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Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Serie A title playoff a tantalising prospect as weary Inter stumble
Inter players applaud their fans after their injury-time defeat at Bologna. Photograph: Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters 'The season does not end here,' repeated Simone Inzaghi at full time: to Sky Sport, to Dazn, to anyone who would listen. An undeniable truth, seeing as there are still five rounds to go, yet the more he said it the more you started to wonder who he was trying to convince. Himself? His players? Beppe Bergomi back in the studio? Advertisement Why should he even be troubled by this idea? His team were still top of the table. A 1-0 loss to Bologna meant Inter finished the weekend level on points with Napoli, but officially they remained ahead courtesy of Serie A's second tie-breaker. Both head-to-head meetings ended in 1-1 draws, but the Nerazzurri's goal difference is far superior. Related: European football: Orsolini last-gasp bicycle kick dents Inter's title charge Unfortunately for Inter, those details matter less than they used to. A rule introduced two seasons ago states that if two teams competing for the title, or to avoid relegation, finish level on points, the matter must be settled with a playoff. We saw the impact immediately, Spezia and Verona playing a 39th game in 2022-23 to decide who should drop to Serie B. The regulations have since been tweaked, so a relegation playoff today would be settled over two legs. A title decider, however, would still be a one-off game, played at the home of the team that holds the tie-breaker. If this 'spareggio' ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties. Advertisement A tantalising prospect for the neutral fan. Curiously enough, Inter were involved on the only previous occasion that a Serie A title was decided with a playoff, back in 1964. They lost to Bologna, 2-0. Did the ghosts of that defeat haunt them this weekend at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara? Or were Inter simply not good? Bologna are an excellent side, who have overcome the summer departure of manager Thiago Motta, as well as key players Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori, to become even stronger under Vincenzo Italiano. Yet Inter were far below their best on Sunday. They looked tired. Who could blame them? The Nerazzurri are still competing for three trophies and, as Inzaghi has often reminded us, have their eyes on the Club World Cup this summer as well. They won a draining Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich last Wednesday and have a Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Milan coming up on the same day this week. 'We're definitely tired,' acknowledged Nicolò Barella at full time on Sunday, noting how Piotr Zielinski's calf injury had reduced rotation options in midfield. 'There is tiredness, but we are not backing down. One defeat is not going to change the mentality we have built these last few years.' Advertisement Inter demonstrated their resolve in the triumph over Bayern, always responding in key moments of the tie. When the Bundesliga side equalised late in the first leg, Davide Frattesi immediately put his side back in front. After Harry Kane scored to bring the aggregate scores level again at San Siro, Inter struck twice in the following 10 minutes. How much did they have left in the tank, though, for this game against Bologna four days later? Inzaghi changed only two members of his starting XI, Joaquín Correa replacing Marcus Thuram – reported to have suffered a mild thigh strain – up front and Carlos Augusto swapping in for Federico Dimarco at left-back. Bologna are a confrontational side under Italiano. From the start they were attacking Inter down the wings and especially through Dan Ndoye. His inclusion ahead of their top scorer, Riccardo Orsolini, on the right of a 4-2-3-1 was a surprise. But Ndoye is a right-footer, allowing different angles of attack than his left-footed teammate. His centre for Thijs Dallinga, after beating Francesco Acerbi to the byline, might have been the clearest chance created all match. The Dutchman's close-range shot was blocked by Benjamin Pavard. Advertisement Neither team seemed willing to take undue risks. Bologna were not short of motivation, chasing a Champions League spot of their own, but dared not unbalance themselves. Inter appeared content with a point in what was probably the trickiest game left, on paper, on their league calendar. Both truths were reflected by players' positions as Juan Miranda launched one final long throw towards Inter's box in the 94th minute. There were seven defenders, plus the goalkeeper, inside the penalty area, contesting the space with just four Bologna players. Lecce 0-3 Como, Monza 0-1 Napoli, Roma 1-0 Verona, Empoli 2-2 Venezia, Milan 0-1 Atalanta, Bologna 1-0 Internazionale. Monday fixtures postponed: Torino v Udinese, Cagliari v Fiorentina, Genoa v Lazio, Parma v Juventus Advertisement Yann Bisseck, introduced to shore up Inter's back line just moments earlier, rose to head clear, but succeeded only in