The Cult of Calcio - Page 984 of 993 - Italian Football and Serie A News in English

Hellas Climb Up Ladder After Winning Verona Derby

March 10, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Chievo Verona, Hellas Verona, Serie A

Life is a ladder, a famous Italian saying goes. Some climb it up, some climb it down. Tonight, it was the Hellas side of the city of Verona - whose emblem is incidentally a ladder – to push themselves up in the standing as they captured a 1-0 win over Chievo, in a frankly disappointing edition of the Derby della Scala where the only noteworthy event was a lone goal by center back Antonio Caracciolo.

Throwback Thursday: The Day That Inter Became “of Records”

March 8, 2018 Andrea Salvarezza Inter Milan, Napoli, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

Between coach Giovanni Trapattoni’s unstoppable Inter of the 1988-89 season, and their 13th Scudetto, there is just one obstacle left: The home match against direct rivals Napoli, scheduled for May 28, 1989. With just five rounds to go, the only side that can still reach the leading Nerazzurri are Diego Maradona’s Napoli, who are seven points behind. A free kick by Lothar Matthäus will solve the problem for the "Inter of Records."

St. George and the Dragon, the Choreography In SPAL-Bologna

March 7, 2018 Marco Natali Bologna, Serie A, Spal, Stands by Me

We are used to hear from the media that football ultras are violent and without any social culture. But right before last Saturday’s Derby dell’Emilia SPAL-Bologna at Paolo Mazza Stadium, Spallini supporters impressed the world of calcio with an amazing choreography inspired by the legend of Saint George and the Dragon, as depicted in a famous painting by Paolo Uccello from 1470, during in the Italian Renaissance.

Roma Raid Napoli with Dzeko Double. Will Serie A Fate Change?

March 5, 2018 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Roma, Serie A

The fate of Serie A 2017-18 may very well have changed on Saturday night, as Roma took a shocking 4-2 away win against capolista Napoli, in what was arguably the most exciting match seen this season. A Lorenzo Insigne in berserk mode was not enough for the Azzurri to catch their 11th win in a row, Maurizio Sarri’s squad crashing into “one of those nights” for Edin Dzeko, and frustrated by the saves of Alisson.

Fiorentina Captain Davide Astori Passes Away at 31

March 4, 2018 The Cult of Calcio Staff Astori, Fiorentina, Serie A, The Azzurri

The world of football was shocked today at the tragic news that Fiorentina captain Davide Astori suddenly passed away at 31 in Udine. Astori, who was capped 14 times by the Italian Nazionale, was found dead in his hotel room, apparently on natural causes. Lega Serie A emergency leader Giovanni Malago’ ordered the immediate cancellation of all Serie A and Serie B matches in program today.

Serie A Round 26 from A to Z

February 28, 2018 Diego Ottaviano From A to Z, Serie A

In Serie A Round 26, Napoli took a stroll in the park and delivered five goals to Cagliari - thus gaining a four-point lead over Juventus, which saw their match with Atalanta cancelled due to a heavy snowfall. Milan got three heavy points, beating a Roma that seem to have lost their identity. A beautiful Benevento couldn’t stop Inter, which moved one position up. Sassuolo was easy work for Lazio, the Emiliani now risking of being sucked into the relegation battle.

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.