One of the more intriguing battles in Serie A in recent years has often surrounded the fight for fourth place and a chance to play in the next season’s Champions League. Much of its intrigue stemmed from the fact that on some occasions, an unexpected team would occupy that coveted position by season’s end (see Sampdoria in 09/10 and Udinese last year). With Italy losing a Champions League spot, the battle is now centered on third place, and it is [...]
“I think that Napoli are superior to this Chelsea team, Mazzarri’s Napoli are doing better and they have all the cards in their favour to give the English trouble - even at home,” said former Napoli player Moreno Ferrario earlier this week. Whether this is true or not, this is probably not the attitude the Partenopei will want to take into their date with Chelsea at the Bridge tomorrow night. Admittedly, following their 3-1 defeat of the Londoners in the [...]
A date with destiny for both Chelsea and Napoli, who will do battle at Stamford Bridge for a place in the last eight of the Champions League. In winter 1066 Harold Godwinson was thrust to the forefront and took the throne of Anglo-Saxon England after the death of his predecessor Edward the Confessor. His reign was rather short lived and he died in the Battle of Hastings later that year. Harold earned his place in history after a stunning battle [...]
After the summer transfer window shut on August 31, 2011, most Interisti were relieved to see Wesley Sneijder was still an Inter Milan player. Sneijder’s summer holiday locale of Los Angeles was fitting, as the drama surrounding him was suited for Hollywood. Everyone needed to know if Inter’s Number 10 was staying or would soon be on his way to Manchester. It was decided that Samuel Eto’o was the one to be sold to Anzhi in Russia and Sneijder would [...]
Once again Roma and Lazio clashed in the capital and once again the match was filled with drama. A fierce and spirited rivalry, the game played out full of controversy. Two red cards were handed out as Lazio walked away the victor and secured their spot as kings of the capital for the 2011/2012 season. For the second time this season now have Lazio won the Rome derby but with the advantage of having one more player for most of [...]
Italian football is on a high. After years in the mires, more than partly brought about due to the calciopoli scandal of 2006, there is reason for hope. One aspect of this hope is embodied in the fact that the Serie A, for the first time since the mid-1990’s, has more representatives in the Champions League knockout stages than either England’s Premier League or Spain’s La Liga. For a league that has fallen down the pecking order, evidenced by its [...]
Roberto Mancini was born 27th November 1964 in the town of Jesi, of the Province of Ancona, Marche. This small town in central Italy was the place which saw Roberto first fall in love with the beautiful game. As a boy, his only two interests were football and religion. He was a committed Roman Catholic, and as such honoured his faith by being an altar boy at his local place of worship, the church of San Sebastian. His football club [...]
Inter are in a crisis…sound familiar? It should. Fans of the club have been taken on a ride so far this year that would rival even the very best roller-coaster you could find. The Nerazzurri have struggled through drastic dips in form throughout the season, and find themselves in trouble once more. Inter have lost five of its previous six matches, picking up only a solitary point in that time. Pressure is mounting on experienced manager Claudio Ranieri, evidenced by [...]
On Tuesday, Napoli host Chelsea in the Champions League Round of 16 — meaning it’s unlikely that this Napoli fan will sleep on Monday night. Chelsea may have hit a rough patch recently, but that’s no guarantee that things will go well at the San Paolo. The partenopei have, how shall I put this…they have a slight problem when they underestimate the strength of their opposition. Yet Chelsea did the double just two years ago, winning the Premier League and [...]
The jewel in Florence’s crown; Stevan Jovetic is being targeted by Premiership big spenders, Chelsea FC. But what who are the London club looking to sign? Elegance and artistry are two words which best define Jovetic. Leading Fiorentina’s forward line this season, he has sparkled and shown why he is to be considered one of Europe’s best players. Born in Titograd, in the former Yugoslavia in 1989, Jovetic’s early appearances for local side Mladost Podgorica, began to gain attention from [...]
It could not have been any better. It could not have been any sweeter. Four unanswered goals from Milan against Arsenal ensured the Italians have at least one foot in the quarter finals. For coach Max Allegri, it was his most significant moment in the Champions League of his short managerial career. But, Allegri was not the star of the night. Led from the front by an inspired Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it was the collective performance of Milan that shone the [...]
Claudio Ranieri has come out and declared that he is not in danger of being sacked. He has also stated that star midfielder Wesley Sneijder is happy at the club, in an attempt to quell rumours of interest from abroad in the Dutch playmaker (for what seems to be the 100th time). “Could he be on his way to Anzhi? As far as I’m concerned, and I hope the player too, no,” Ranieri was quoted as saying on Inter’s official [...]
