⚽️🇮🇹 Can Inter seal the title in the Milan derby?
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we're previewing the Milan derby, focusing on Serie A's relegation battle, and much more!
🏆 Milan braces itself for scudetto showdown
All eyes will be on the San Siro on Monday, where top of the table Inter face their Derby della Madonnina rivals AC Milan (2.45pm ET on Paramount+). If Inter emerge victorious, they will be crowned champions of Italy.
⭐️ An Inter win will be enough to secure their 20th scudetto and a second star on their shirts. (Serie A teams earn a star above the crest on their shirts for every 10 titles they win. Only Juventus currently has more then one star - they have three.)
⚖️ A title win this season will give Inter significant bragging rights over their derby rivals, as both teams currently have 19 scudetti.
🔴 Milan - who are also looking to reverse Roma’s 1-0 lead when they meet in the second leg of their Europa League quarterfinal tonight - are in second place, and will be looking to consolidate their runner-up position, ahead of third-place Juventus.
🔵 Recent Derby della Madonnina history favors Inter, who have won the last five derbies in a row by an aggregate score of 12-1. (Oh, and keep reading for an explanation of the meaning behind the name of this rivalry.)
🥳 As Inter head towards the finish line, the Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter have plans for title celebrations that include a concert and an open-top bus parade.
🐺 Roma’s Evan Ndicka recovering after collapsing on field
Sunday’s match between Udinese and Roma was suspended in the 72nd minute when Giallorossi defender Evan Ndicka collapsed on the field.
Ndicka, who was conscious and gave a thumbs-up gesture as he was carried off the field, was rushed to the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Udine. Roma posted an image of the 24-year-old in stable condition before his discharge.
A diagnosis of thoracic trauma was given, with any heart issues ruled out. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the injury may have come as a result of contact with Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca, with Roma coach Daniele De Rossi noting that Ndicka suffered a collapsed lung.
A story in the Corriere dello Sport says Ndicka is keen to return to action and has reportedly aimed to make himself available for Roma’s trip to Napoli on April 27.
Hours before Ndicka’s collapse, tragedy struck in Italy’s 5th tier, where Castelfiorentino’s Mattia Giani passed away following an on-pitch heart attack. Serie A teams including Roma offered their condolences to his family, friends and everyone at Castelfiorentino.
🔥 Atalanta’s Gianluca Scamacca is on fire!
Atalanta are poised for a famous European victory and a top-six finish in Serie A, thanks in part to the form of star striker Gianluca Scamacca.
👏 Scamacca scored a brace in Atalanta’s stunning 3-0 win at Liverpool last week. If La Dea can defend their lead when the Premier League side head to Gewiss Stadium tonight, they will progress to the Europa League semifinals to face either Benfica or Marseille.
⚽️ After his triumph at Anfield, Scamacca added to his tally with another goal against Verona for his seventh strike in eight games in all competitions.
😎 As our friends at IFTV note, only Florian Wirtz and Harry Kane have scored more goals than Scamacca in Europe’s Top 5 leagues since March. The 25-year-old is hitting peak form as the Italy National Team prepares for Euro 2024.
📈 Atalanta sit eight points outside the top four with seven games remaining, and return to Serie A play on Sunday at Monza (2.45pm ET on Paramount+). The Bergamo side could also qualify for next season’s Champions League if they win the current Europa League.
🗽 Alessandro Del Piero brings calcio to the Bronx
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero met with high school students in the South Bronx at an event that brought together Serie A and Street Soccer USA.
😲 In addition to meeting and speaking with local youth players, Serie A ambassador Del Piero was entertained by trickshot influencer Luc A Menard.
❤️ In May 2023, Serie A and Street Soccer USA created two fields and a Digital Media Center at the South Bronx location, providing access to the beautiful game for the local community, and a space for social and educational initiatives.
🎉 Watch the Derby D’America with us in Baltimore
In a match that could be hugely consequential in the race for second place, four of the USMNT’s biggest stars could be in action when Juventus host Milan on April 27th. We’re hosting a free watch party in Baltimore for the Derby D’America!
