sassuolo 2 comments

Sunday afternoon saw the return to domestic duty for Roma and Sassuolo who played out a cautious and sometimes testy goalless stalemate at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma Coach Paulo Fonseca made wholesale changes from the Europa League victory on Thursday night against Young Boys. The visitors Sassuolo were without star striker Ciccio Caputo with Filip Đuričić chosen to lead the line.

Throwback Thursday: Sassuolo’s First (Disastrous) Run In with Inter

November 26, 2020 Ed Summers Inter, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Sassuolo, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

Sassuolo are fast becoming a Serie A staple. Their progress has been steady but they have not always been in the thick of a title push and a lot of hard work has gone into the side to get them to this point. To see how far the Neroverdi have come, today we look back to a game in 2013 against Inter, when the Nerazzurri welcomed them to life in the top flight with a 7-0 hammering.

Atalanta Earn Vital Champions League Away Win at Liverpool

November 25, 2020 Ed Summers Assi di Coppe, Atalanta, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football, Liverpool, Serie A 3 comments

Wednesday night saw the second installment of the Liverpool - Atalanta Champions League match-up as the Italian side gained revenge for their 0-5 defeat at the Gewiss Stadium and moved them level on points with Ajax as the race for qualification heats up. Gian Piero Gasperini's Bergamaschi triumphed 2-0 in a resounding win controlling the game from start to finish.

Saturday night saw the return of Atalanta to club duty as they sort to make ground on leaders Milan. Spezia though proved to be tough opposition and held La Dea to a stalemate

Spezia and Atalanta Playout Goalless Serie A Draw

November 21, 2020 Ed Summers Atalanta, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Spezia One comment

Saturday night saw the return of Atalanta to club duty but Spezia proved to be tough opposition and held La Dea to a stalemate in a game that proved to be bereft of chances. This will be a welcome point for Spezia as they look to continue their positive start to the season. It is back to the drawing board for Gasperini as he looks to rekindle some of the early season magic.

Once upon a time back in 1988, Milan and Napoli met at the San Paolo in a huge title decider that would affect the futures of both clubs

Napoli vs Milan Throwback: Football and Intrigue in the 1988 Serie A Race

November 19, 2020 Ed Summers AC Milan, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

Napoli and Milan are two of the form teams in Italy at the moment as both sides look to challenge for the Scudetto. This however is not the first time these giants of Italian football have met with title ambitions on the line. Once upon a time back in the heady rock and roll '80s, the two sides met at the San Paolo in a huge title decider that would affect the futures of both clubs.

After a season of success, the career of Paulo Dybala at Juventus is in question again. So why can the attacker not kick on to that next level?

The Curious Case of Dybala’s Possible Departure from Juventus

November 18, 2020 Ed Summers Atletico Madrid, Calciomercato, Juventus, La Liga, Manchester United, Premier League, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Stickers Swapping, Tottenham, Transfer Market 2 comments

After a season of success, the career of Paulo Dybala at Juventus is in question again. So why can the attacker not kick on to that next level? Juventus’s title defense has not gone according to plan so far this year. Poor results, unsettled tactics and sometimes-plain old bad luck has befallen the Bianconeri but arguably the biggest loss has been Argentine Paulo Dybala.

Author: Ed Summers