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SERIE A

LIVE – Three days to King Charles’ coronation in England, will Nigeria’s Osimhen and teammates at Napoli be crowned tonight in Italy?

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Scudetto, there is Udinese-Napoli: very hot atmosphere at Maradona, over 12 thousand Neapolitans in Udine

Napoli is Champion of Italy. Third Scudetto in the history of the Azzurri that thanks to the 1-1 of the Dacia Arena arithmetically conquer the title with 5 days in advance.

22:37 – ENDS HERE!!!

90′ – The referee grants 3 minutes of recovery.

85′ – Second substitution for Napoli: Lozano takes Kvaratskhelia’s place.

81′ – Ehizibue can’t do it: Ebosele enters in his place. Samardzic also leaves, replaced by Thauvin.

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80′ – Physical problem for Ehizibue who collapses to the ground: game stopped, the Juventus medical staff on the pitch.

78′ – Another substitution at Udinese: the author of the goal Lovric comes out and Arslan enters.

73′ – Udinese substitution: Udogie comes out, Zeegelaar in his place.

71′ – ZIELINSKI Spooned in the area by Elmas for the Pole, who kicks on the fly but finds a great reflex of Silvestri.

68′ – On the continuation of the ball is Osimhen to put the ball inside, but after a foul: game already stopped.

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67′ – Kvaratskhelia dances on the ball on the left-handed lane. On his cross by a whisker Elmas misses the impact with the ball.

63′ – First change for Napoli: Zielinski comes on in place of Ndombele.

60′ – Becao’s attempt from outside after a nice combination with Lovric: right-footed angled, but Meret is well placed and blocks.

56′ – Napoli fans go crazy at the Dacia Arena. Napoli now in possession of the ball and looking for the second goal.

63′ – First change for Napoli: Zielinski comes on in place of Ndombele.

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60′ – Becao’s attempt from outside after a nice combination with Lovric: right-footed angled, but Meret is well placed and blocks.

56′ – Napoli fans go crazy at the Dacia Arena. Napoli now in possession of the ball and looking for the second goal.

60′ – Becao’s attempt from outside after a nice combination with Lovric: right-footed angled, but Meret is well placed and blocks.

56′ – Napoli fans go crazy at the Dacia Arena. Napoli now in possession of the ball and looking for the second goal.

52′ – GOOOOOOL DEL NAPOLIIIIII!!!!! Anguissa receives in the box, does not kick and supports Kvaratskhelia. Round shot, Silvestri rejects. On the retort, however, there is Osimhen, who places with his right and signs the 1-1!

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51′ – Start of the second half in line with what we saw in the first half: Udinese well organized, Napoli struggles to find spaces.

47′ – No change at half-time: on the pitch the same twenty-two of the first half

The first fraction of the Dacia Arena closes on the score of 1-0. So far, Lovric’s goal in the 13th minute was decided. Teams in the locker room.

21:32 – HALF ENDS

46′ – Kvaratskhelia comes in for Olivera, who first strikes: Lovric makes good guard.

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45′ – The referee awards one minute of recovery.

44′ – Udinese continue to attack and Napoli struggles to find the right synchronisms. Not a great first half for the Azzurri.

42′ – Good track for Anguissa, who at the time of the cross, however, completely smoothes the ball.

37′ – On the development of a corner for Udinese, Bijol dunks a header but the ball rises over the crossbar.

35′ – Tempers are ignited on the pitch. Kvaratskhelia gasps to the left but is stretched out. For Abyss everything is regular, protests from the bench.

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32′ – OSIMHEN! Cross from Di Lorenzo’s three-quarters to look for the Nigerian who detaches on Bijol and impacts with a header: the ball comes out of a breath to the left of Silvestri.

30′ – LOVRIC! Pereyra recovers the ball and serves Lovric who kicks from outside: Meret is alert and rejects.

28′ – Napoli struggles to kick on goal, Udinese always arrives first on the second balls.