🎉 The event at Baltimore’s Power Plant Live! will feature exclusive giveaways, drink specials, and the opportunity to hang with like-minded Serie A fans while watching one of the biggest games of the season.
🤳 Keep your eye on our Instagram page tomorrow, where we’ll provide the sign-up link (tickets are free!).
🕸️ Social Post of the Week: Weston McKennie channels his inner Spider-Man
Weston McKennie found a novel way to enter the training field this week, but it remains to be seen if he’ll use any Peter Parker moves on the field when Juventus travel to Cagliari tomorrow (2.45pm ET on Paramount+).
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🇮🇹 ‘Kvaradona’ takes a tour of Naples
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played a pivotal role in Napoli’s historic 2022-23 scudetto, evoking the spirit of Napoli icon Diego Maradona enough to earn the moniker ‘Kvaradona’. In the latest episode of our Champions of Made in Italy series, the precocious Georgian explores Naples and discusses the intense passion for soccer in the city.
🇮🇹 Serie A is partnering with the Italian government for the Champions of Made in Italy documentary series, which is bringing insight into the cities and cultures that surround every club in the league. More episodes below…
🤯 ICYMI: Matteo Politano only scores bangers
Another game week, another Politano golazo! Napoli’s 2-2 tie with Frosinone saw Matteo Politano hit a sensational long-range rocket for the second consecutive game.
👏 Not only was this Politano’s eighth goal of the current Serie A campaign, it was also his 50th in Serie A.
🤯 The defending champions currently sit in eighth spot, knowing a win at Empoli on Saturday (12pm ET on Paramount+) could push them back into European qualification contention.
💬 Calcio Conversations
In the last two weeks, we’ve looked at the Derby della Capitale and the Derby della Mole. This week we complete our derby trilogy with the aforementioned rivalry in Milan: the Derby della Madonnina.
🤷♂️ What does it mean? The Milan Derby, as it’s also known, between Inter and AC Milan is one of the longest-running in the country, going all the way back to 1909.
The Madonnina or ‘little Madonna’ is the name of a statue of the Virgin Mary that sits atop Milan’s vast Duomo cathedral, and is one of the most iconic sites in the city.
👀 The Serie A relegation battle is heating up
Just two points separate 15th and 19th positions in Serie A with six games to play.
2️⃣0️⃣ Salernitana, in 20th place, have the odds stacked against them at this point, with only 15 points accumulated.
1️⃣9️⃣ Sassuolo, in 19th, notched a vital point with an incredible 3-3 draw with AC Milan last weekend but face a tough home match with Lecce this Saturday (6.30am ET on Paramount+) Lecce earned a massive 1-0 win over Empoli last weekend that puts them just five points clear of trouble going into this game week.
1️⃣8️⃣ Frosinone also managed an impressive point last week when they held Napoli, and could escape the drop zone on Sunday with a win at Torino (9am ET on Paramount+).
1️⃣4️⃣ Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari have been slowly pulling away from danger with two huge results in the last two game weeks: a win over Atalanta and a hard-earned point at Inter. They’ll need another big performance tomorrow when Juventus visit the Sardegna Arena (2.45pm ET on Paramount+).
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports and Paramount+
Friday, April 19th
Genoa v Lazio (12.30pm ET)
Cagliari v Juventus (2.45pm ET)
Saturday, April 20th
Empoli v Napoli (12pm ET)
Hellas Verona v Udinese (2.45pm ET)
Sunday, April 21st
Sassuolo v Lecce (6.30am ET)
Torino v Frosinone (9am ET)
Salernitana v Fiorentina (12pm ET)
Monza v Atalanta (2.45pm ET)
Monday, April 22nd
Roma v Bologna (12.30pm ET)
AC Milan v Inter (2.45pm ET)
🇨🇦 Reading this in Canada? Watch ALL Serie A games LIVE on Fubo - Try it for free! 🇨🇦
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