⚽️🇮🇹 Christian Pulisic becomes Milan's 'leader'
⚽️🇮🇹 Christian Pulisic becomes Milan's 'leader'
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we're looking at Como's historic win, we're celebrating goals from American stars, and much more!
🤩 ‘Leader’ Pulisic scores golazo as Milan clinches the derby
Milan bested their city neighbors Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, with Christian Pulisic opening the scoring in spectacular fashion…
🇺🇸 Pulisic is the first-ever American to score in the Milan derby, and has now managed a staggering four goals and two assists in all competitions this season.
🗞️The 26-year-old has won praise from the Italian media for his growing status as a talisman for the Rossoneri. The Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport both referred to the American as a “leader” in their reporting this week.
❌ Milan’s victory ends Inter’s run of six straight derby wins, but the Nerazzurri currently sit one place above their rivals, in sixth position.
Up next for the Milan teams 👉 Milan kicks off the match week on Friday when Lecce comes to the San Siro (2.45pm ET on CBS Sports), while Inter travel to high-flying Udinese on Saturday (9am ET, CBS Sports).
😮 Como wins first Serie A match in 21 years, then Raphaël Varane retires
Como booked its first win of the season - which is, by virtue, its first Serie A win for 21 years - on Tuesday evening, with a dramatic comeback win over Atalanta.
🙌 Cesc Fàbregas’ side went behind in the local derby at the Gewiss Stadium, before scoring three goals in 12 minutes to seal victory.
🌧️ The match was originally supposed to be played on Monday night, but was postponed for 24 hours due to heavy rain in Bergamo.
😮 Shortly after the win, French defender Raphaël Varane announced his retirement from the game at the age of 31.
🤕 The World Cup-winning Frenchman injured his knee on his debut during a Coppa Italia match against Sampdoria.
🗣️“In my career I have taken on many challenges, rose to occasion after occasion, almost all of it was supposed to be impossible. Reflecting on these moments, it is with immense pride and a feeling of fulfilment that I am announcing my retirement from the game that we all love,” he said in a statement on X.
🥹 Fortunately, this isn’t the end of the road for Varane in Serie A: he also announced he will be staying with the club in an unspecified capacity.
🏆 Sampdoria edge past derby rivals Genoa in Coppa Italia
The return of the Coppa Italia this week brought a dramatic rendition of the Derby della Lanterna between Genoa and Sampdoria, who share the iconic Luigi Ferraris Stadium.
🗣️ Sampdoria progressed in the heated contest with a 6-5 win on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
👏 The second round of the Coppa Italia also brought wins for Sassuolo, Cagliari, and Empoli - all of whom progressed to the Round of 16.
⏭️ The Round of 16 will commence in December, and will see Sampdoria face Roma, Juventus against Cagliari and another meeting between Inter and Udinese, to add to this weekend’s Serie A bout between the sides.
🤩 ICYMI: Weston McKennie’s brilliant backheel
It’s no secret that Weston McKennie has an incredible first touch in his locker — and his silky skills were on full display in Juventus’ draw with Napoli.
💪 The USMNT star made his first Serie A start of the season in the goalless draw, keeping his place after starting in the Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven. It seems that the 26-year-old is rising in Thiago Motta’s depth chart.
🇺🇸 His compatriot Tim Weah also featured in the Napoli game, in an atypical advanced role: he replaced striker Dušan Vlahović for the second half.
🙌 Gianluca Busio goal sends Venezia on its way to first win of the season
American midfielder Gianluca Busio scored the opener in Venezia’s 2-0 win over Genoa on Saturday, marking his first goal of the season and the club’s first win back in the top flight.
💯 The match was especially significant for Busio, as it represented his 100th for the club.
✍️ The 22-year-old joined Venezia in 2021 and recently signed a contract that will keep him on the books through to 2026.
🚀 Santiago Castro’s magic moment in Monza
We strongly advise you stop scrolling and watch this beauty of a goal…
👏 Bologna booked their first win of the campaign on Sunday with a 2-1 win on the road at Monza. The winner came in the 80th minute from the right foot of Santiago Castro.
🇦🇷 The 20-year-old Argentine forward joined Bolgona from Vélez Sarsfield in January. It’s his first goal of the season, having most recently registered a goal and an assist in the epic 3-3 draw with Juventus at the end of last season.
💬 Calcio Conversations
We recently explained the role of the trequartista, so this week it’s time to move further back down the field and highlight another important player: the mediano.
🤷♂️ What is a mediano? This is a defensive midfielder, who typically protects his backline and looks to win back possession as much as possible through tackles and interceptions. Usually, the mediano is a strong and physical presence, boasting a strong engine to cover all the spaces.
Who has made the role famous? Some of the best-known Italian mediani from years gone by are legends like Daniele De Rossi and Gennaro Gattuso. Current examples may include Milan’s Youssouf Fofana and Atalanta’s Marten de Roon.
🗽 Del Piero celebrates calcio in New York at ‘Italian Sport Day in the World’
On Sunday, the Italian consulate in New York hosted some of the biggest names in sports and politics to celebrate and promote investment in Italian sports.
🤝 Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani was joined by President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and Serie A Legend Alessandro Del Piero (all pictured above).
🇮🇹 Also in attendance were Atalanta chariman Stephen Pagliuca, RedBird Capital Partners founder Gerry Cardinale, Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani, Parma Managing Director Luca Martines and Inter Managing Director Alejandro Cano.
🗣️ The speeches by the representatives of the Italian clubs emphasized the importance of creating a unified system to promote and develop Italian soccer internationally, with government support, particularly in the construction of new infrastructure to sustain the entire ecosystem.
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🎧 Roma’s Gianluca Mancini enters the field wearing ear protectors
Why did Roma defender Gianluca Mancini enter the field for Udinese’s visit to the Stadio Olimpico wearing noise-preventing headphones?
❤️ According to the Italian press, Mancini chose to wear the ear defenders to show support for and solidarity with the young mascot who accompanied him with similar ear protection. A wonderful gesture from the Giallorossi vice-captain!
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports, Paramount+, FOX Deportes and SiriusXM
Friday, September 27th
Milan v Lecce (2.45pm ET)
Saturday, September 28th
Udinese v Inter (9am ET)
Genoa v Juventus (12pm ET, also on FOX Deportes)
Bolgona v Atalanta (2.45pm ET, also on SiriusXM FC)
Sunday, September 29th
Torino v Lazio (6.30am ET)
Como v Verona (9am ET)
Roma v Venezia (9am ET)
Empoli v Fiorentina (12pm ET, also on FOX Deportes)
Napoli v Monza (2.45pm ET, also on FOX Deportes and SiriusXM FC)
Monday, September 30th
Parma v Cagliari (2.45pm ET, also on CBS Sports Network)
🇨🇦 Watch ALL Serie A games live on Fubo - and select games with Italian-language commentary on TLN 🇨🇦
🇺🇸 Watch select games with Spanish-language commentary on FOX Deportes and English-language commentary on SiriusXM 🇺🇸
👋 Grazie e arrivederci!
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