The Cult of Calcio - Page 1313 of 1321 - Italian Football and Serie A News in English

Milan Beat Sampdoria and Join Them in Sixth Spot

February 19, 2018 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Sampdoria, Serie A

The second round of this weekend’s city confrontation between Milano and Genova saw the Lombard side prevailing this time. Milan beat Sampdoria with a lone goal by Giacomo Bonaventura to reach them in the 6th spot of Serie A at 41 points. Gennaro Gattuso’s band caught their fifth win in the last six matches, whereas Marco Giampaolo’s Bluecerchiati were unexpectedly remissive, unable to pose any threat to the Rossoneri.

Genoa Tear Inter Apart In Honor of Dearest De André

February 18, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Lazio, Napoli, Serie A

How many lives does Goran Pandev have? At 34, the Macedonian continues to be one of the best spare strikers in Serie A, and last night he led his Genoa to a sounding 2-0 win over Inter, for the Port City to celebrate the birthday of one of their dearest children and fan – songwriter Fabrizio De André. The Nerazzurri showed no reaction after a tragicomic own goal by Andrea Ranocchia had put the Grifone ahead.

Rifinitura: Odds Favor Napoli as Juve Face Derby

February 17, 2018 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Atalanta, Benevento, Bologna, Cagliari, Chievo Verona, Crotone, Fiorentina, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Rifinitura, Roma, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Serie A, Spal, Torino, Udinese

Odds look in favor of Napoli this weekend, with the Partenopei facing SPAL at home tomorrow, after “having relieved themselves" of the Europa League burden by losing 1-3 to RB Leipzig. On the other hand, the weekly Serie A task is much tougher for Juventus, as the Bianconeri must battle city rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole - and these Granata are a different animal than the one they trashed a few months ago.

Throwback Thursday: Ganz Guile That Kept Milan Hope Alive

February 16, 2018 Andrea Salvarezza AC Milan, Sampdoria, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

If you ask any Milan supporter which was the key moment in their victorious 1998-99 season, they will probably mention that goal propitiated by Maurizio Ganz in the 95th minute of a home match against Sampdoria. On May 2, 1999, Milan received the Blucerchiati on the path of their desperate chase to Serie A leader Lazio - which had a one-point margin over the Rossoneri, with four matches left to play.

Serie A Round 24 from A to Z

February 15, 2018 Diego Ottaviano From A to Z, Serie A

Juventus made full score in Florence against a tenacious Fiorentina, but Napoli answered back hammering Serie A third force Lazio, and maintaining the lead. Roma and Inter were finally back to victory, while Milan kept walking on the path towards Europe. Video Assistant Refereeing continued to offer chances for noise and controveries, while Torino and Sampdoria kept their positive streak open. This, and much more, in our review of Serie A Round 24 from A to Z.

Assi di Coppe: Juve Turn Light Off, Spurs Grab Draw

February 14, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Assi di Coppe, Champions League, Juventus

Juventus and Tottenham tied 2-2 in the first leg of a Champions League Round of 16 match, played at the Allianz Stadium. It could have been an easy one for the Bianconeri, who had already gained a double lead in less than ten minutes. On the contrary, Massimiliano Allegri will have to lead his troops in Wembley two weeks from now, against a British side that now has the advantage of having scored two goals away.

Imperial Napoli in Fuorigrotta Realm: 4-1 to Lazio!

February 11, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Lazio, Napoli, Serie A

If that was supposed to be a trial of fire for Napoli and their Scudetto ambitions, Maurizio Sarri and his boys passed it with honors. The Partenopei demolished Lazio 4-1 in their San Paolo Stadium in Fuorigrotta, displaying, on top of their usual tip top athletic condition, also a rock-solid team spirit – as evidenced by the Azzurri not losing a single chance to make their thoughts go to unfortunate teammate Faouzi Ghoulam.

Bernardeschi Stabs Viola, Pushes Juve Forward

February 10, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Fiorentina, Juventus, Serie A

“This is not your average football game,” the speaker of the Artemio Franchi Stadium announced last night as he introduced the Viola starting lineup. He was right: Fiorentina-Juventus is a game like no other for both clubs. The Bianconeri left Florence with a key win to strengthen their Scudetto hopes, propitiated by an agonizing goal dell’ex scored by Federico Bernardeschi, and finalized by Gonzalo Higuain.

Throwback Thursday: How Ogliari’s Career Crashed Into Baresi

February 9, 2018 Marco Natali AC Milan, Serie B, Spal, Throwback Thursday

Milan come back to Paolo Mazza Stadium for the first time in 37 years tomorrow to face SPAL. It was April 12, 1981, when the Rossoneri last visited what was then known as Stadio Comunale of Ferrara. That match went down to history as it featured one of the most traumatic events for the home Biancazzurri: The injury occurred to Franco Ogliari, consequence of a horrific tackle by Franco Baresi.

Serie A Round 23 from A to Z

February 6, 2018 Diego Ottaviano From A to Z, Serie A

Juventus pulverized Sassuolo with seven goals, Napoli answered with a convincing victory in Benevento. Inter’s incapacity to win is no big news anymore, whereas Roma found back the path to the three points thanks to an immediate goal by Cengiz Under. Udinese held Milan onto a 1-1 draw, and Lazio was surprisingly beaten at home by Genoa. Outside of the pitch, The Cult of Calcio salutes former Azzurri coach Azeglio Vicini, who passed away last week at 84.

Udinese Break Winning Streak of Ten-Man Milan

February 5, 2018 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Serie A, Udinese

Milan’s chase to the top positions came to a halt in Udine yesterday, as the Rossoneri were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw by Massimo Oddo’s troops. An early masterpiece goal by Suso was not enough for Gennaro Gattuso to collect a fourth win in a row. Udinese took advantage of Davide Calabria’s expulsion and reached an equaliser when a shot by Kevin Lasagna was deflected by Gianluigi Donnarumma into his own goal.

Rifinitura: Lurking Traps in Transition Weekend

February 3, 2018 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Atalanta, Benevento, Bologna, Cagliari, Chievo Verona, Crotone, Fiorentina, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Rifinitura, Roma, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Serie A, Spal, Torino, Udinese

There is no easy game in Serie A, and all top clubs should keep that in mind as they approach a Round 23 which does not feature any clear partita di cartello. Take Napoli, for instance: The will go to Benevento mindful of their 6-0 win from the first leg – but the Giallorossi have eight new players to choose from since then. Or Juventus, which will receive a hungry-for-points Sassuolo, and their brand new striker Khouma Babacar.