24′ – OSIMHEN! On the developments of a set piece Osimhen anticipates everyone in the area: angled corner, Silvestri deflects into the corner. However, the flag is raised, offside of the Nigerian.

22′ – Kvaratskhelia ends up on the ground in the box after a clash with Becao. For the referee everything is regular.

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9′ – Napoli cannot find spaces at this stage. Very good Udinese in man-on-man duels.

16′ – Olivera’s central serpentine goes past Ehizibue who spreads it: foul and yellow.

13′ – UDINESE SCORES! Udogie supports in the box for Lovric who, guiltily left alone by the Napoli defense, kicks a precise right that slips into the second post.

11′ – Elmas gives the ball to Udinese outside the box. Walace recovers high and kicks: Rrahmani makes wall.

8′ – On the developments of the corner Di Lorenzo takes the lead, no problem for Silvestri who blocks.

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7′ – Di Lorenzo scoops in the box for Ndombele, Perez touches the ball and puts it in the corner.

6′ – The script is clear: Napoli manages the ball possession, Udinese is well closed.

2′ – Immediately clash between Kvaratskhelia and Becao. The Georgian remains on the ground, but it is nothing serious.

20:45 – GO! START THE MATCH

20:42 PM – The teams are on the field: there is very little left to the kick-off.

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20:37 – Cristiano Giuntoli, sporting director of Napoli, before the match with Udinese spoke to the microphone of DAZN: “It’s a very delicate and beautiful moment, there is one last centimeter to do and you have to be concentrated. After so many years, having the gratitude of the Neapolitan public is a source of great pride and satisfaction”.

Does Spalletti consider him so much in love that he has no doubts about staying? “We didn’t talk about it, I know he’s in love with the city, the team, the people and he gave his all in this project. Then we’ll see.”

20:34 – Pierpaolo Marino, director of the technical area of Udinese, before the match with Napoli spoke to the microphone of DAZN: “I feel the one who sowed, from my idea with the help of the Coppola family Castel Volturno was born, in a few months. I sowed from scratch, in three years we went to Da Luz to play for Benfica. It is as if it were a grandson that you find, the base was built solid. I said that I had gone to sow in the desert and today, thanks to the path taken by De Laurentiis and all the technical collaborators who succeeded me, after 2009, the year of my release, now the sowing is harvested”.

Who is Napoli’s key player? “Kvaratskhelia at the start of the season gave that leap in quality, imagination, technique that Maradona needed. It is what enhances the DNA of the Neapolitan public”

Has De Laurentiis already asked you about Samardzic?” They are very attentive to our players, we have a very good relationship. There is Giuntoli who has an eye of great professionalism, he is a talent hunter and here there are. Now the market has not yet begun, but a couple of our players are being watched.”

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20:24 – Amir Rrahmani, Napoli defender, before the match with Udinese spoke to DAZN: “We saw Lazio-Sassuolo together, but we know we keep the situation in hand and now we want to close it tonight because there is a whole people waiting. We will see a Napoli that wants to win the Scudetto, we would be very happy even with a draw.”

20:23 – Walace, Udinese midfielder, speaks to DAZN before the match against Napoli that could deliver the Scudetto to the latter: “We know that Napoli is here to win, but we play at home in front of our fans and we have our motivation to do well today”.

How did you prepare for the match?
“With a high attitude from the beginning and a great sense of belonging. They are strong but we are not far behind.”

20:09 – There will not be the eventual crowd bath in the city for the Napoli players returning from Udine, whether the Scudetto arrives tonight or not. Sky informs that the blue program provides for overnight stays in the Friulian capital, with the team that will return to the city tomorrow although at the moment it is not clear in which airport it will land.

20:00 – Creepy atmosphere at Maradona for the streaming broadcast of Udinese-Napoli that could be worth the Scudetto to the Azzurri. Stadium already almost full, transformed into a real disco by the deejay Decibel Bellini. It looks like a pre-match of a Champions League final, the stadium is missing only the team that will play at 20.45 at the Dacia Arena.

