The Cult of Calcio - Page 1315 of 1324 - Italian Football and Serie A News in English

Sky Is Blue (and White) In Crotone as SPAL Win Relegation Battle

February 26, 2018 Marco Natali Crotone, Serie A, Spal

Crotone-SPAL, a fundamental match in the battle to avoid relegation, started as expected with Walter Zenga lining up his Sharks with a 4-3-3 formation, and a trident composed by Andrea Nalini, Igor Budimir, and Federico Ricci. SPAL’s Leonardo Semplici answered with a 3-5-2 featuring captain Mirco Antenucci together with Alberto Paloschi on the attacking line, and deploying Pasquale Schiattarella as playmaker.

Cutrone-Calabria! Milan Topple Roma and Keep Running

February 26, 2018 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Roma, Serie A

The irony of spending 240 million Euro in the Summer market, only to realize that the best breakouts in your season are two players raised within your youth team. The essence of Milan’s rollercoaster season is all in the goals that Patrick Cutrone and Davide Calabria put into Roma’s net, to push the Rossoneri further in their chase to Europe. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side fell from the third to the fifth position of Serie A within one week.

Rifinitura: Roma-Milan Main Event, but Watch for Crotone-SPAL

February 24, 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

The main event of Serie A Round 26 takes place on Sunday night at the Stadio Olimpico, where Roma and Milan will stage a new act of a classic duel with much at stake. Inter may take advantage of that, as they play Benevento at home. The title battle between Napoli and Juventus continues, but the match not to be missed this week is Crotone-SPAL: Those who win, take a huge step towards their permanence in Serie A.

Serie A Round 25 from A to Z

February 21, 2018 Diego Ottaviano From A to Z, Serie A

Nothing new on the top. Napoli maintained their lead, but Juventus beat Torino, and are still at just one-point distance. Inter lost to a shining Genoa, and both Roma and Lazio took the chance to surpass the Nerazzurri. Milan continued to climb the standings thanks to their success against direct rival Sampdoria. In the relegation zone, Benevento won over Crotone: The miracle is now 11 point away! This, and much more, in our review of Serie A Round 25 from A to Z.

Serie A Round 25 Recap

February 20, 2018 The Cult of Calcio Staff AC Milan, Atalanta, Benevento, Bologna, Cagliari, Chievo Verona, Crotone, Fiorentina, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Roma, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Serie A, Spal, Torino, Udinese

While other major European competitions have already found a clear leader, Italian Serie A continues to offer a thrilling distance duel between Napoli and Juventus. As both Azzurri and Bianconeri passed their weekly test with a single goal, Roma stole the spotlight in Round 25 with a 0-2 win in Udine that enabled them to catch the third spot behind the leading duo. Inter left Genoa in tears, suffering a sounding setback and plummeting out of the Champions League zone.

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.