BREAKING: JUVENTUS SINKS AS ROMA AS LOIS OPENDA NETS HIS FIRST-EVER SERIE A GOAL
See how Juventus dominated Roma in a 2-1 thriller, featuring a debut Serie A goal for Openda and a Conceicao masterclass.
Francisco Conceicao and Lois Openda helped Juventus beat Roma, getting them within a point of Roma's fourth-place spot.
Both coaches had a bunch of players out for this big game. Teun Koopmeiners was suspended, and Federico Gatti, Juan Cabal, and Dusan Vlahovic were injured. Because of that, Gleison Bremer started for the first time since his knee injury back in September. Artem Dovbyk didn't travel with the team, Mario Hermoso wasn't in great shape, and Evan Ndicka and Neil El Aynaoui were at the Africa Cup of Nations. As a result, Roma had to redo their whole defence. Paulo Dybala and Matias Soulé played against their old team, just like Luciano Spalletti.
Dybala tried a shot after a quick pass in the box, but Michele Di Gregorio stopped it. Then, Juventus almost scored when Lois Openda chased down a pass from Khephren Thuram, but Mile Svilar and Devyne Rensch just barely cleared it.
Lorenzo Pellegrini and Thuram couldn't quite finish their chances, and Bremer blocked Manu Koné's shot in the box.
Wesley passed back to Dybala, who missed wide from close range, just ahead of Bremer.
Di Gregorio saved Pellegrini's shot, but Juventus had the best chance of the half. Kenan Yildiz found Francisco Conceicao, who shook past Rensch to force a save from Svilar. Openda's shot after the rebound was deflected over the bar.
Soon after, Juventus scored. Kenan Yildiz passed from the left, Andrea Cambiaso flicked it with his heel, and Conceicao scored into the bottom corner, through Jan Ziolkowski’s legs.
Juventus almost scored again after halftime. Kenan Yildiz and Openda teamed up on the left, and Yildiz's shot flashed across the goal, just missing the far post.
Svilar kept the score close, stopping Francisco Conceicao's flick and then saving a shot from Cambiaso.
The coach of Atalanta swapped out his front three players, while Francisco Conceicao and Bremer left with muscle problems.
Gianluca Mancini headed a corner kick over the bar, but then Juventus made it 2-0. Svilar made a save on Weston McKennie's header from Edon Zhegrova’s cross, but McKennie tapped the rebound to Openda, who scored his first Serie A goal.
Things got worse for Roma when Leon Bailey had to be subbed out because of an injury, just 20 minutes after coming on.
Roma scored when Evan Ferguson's shot was pushed into the path of Tommaso Baldanzi, who scored.
Kenan Yildiz almost made it 3-1, but his shot hit the post as Svilar beat.
In added time, Ferguson got past Daniele Rugani but shot the ball right into Di Gregorio's arms.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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