flicking the ball across his own box. Orsolini, also on from the bench, met it at the back post with a scissor-kick into the bottom corner. This was the Italian's 12th league goal of the season, his best-ever return, and further fuel to the fire of those who believe he ought to be starting for the national team. He did not even make the squad for the recent Nations League quarter-final against Germany. Not that anyone was worrying about that on Sunday. Orsolini's goal lifted Bologna back to fourth, pending Juventus's game against Parma, which had been scheduled for Monday night but now has been postponed with three other fixtures following the death of Pope Francis. The goal was celebrated, too, down in Naples. These have been tense days for Napoli, who won 1-0 at Monza on Saturday. They were not impressive, against opponents who sit bottom of the table, but Scott McTominay's second-half header – his ninth Serie A goal – was enough to secure all three points and further reinforce his status as a fan idol. Not since Marek Hamsik has a Napoli midfielder been so prolific. Advertisement But comments made by Antonio Conte suggested the manager has already arrived at a familiar place of frustration. 'During my eight months at Napoli,' he said at his pre-game press conference, 'I've come to understand there's lots of things you can't do here.' He revisited the theme after the match. 'Whoever hires Conte always says: 'finish first or second', even if they finished 10th last season,' the manager told Dazn. 'It's not enough to fight for Europe, the ambitions and expectations always rise.' Pressed on the subject again at his press conference, Conte said: 'There has to be a serious plan, not just the fruit of miracles. I have great affection for [Napoli's owner Aurelio] De Laurentiis and his family, and we will talk. But the Neapolitan fan wants to win, and if they don't win they get nasty. I don't want to be massacred … 'I have to protect myself. If we can, then we will do it together. If not, then it will have been a beautiful journey.' Advertisement All that was before Inter lost, putting Napoli's title hopes back in their own hands. On paper, the second-placed club have the easier run-in, with Torino, in 10th, the highest-placed of their remaining opponents. But trips to Lecce and Parma, both fighting for top-flight survival, could be pitfalls. Before Saturday, Napoli had not won an away game in three months. Inter still must face both Rome clubs, each chasing a Champions League spot, albeit those games are both at San Siro. The greater concern for Inzaghi's side is simply that fatigue will be fatal. This Serie A season, as he reminded us on Sunday, is not over. To the contrary, it is poised for a very dramatic finish indeed.
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Serie A title playoff a tantalising prospect as weary Inter stumble
'The season does not end here,' repeated Simone Inzaghi at full time: to Sky Sport, to Dazn, to anyone who would listen. An undeniable truth, seeing as there are still five rounds to go, yet the more he said it the more you started to wonder who he was trying to convince. Himself? His players? Beppe Bergomi back in the studio? Why should he even be troubled by this idea? His team were still top of the table. A 1-0 loss to Bologna meant Inter finished the weekend level on points with Napoli, but officially they remained ahead courtesy of Serie A's second tie-breaker. Both head-to-head meetings ended in 1-1 draws, but the Nerazzurri's goal difference is far superior. Unfortunately for Inter, those details matter less than they used to. A rule introduced two seasons ago states that if two teams competing for the title, or to avoid relegation, finish level on points, the matter must be settled with a playoff. We saw the impact immediately, Spezia and Verona playing a 39th game in 2022-23 to decide who should drop to Serie B. The regulations have since been tweaked, so a relegation playoff today would be settled over two legs. A title decider, however, would still be a one-off game, played at the home of the team that holds the tie-breaker. If this 'spareggio' ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties. A tantalising prospect for the neutral fan. Curiously enough, Inter were involved on the only previous occasion that a Serie A title was decided with a playoff, back in 1964. They lost to Bologna, 2-0. Did the ghosts of that defeat haunt them this weekend at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara? Or were Inter simply not good? Bologna are an excellent side, who have overcome the summer departure of manager Thiago Motta, as well as key players Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori, to become even stronger under Vincenzo Italiano. Yet Inter were far below their best on Sunday. They looked tired. Who could blame them? The Nerazzurri are still competing for three trophies and, as Inzaghi has often reminded us, have their eyes on the Club World Cup this summer as well. They won a draining Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich last Wednesday and have a Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Milan coming up on the same day this week. 