JUVENTUS QUARTET LAUDED AFTER SPALLETTI’S PROMISING AND ‘POSITIVE’ FIRST MATCH
Spalletti's Juventus off to a winning start! Kostic and Cambiaso on target in 2-1 victory over Cremonese. See which four players earned special praise for their standout Serie A displays.
Four Juve Stars Applauded - (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
With a 2-1 victory over Cremonese on the road in Serie A on Saturday, Luciano Spalletti got his Juventus career off to a winning start. Following a second straight Bianconeri league victory, four Bianconeri players received individual accolades from the media.
Despite a late consolation goal from Jamie Vardy, the Old Lady held onto their lead at Cremona on Saturday night thanks to goals from Filip Kostic and Andrea Cambiaso.
After defeating Udinese 3-1 on Wednesday, Juventus have now won two straight Serie A games. Before the Udinese victory, the team had lost all eight of their previous games.
Which players from Cremonese 1-2 Juventus stood out?
The media has praised a number of players specifically for their contributions to Juventus' victory on Saturday night.
Goal scorers Kostic and Cambiaso are among them. The Serbian, who had hardly played under Tudor, has already started two straight games, adds goal contributions to his game, and provides something a little different from Juve's other wide alternatives.
Interestingly, Kostic outscored every other Juventus player on the field on Saturday night in terms of dribbles, crosses, and duels won.
La Gazzetta dello Sport, among others, praised Cambiaso on Sunday after he had not scored in 11 months before the Cremonese victory. Playing right wing-back, which is his most natural position, he created three chances and made seven interceptions and recovered the ball.
Under Spalletti, Teun Koopmeiners had a good start as well. Despite a back injury crisis, the Bianconeri midfielder made the most forward passes of any player on the field (48), despite playing on the left of the back three.
Dusan Vlahovic has also received recognition for his play against Cremonese, even though he did not finish up on the scoresheet on Saturday night. During the 90 minutes, the Juventus striker had six shots on goal, won eight duels, and played nine one-twos with his teammates.
Under Spalletti, Teun Koopmeiners had a good start as well. Despite a back injury crisis, the Bianconeri midfielder made the most forward passes of any player on the field (48), despite playing on the left of the back three.
Dusan Vlahovic has also received recognition for his play against Cremonese, even though he did not finish up on the scoresheet on Saturday night. During the 90 minutes, the Juventus striker had six shots on goal, won eight duels, and played nine one-twos with his teammates.
IGLI TARE BACKS NKUNKU AS CENTRE FORWARD ABLE TO LINK WITH LEãO
AC Milan director Igli Tare is confident in Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku's new strike partnership against Roma. Despite injuries, he believes the duo can deliver in a crucial Serie A clash for the standings.
Christopher Nkunku - Getty Images
Regarding Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku's brand-new striking combination versus Roma, AC Milan director Igli Tare is comforting. "We need to think optimistically."
At 19.45 GMT, it begins at San Siro.
The Liveblog will provide you with live coverage of all the action and build-up from today's five Serie A games.
At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, there is a lot on the line because a victory would tie the Rossoneri with their rivals for second place.
However, following Napoli's 0-0 tie with Como, a Giallorossi win would put them atop the standings.
For Tare, Milan vs. Roma was a unique experience.
Does playing Roma feel like a derby for Tare, who spent the majority of his career at Lazio as a striker and a director of sport?
We are solely focused on Milan defeating a formidable opponent to move us close to the top of the standings since I have won enough derbies, particularly the one that mattered on May 26 in Rome. Tare told DAZN Italia, "We have to believe positively."
Milan continues to struggle with injuries as Pervis Estupinan and Ardon Jashari are only fit for a bench role, while Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, and Adrien Rabiot are sidelined.
With neither Leao nor Nkunku being true centre-forwards, it means a completely different front-row pairing.
While it is true that they share traits, Nkunku has spent 70% of his playing career as a centre-forward. They are beginning together tonight for the first time, and they demonstrated their ability to work well together during training, so we will see," Tare said.
"Gimenez is not having a good time, but the club and staff fully trust him." He and I both suffered the injury at a difficult moment, but we must go on because these things happen in football.
Has the filmmaker gained a better understanding of Rafael Leao? Max Allegri stated during his press conference that it was challenging to understand his perspective.
"I think Leao is a genuinely kind guy. On the surface, people have this impression of him, but after seeing him every day, they realise that he is completely different. He is capable of winning the game on his own, and I do not doubt that he will perform admirably this evening.
Before kickoff tonight, there will be a minute of silence in honour of Giovanni Galeone, who passed away today at the age of 84. Galeone was Allegri's and Gian Piero Gasperini's mentor.
"Max is undoubtedly impacted by this. I was just discussing Galeone with the coach, who had a close relationship with him, loved deeply about him deeply, and considered him to be family. Unfortunately, this is life," Tare said to DAZN.
WINLESS WOLVES SACK VITOR PEREIRA IN EARLY-SEASON PREMIER LEAGUE SHOCK
Wolves have sacked manager Vitor Pereira after a winless start to the Premier League season, leaving them bottom of the table. The decision follows a 3-0 defeat to Fulham.
Wolves sack manager Vitor Pereira - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are now at the bottom of the Premier League standings, fired manager Vitor Pereira. Only a few weeks have passed since the 57-year-old Pereira was given a new three-year contract.
With no victories from their first ten games, Wolves' crushing 3-0 loss to Fulham on the road on Saturday was the last straw. They failed to inspire a victory at Craven Cottage despite Pereira making nine changes to his starting lineup from the team that lost to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
After Emmanuel Agbadou was sent off in the 36th minute, Wolves played more than half the game with 10 men, but they were already behind 1-0. After Ryan Sessegnon's early strike was doubled by Harry Wilson, Yerson Mosquera's own goal capped the thumping victory and ended Pereira's 11-month reign.
The Portuguese, who was brought in to replace Gary O'Neill in December 2024, assisted in leading Wolves to victory the previous season. But the loss of outstanding footballer Matheus Cunha after Manchester United triggered his £62.5million release clause was a devastating blow.
Wolves' only wins this season were in the Carabao Cup, both on home soil. In the second round, they defeated West Ham 3-2, and then they defeated Everton 2-0.
Wolves lost to Fulham on Saturday, falling eight points short of safety. Even the two 1-1 draws Pereira was able to secure were heartbreaking, as he gave up late equalisers at home against Brighton and away to Tottenham on consecutive weekends.
Periera faced irate Molineux fans following last Sunday's 3-2 setback at home to recently promoted Burnley, in which the visitors scored the game-winning goal in the 95th minute. The Wolves management gave the former Porto, Olympiacos, and Fenerbahce manager two more games, but they have now taken the axe and started looking for a replacement.