Juve’s sixth straight Scudetto is a testament to the small group of players who have remained. But there have also been fantastically shrewd transfer dealingsMassimiliano Allegri might want to keep an eye on the baggage scanner when Juan Cuadrado checks in for next week’s flight to Cardiff. The Colombian tipped two bottles of water over his manager in the wake of Juventus’s Coppa Italia win last Wednesday, but after they sealed the Scudetto he covered his boss in foam instead.Is it premature to ask what celebration Cuadrado has in mind for a Champions League triumph? There is still the small matter of a final against Real Madrid to get through, after all. But that is the only obstacle remaining in...
Luciano Spalletti’s side became first team to beat Juventus in Serie A in four months and manager can feel vindicated after often being accused of getting tactics wrong for big gamesMatch point? That’s what they were calling it in the Italian papers, Juventus needing only a draw away to Roma to seal a record-breaking sixth consecutive Scudetto. The Bianconeri looked set to take it, too, producing the equivalent of a 150mph serve as Mario Lemina put them in front in the 21st minute. But Roma responded with a passing shot straight down the line.Goals from Daniele De Rossi, Stephan El Shaarawy and Radja Nainggolan turned a 1-0 deficit into an emphatic 3-1 triumph. Roma became the first team to beat...
Torino’s manager angrily accused the Juventus legend of not being impartial after a controversial red card opened the door for Higuaín’s stoppage-time equaliserYou could hardly call it a dull round of fixtures. There were 10 goals scored in a single match at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, while Juventus saw their run of 33 consecutive home victories ended by Torino in the Derby della Mole. Tiny Crotone beat Pescara to make it 14 points from their past six matches – a run matched only by Napoli in Serie A.But what did it all add up to? Not a lot, actually. This was the weekend when everything happened but nothing changed, a sad reflection of how little remains up for grabs this season....
The podders look back on two excellent Wembley FA Cup semi-finals. Plus: Crystal Palace win at Liverpool, Leo Messi’s 500th goal wins the clásico, and Leyton Orient fall out of the Football LeagueSubscribe and review: iTunes, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast & Stitcher. And join the discussion on Facebook and TwitterOn the latest Football Weekly, AC Jimbo is joined by Barry Glendenning, Simon Burnton and Nick Miller to reflect on a weekend with, if anything, too much football. Continue reading...
Sixth place is just about all that Inter or Milan can aspire to after the Nerazzurri went down 5-4 at Fiorentina and the Rossoneri lost at home to EmpoliFor Serie A’s 20 clubs, the finish line is in sight. The two representing the city of Milan, however, might be starting to wonder what race they have even been running. They had presumed for many months to be part of that elite group chasing after a Champions League berth. Instead, at the end of this gruelling marathon, they find themselves contesting a prize that hardly seems worth winning.Sixth place is just about all that Inter or Milan can aspire to, after a weekend in which they each hit new depths of...