'We're definitely tired,' acknowledged Nicolò Barella at full time on Sunday, noting how Piotr Zielinski's calf injury had reduced rotation options in midfield. 'There is tiredness, but we are not backing down. One defeat is not going to change the mentality we have built these last few years.' Inter demonstrated their resolve in the triumph over Bayern, always responding in key moments of the tie. When the Bundesliga side equalised late in the first leg, Davide Frattesi immediately put his side back in front. After Harry Kane scored to bring the aggregate scores level again at San Siro, Inter struck twice in the following 10 minutes. How much did they have left in the tank, though, for this game against Bologna four days later? Inzaghi changed only two members of his starting XI, Joaquín Correa replacing Marcus Thuram – reported to have suffered a mild thigh strain – up front and Carlos Augusto swapping in for Federico Dimarco at left-back. Bologna are a confrontational side under Italiano. From the start they were attacking Inter down the wings and especially through Dan Ndoye. His inclusion ahead of their top scorer, Riccardo Orsolini, on the right of a 4-2-3-1 was a surprise. But Ndoye is a right-footer, allowing different angles of attack than his left-footed teammate. His centre for Thijs Dallinga, after beating Francesco Acerbi to the byline, might have been the clearest chance created all match. The Dutchman's close-range shot was blocked by Benjamin Pavard. Neither team seemed willing to take undue risks. Bologna were not short of motivation, chasing a Champions League spot of their own, but dared not unbalance themselves. Inter appeared content with a point in what was probably the trickiest game left, on paper, on their league calendar. Both truths were reflected by players' positions as Juan Miranda launched one final long throw towards Inter's box in the 94th minute. There were seven defenders, plus the goalkeeper, inside the penalty area, contesting the space with just four Bologna players. Lecce 0-3 Como, Monza 0-1 Napoli, Roma 1-0 Verona, Empoli 2-2 Venezia, Milan 0-1 Atalanta, Bologna 1-0 Internazionale. Monday fixtures postponed: Torino v Udinese, Cagliari v Fiorentina, Genoa v Lazio, Parma v Juventus Yann Bisseck, introduced to shore up Inter's back line just moments earlier, rose to head clear, but succeeded only in flicking the ball across his own box. Orsolini, also on from the bench, met it at the back post with a scissor-kick into the bottom corner. This was the Italian's 12th league goal of the season, his best-ever return, and further fuel to the fire of those who believe he ought to be starting for the national team. He did not even make the squad for the recent Nations League quarter-final against Germany. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Not that anyone was worrying about that on Sunday. Orsolini's goal lifted Bologna back to fourth, pending Juventus's game against Parma, which had been scheduled for Monday night but now has been postponed with three other fixtures following the death of Pope Francis. The goal was celebrated, too, down in Naples. These have been tense days for Napoli, who won 1-0 at Monza on Saturday. They were not impressive, against opponents who sit bottom of the table, but Scott McTominay's second-half header – his ninth Serie A goal – was enough to secure all three points and further reinforce his status as a fan idol. Not since Marek Hamsik has a Napoli midfielder been so prolific. But comments made by Antonio Conte suggested the manager has already arrived at a familiar place of frustration. 'During my eight months at Napoli,' he said at his pre-game press conference, 'I've come to understand there's lots of things you can't do here.' He revisited the theme after the match. 'Whoever hires Conte always says: 'finish first or second', even if they finished 10th last season,' the manager told Dazn. 'It's not enough to fight for Europe, the ambitions and expectations always rise.' Pressed on the subject again at his press conference, Conte said: 'There has to be a serious plan, not just the fruit of miracles. I have great affection for [Napoli's owner Aurelio] De Laurentiis and his family, and we will talk. But the Neapolitan fan wants to win, and if they don't win they get nasty. I don't want to be massacred … 'I have to protect myself. If we can, then we will do it together. If not, then it will have been a beautiful journey.' All that was before Inter lost, putting Napoli's title hopes back in their own hands. On paper, the second-placed club have the easier run-in, with Torino, in 10th, the highest-placed of their remaining opponents. But trips to Lecce and Parma, both fighting for top-flight survival, could be pitfalls. Before Saturday, Napoli had not won an away game in three months. Inter still must face both Rome clubs, each chasing a Champions League spot, albeit those games are both at San Siro. The greater concern for Inzaghi's side is simply that fatigue will be fatal. This Serie A season, as he reminded us on Sunday, is not over. To the contrary, it is poised for a very dramatic finish indeed.
