Juventus faltering end to their Serie A campaign saw Inter finish just one point behind the Bianconeri in 2019-20.
Antonio Conte s side had looked like genuine title challengers in the first half of the season, yet a poor run pre-lockdown saw them all but fall out of contention before a late charge – combined with Juve s inconsistencies – made things tight after the title was already wrapped up.
Yet heading into Conte s second season, there should be genuine optimism at San Siro.
Inter may have failed to win the Europa League – going down to serial champions Sevilla in the final – but with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, along with some promising new additions, they look all set for a strong title tilt this time around.
Juve, under the tutelag…
Pep Guardiola made clear James Milner should have been sent off during Manchester City s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, adding how his side may not have been so lucky in the same situation.
Having already received a booking in the first half, Milner escaped a second yellow card when he appeared to foul Bernardo Silva.
The incident occurred in the second half with the score at 1-1 and, not long after the reprieve, Liverpool s right-back, filling in for the absent Trent Alexander-Arnold, was involved in his side s second goal, scored by Mohamed Salah.
While Kevin De Bruyne scored an equaliser to make sure the Premier League champions claimed a point, Guardiola was in no doubt referee Paul Tierney had erred in not dismissing Milner.
It s a yellow card, the City…
Leonardo Mancuso scored to secure a surprise 1-0 victory for newly-promoted Empoli in Turin that left Juventus stunned and still without a win in Serie A this season.
Mancuso ended his side s five-game run without a league goal at Juve in the competition as he opened the scoring from close range, while Guglielmo Vicario impressed in goal.
Without Cristiano Ronaldo as he edges closer to returning to Manchester United, Juve s main attacking threat came through Federico Chiesa, but even he could not steer any of his three attempts past the Empoli goalkeeper.
Chiesa forced early saves from Vicario, with surging runs creating both opportunities before the goalkeeper produced smart saves to parry away.
However, it was Mancuso who struck first, profiting from…
Zinedine Zidane insisted there was no shame in Real Madrid s shock loss to third-tier side Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey.
Madrid were stunned by the Segunda Division B outfit in the last 32 as Juanan scored a 115th-minute winner on Wednesday.
Jose Solbes had earlier cancelled out Eder Militao s opener and Alcoyano found a winner despite Ramon Lopez s red card in extra time.
But Madrid head coach Zidane dismissed suggestions the defeat was shameful for the LaLiga champions.
Those are your words. Those words, they do not belong to me, he told a news conference.
This is football, difficult things because it s true that we play against a Segunda B team and we need to win the match normally, but at the end it hasn t been like that and this does not me…
Xavi believes Barcelona can end an eight-year wait for Champions League glory this season as he told his players to dream of lifting the trophy.
The head coach sends his side into their opener against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday, desperate for them to avoid a repeat of the last campaign s group-stage exit.
Barcelona finished behind Bayern Munich and Benfica, with Xavi appointed midway through that group campaign after Ronald Koeman was sacked.
The serious damage had been done by a 3-0 loss at Benfica, and Xavi could not drag Barcelona through to the knockout rounds.
However, he has had two busy transfer windows since then and Barcelona are a new-look and refreshed team, with much of their previous baggage shaken off.
Last season s failure in Europ…
Pedri was the hero for Barcelona as they saw off a LaLiga challenge from Celta Vigo to take an unpersuasive 1-0 win on Sunday.
Despite a bright, almost bombastic start from Xavi s side, the Blaugrana gradually faded once again in defence of an early lead, ultimately escaping with all three points intact.
A week on from a similar performance against Mallorca, questions may be lingering about Barca s prowess, even as they sit top of the table.
Yet after the sting of a Champions League loss to Inter in midweek, the Catalans were at least back to winning ways.
A dominant start from Barcelona hinted at a blowout scoreline, and Pedri s poacher s finish amid defensive disarray in the 17th minute certainly whet the appetite.
But a subsequent struggle to f…
Thomas Muller needs time to decide his international future after Germany s early World Cup exit, the Bayern Munich star said on Sunday.
A surprise defeat to Japan in Germany s opening game in Qatar was followed by a 1-1 draw with Spain, with elimination confirmed despite a 4-2 victory over Costa Rice in their final group match.
It represented the second group-stage elimination in a row for Germany at the World Cup, having fallen at the same hurdle when defending their title in Russia four years ago.
Muller heavily hinted at retirement from Germany duty after the team s latest elimination, and he has now stated he has begun the process of dealing with the events.
Muller posted a lengthy message on Instagram that read: The sting is brutally deep, felt deep…
Market: Cape Verde win
Odds: 2/5 @
Getting their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back underway on Thursday evening, Cape Verde will welcome Botswana to Praia.
Starting with the hosts, while Cape Verde might have got their qualifying adventure underway with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of African giants Egypt last month, the Blue Sharks claimed an immediate response. Getting their first victory on the board as they clinched a routine 2-0 victory at home against Mauritania, Bubista’s camp should take plenty of positives away from what has been an eye-catching run since opening 2024. Despite suffering Africa Cup of Nations heartbreak back in February as they fell to a penalties defeat against South Africa at the quarter-final stage, Thursday’s hosts have…
Nick Pope made some superb saves and Alexandre Lacazette missed an open goal as Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Burnley at Emirates Stadium.
Playing in the Premier League for the first time since a defeat to Manchester City on January 1, Arsenal could have moved into the top four with a victory over a side that had conceded six goals across their last two away games.
Yet Pope s resistance and Lacazette s profligacy saw Sean Dyche s team come away with a potentially vital point in their bid to stay up.
Mikel Arteta s side, meanwhile, are now without a win in five games in all competitions as they failed to bounce back from their EFL Cup loss to Liverpool.
Aaron Ramsdale was somewhat caught cold for Liverpool s goals in Thursday s defeat, but Arsen…
Leeds United are on the verge of signing Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent contract, according to David Anderson.
The Daily Mirror journalist has claimed that Rodon, who spent last season on loan at Championship club Leeds on loan from Premier League side Tottenham, will cost £10 million in transfer fees.
Anderson wrote on : “Joe Rodon is returning to Leeds from Tottenham in a permanent £10m deal as Archie Gray inches closer to completing his move to Spurs which willl be worth a potential £40m.”
Rodon made 45 starts and one substitute appearance in the Championship for Leeds last season. The Wales international central defender also made four appearances in the FA Cup.
Leeds are aiming to finish in the top two of the Championship tab…