⚽️🇮🇹 Leao shines as Milan keep winning
In this week’s digest of the latest from the world of Italian soccer, we also look at Igor Tudor’s eventful start at Lazio, Inter’s relentless form, and much more!
🇺🇸 Milan continue winning streak as Pulisic gets some rest
USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah had to settle for a place on the bench as Milan defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in Florence, strengthening their grip on second place.
🗣️ However, Rossoneri coach Stefano Pioli explained that Pulisic “preferred to play only a portion of the match” after a busy international break where he captained the USMNT to CONCACAF Nations League glory.
🔥 Pulisic and Musah both came on in the second half as Milan’s superb recent form continued with a fourth Serie A win in a row and their sixth straight victory in all competitions – aided by an inspired goal and assist from Rafael Leao.
💪 It has been a dream debut season at San Siro for Pulisic, who has 12 goals and eight assists to his name across all competitions, and his father Mark explained this week why things are going so smoothly:
“Christian has had everyone’s trust. Pioli trusts him. He always lets him play and doesn’t immediately replace him if things go wrong. Then he likes Milan and he always speaks well of his teammates,” he said.
👉 Up next for Pulisic and Milan: Pioli’s side hosts Lecce at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday (9.00am ET on Paramount+). The first meeting between the sides in November was a thriller as the Salentini fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2.
🦅 Tudor celebrates dream Lazio debut
Igor Tudor got off to the perfect start as Lazio coach when Adam Marusic scored a 93rd-minute winner to clinch a 1-0 victory over Juventus on Saturday night.
🇭🇷 Tudor, who replaced Maurizio Sarri during the international break following the former coach’s resignation, made his debut against his former club, with whom he spent nine years as a player, before returning as an assistant coach under Andrea Pirlo in 2020/21.
👏 "It is wonderful to win this way, and we could not have started this experience better," Tudor told DAZN, as the Biancocelesti climbed above Napoli into seventh place.
😎 Tudor’s Juve counterpart Massimiliano Allegri made his landmark 500th Serie A coaching appearance in Rome, and although it was a night to forget, he soon got revenge…
👉 Up next: Lazio and Juventus both have a huge weekend ahead: Tudor’s side face Roma (12.00pm ET) in the ‘Derby della Capitale’ – more on that later – and the Bianconeri take on rivals Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium (2.45pm ET).
🏆 Advantage Juventus and Fiorentina in Coppa Italia
💪 Four days after their defeat in Rome, Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 in Turin as they played out a rematch in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, with Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic on the scoresheet.
😲 A day later in the other semi-final, a screamer from Rolando Mandragora earned Fiorentina a 1-0 first-leg victory over Atalanta in Florence.
🇮🇹 Dating back to 1922, the Coppa Italia is Italy’s major cup competition and features clubs from across the top three tiers of Italian soccer.
🙌 There will be a new champion this year, as two-time defending champions Inter were knocked out by Bologna in the Round of 16. Juventus are the most successful side in tournament history, aiming for a 15th title this year.
🤔 Starting in August with a preliminary round, the knockout tournament is seeded, with Serie B and C clubs starting in the early rounds, 12 Serie A sides joining in the Round of 64, and the top eight from last season joining in the Round of 16.
🥇 The semi-finals are the only two-legged ties in the bracket, with home and away games determining who will meet in the final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on May 15.
👉 Up next: The second legs will take place on April 23 (Lazio v Juventus) and April 24 (Atalanta v Fiorentina).
📈 Unstoppable Inter continue march to Scudetto
Inter’s superb season continued with a 2-0 win over Empoli that has Nerazzurri fans dreaming of clinching the title against rivals AC Milan.
🏆 With 14 points separating the two Milanese clubs at the top of the table, there is a chance that the Nerazzurri could mathematically seal the Scudetto with five games to spare against their rivals when they clash on April 22.
⭐ It would be a particularly significant moment, as both clubs are currently locked on 19 Serie A titles each, with Inter set to become the first to hit 20 and get a second star stitched onto their jersey – a golden star being an honor that signifies 10 titles.
⚽️ Inter look unstoppable this season and have won 25 of their first 30 games in a Serie A campaign for the first time since 2006/07 and only the second time ever.
👉 Up next: Inter travel to Udinese on Monday (2.45pm ET). The Zebrette are desperately in need of points, sitting three clear of the relegation zone as it stands, but they lost 4-0 in the last meeting in December.
🫢 Social Post of the Week: Pioli stares down Musah
There was a heart-in-mouth moment for Yunus Musah after the full-time whistle in Florence, just as he thought he could relax and celebrate a great result…
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🇮🇹 Thomas Henry tours Verona
In the latest episode of our Champions of Made in Italy series, Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry shows us around beautiful, historic Verona.
🇮🇹 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: Roma unveil special jersey for Derby
With one of the biggest matches of the season just around the corner, Roma legend Marco Delvecchio unveiled the new ‘Origins Jersey’ to be worn on Saturday against Lazio.
Milan-born Delvecchio was prolific in the Rome Derby, netting nine times against Lazio during a 10-year spell with Roma in which he won the 2000/01 Scudetto.
💬 Calcio Conversations
One of the fiercest rivalries in Serie A resumes on Saturday when Roma face Lazio in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico for the ‘Derby della Capitale’.
🤷♂️ What does it mean? Arguably the most passionately felt of all the derby matches in Italy’s top flight, its name translates simply as the ‘derby of the capital.’
Further nicknames are simply the ‘Rome Derby’ or the ‘Derby del Cupolone’ – the latter referencing the large cupola of the Eternal City’s iconic St. Peter’s Basilica.
The fixture takes huge importance in the calendars of both clubs. Lazio currently have the bragging rights after winning three of the last four meetings, although the first Serie A derby of the 2023/24 season finished 0-0 in November.
❤️ Tributes paid to Joe Barone
A moment of silence was held across all Serie A games over the weekend to pay tribute to Fiorentina General Director Joe Barone, who died aged 57 in March.
🙏 There were emotional scenes at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, where Fiorentina fans said goodbye to a hugely influential figure in their recent history.
✉️ Fiorentina published a letter from the Barone family, where they spoke directly to the Viola fans.
It read: “The Barone Family would like to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support during this profoundly challenging time. The passing of our beloved father has left a void in our lives that can never be filled. Your outpouring of love has been a source of immense comfort to us all and reminds us that we are not alone in our grief.”
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports and Paramount+
Friday, April 5th
Salernitana v Sassuolo (2.45pm ET)
Saturday, April 6th
AC Milan v Lecce (9.00am ET)
Roma v Lazio (12.00pm ET)
Empoli v Torino (2.45pm ET)
Sunday, April 7th
Frosinone v Bologna (6.30am ET)
Monza v Napoli (9.00am ET)
Cagliari v Atalanta (12.00pm ET)
Hellas Verona v Genoa (12.00pm ET)
Juventus v Fiorentina (2.45pm ET)
Monday, April 8th
Udinese v Internazionale (2.45pm ET)
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