The Guardian
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Cesc Fàbregas is writing a Hollywood script at Como as film stars watch on
The faces surrounding Cesc Fàbregas were glum, yet he spoke like a conquering general: bellowing praise at his troops as he strode among them, pointing at his eyes then pounding a fist into his open palm. 'We devoured them! We devoured them! Keep going because this is only the start!' It was another cinematic moment at a venue that has become a favourite for Hollywood stars. Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Michael Fassbender, Kate Beckinsale and Benedict Cumberbatch are but a few of the A-listers who have come to watch Como play this season at their Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. All to see a team struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A table. You might not have guessed it from Fàbregas's tone, but his team lost 2-1 to Atalanta on Saturday. And yet the mood around this team is still triumphant. Those celebrity sightings are at once a testament to how the club has rebuilt and rebranded since being taken over by the Indonesian billionaire brothers, Robert and Michael Hartono in 2019, and a catalyst for further progress. Lake Como has long been a playground for the rich and famous but now its football club aspires to establish itself as an aspirational place for players to further their careers. The appointment of Fàbregas himself might be viewed through the same lens: a footballing celebrity hired by Como's then CEO, Dennis Wise, to lend this project a little star power. He had never held a coaching position before taking over the club's Primavera (Under-19s) side in 2023. Yet we should be cautious of oversimplifying. Fàbregas's involvement has layers. Before he coached Como, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder played for them, joining in the summer of 2022 and spending the last season of his career in Serie B. Essential to that move was the opportunity to own a minority share in the club. It is becoming common for sporting ownership groups to bring athletes on board – Milan's owners, RedBird Capital, added Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a senior advisor last year – but Fàbregas' position as a manager and stakeholder is still somewhat unique. Perhaps that sense of ownership helps explain the passion we saw on Saturday, or maybe that is just how he is wired. Either way, he is making an impression. Originally named as manager in November 2023, Fàbregas had to surrender the position after a month as he had not completed the relevant coaching qualifications. He served as assistant to Osian Roberts for the remainder of the campaign, before returning to the manager's position in July. The division of responsibility was not always clear as Como earned promotion from Serie B. In this campaign, though, we have seen Fàbregas make a team in his image: seeking to play possession football with a high line and a commitment to one- and two-touch passing geared to drag opponents out of shape. Results have been a mixed bag, but Como's performances have deserved better. If expected goals – for and against – were real goals, they would sit in the top half. The Hartonos' financial backing has allowed Como to construct a squad to compete at this level. Headline-grabbing moves were made over the summer for veteran players with international name recognition, including Raphaël Varane, Sergi Roberto, Pepe Reina and Andrea Belotti. Another, Dele Alli, was announced last week. Without a club since he left Everton in the summer, the Englishman had begun training with Como in December but Fàbregas suggested at the time that this arrangement was only designed to help the player – who has not played a competitive game for more than a year – to 'get in shape and have positive feelings.' 'He was a fantastic player,' said Fàbregas last month. 'I played against him many times. I'm glad if I can help him rediscover himself.' Subsequent news that he had signed an 18-month contract came as a surprise, and it remains to be seen what his role will be. Alli watched Saturday's game from the stands with Sergi Roberto, who is out with an injury. The truth is that none of the famous names mentioned so far have started more than 10 games. Varane announced his retirement in September after suffering a knee injury. Gabriel Strefezza and Alieu Fadera, a pair of wingers signed for €5m each from Lecce and Genk, have been more impactful. The latter was exceptional against Atalanta, setting up his team's goal and recording a pair of successful dribbles as well as winning the joint-most tackles of any player on the pitch. But the biggest hit of all has been 20-year-old Nico Paz. The son of Pablo Paz, a member of the Argentina team that took silver at the 1996 Olympic Games, Nico joined Real Madrid's academy at 12 and made his senior debut last season while also scoring 10 times for the Castilla side. Although highly thought of by the club's coaching staff, he was allowed to join Como on a deal that includes buy-back options running through to 2027. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Paz has been Fàbregas's best player: a schemer and shooter in the No10 role. Only two players in all of Serie A have delivered more passes leading directly to a shot. It was he who scored for Como on Saturday, meeting Fadera's cross from the left with a flawless first-time finish into the near top corner. If his team-mates were similarly ruthless, this could have been a rout. Como dominated Atalanta for almost an hour, only to be undone by the division's top scorer. Mateo Retegui, whose recent injury absence had dented Atalanta's title challenge, had two shots all game and buried both. Fàbregas was within his rights to feel proud of the performance, and to express that pride in his on-pitch team-talk. The crowd at the Sinigaglia was certainly appreciative, offering a warm ovation to players as they went under the Curva. For long-time supporters, this rise has been head-spinning. Como were bankrupt as recently as 2017. They were bought at auction that year by Akosua Puni Essien, wife of the former Ghana international Michael Essien, then denied promotion to the third tier a year later after failing to meet administrative requirements. Even this season began with the stadium undergoing last-minute upgrades to meet Serie A regulations. Friday: Torino 2-0 Cagliari. Sat: Como 1-2 Atalanta, Napoli 2-1 Juventus, Empoli 1-1 Bologna. Sun: Milan 3-2 Parma, Udinese 1-2 Roma, Lecce 0-2 Inter, Lazio 1-2 Fiorentina. Monday fixtures: Venezia v Verona, Genoa v Monza. Perhaps it is not a footballing fairytale: money talks, and Como have spent close to €80m on transfer fees since last summer alone. But there are still players here who have been with them through the whole journey. Their first goal in a 2-0 victory over Roma last month – which ended a nine-game winless run – was struck by Alessandro Gabrielloni, the fifth man ever to score for the same team in the top four divisions of Italian football. Fàbregas laughed on Saturday at a suggestion from one interviewer that his team still had room for mental growth. 'I need to remind people that we are Como, a newly-promoted team who are making great teams work really hard,' he said. 'For me this was a great day for Como. We need to remember where we were last year and where we are now.'