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19:37 PM – The formations of Udinese-Napoli are official, a match valid for the 33rd day and which could deliver the arithmetic Scudetto to the Azzurri. Luciano Spalletti made two changes from the 1-1 home draw against Salernitana: Ndombele replaced Zielinski and Elmas replaced Lozano. For the rest all confirmed. Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo and Olivera on the wings with Rrahmani and Kim in the centre of defence. Midfield with Lobotka, Anguissa and Ndombele, while in attack the trident formed by Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia and Elmas.

UDINESE (3-5-1-1): Silvestri; Becao, Bijol, Perez; Ehizibue, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Udogie; Pereyra; Nestorovski. All. Sottil.

NAPLES (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Ndombele; Elmas, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia. All. Spalletti

18:55 p.m. – The expectation is growing in Udine for the match between Udinese and Napoli scheduled at 20.45, which could give the Scudetto to the Neapolitans. Long queues at the entrance of the guest sector of the Dacia Arena, with some fans already wearing the shirt of Italian champions.

18:31 PM – The atmosphere is already warm outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, where tonight there will be over fifty thousand watching the giant screens Udinese-Napoli. The event set up by the blue club for the occasion has been sold out and the queues at the turnstiles are already very long, open from 18 pm, obviously with the blue to dominate.

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18:00 – Aurelio De Laurentiis is back in Naples. The president has decided to see Udinese-Napoli from Maradona, along with the five thousand and more who will populate him. In these hours he landed in the city and was sighted, as reported by Rai News, at the central station in the afternoon.

17.00pm – Latest training directly from Sky Sports in view of the match that tonight could deliver the Scudetto to Napoli. Luciano Spalletti in Udine will play with the best possible formation. Lozano favoured over Elmas who could have a chance in midfield in place of Zielinski. Trident completed by Osimhen and Kvara.

PROBABLE LINEUPS
Udinese (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becao, Bijol, Perez; Ehizibue, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Udogie; Nestorovski, Pereyra

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Sold out at Maradona. Tickets are sold out to attend tonight’s special event with the giant screens positioned on the edge of the playing perimeter that will broadcast the match in Udine. The turnstiles of the Maradona Stadium will open at 18 pm

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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SERIE A

Modric joins Milan on  one-year deal

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 Luka Modric arrives in Milan - Milan, Italy - July 14, 2025 Luka Modric arrives in Milan before signing for AC Milan REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo 

Croatia captain Luka Modric, who left Real Madrid after 13 years at the LaLiga club, has completed his move to AC Milan on a one-year deal with an option to extend until June 2027, the Serie A side said on Monday.

The midfielder’s arrival was confirmed by newly-appointed Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri earlier this month.

“Very happy to be here to start a new chapter in my career,” said Modric, who turns 40 in September, in an Instagram video shared by Milan.

Milan said Modric will wear the number 14 shirt, which he previously wore during his four years at English side Tottenham Hotspur to honour Dutch great Johan Cruyff.

“It’s an immense honour for them to compare me to (Cruyff)… I wore the no. 14 at Tottenham in honour of him, and because the no. 10 wasn’t available,” Modric had said after winning the Ballon d’Or award in 2018.

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Modric, regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, announced in May that he would leave Real after the Club World Cup. He has made 597 appearances for the Spanish club, winning 28 trophies including four LaLiga and six Champions League titles.

He played his last game for Real on Wednesday, coming on as a second-half substitute during a 4-0 loss to Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals.

“It’s a bitter end… he’s a legend of world football and of Real Madrid. He’ll be remembered for many more good things than for the 25 minutes he played today,” Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said after the match.

Modric, considered Croatia’s greatest player of all time, has represented the country a record 188 times, scoring 28 goals. He won the Golden Ball at World Cup 2018, where he led Croatia to the final for the first time.

He won the Ballon d’Or in December that year, becoming the first player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the prestigious annual award since 2007.

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Modric’s arrival reinforces a Milan midfield that also features Youssouf Fofana, Yunus Musah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with Samuele Ricci joining from Torino earlier this month.

Milan, who failed to qualify for a European competition after finishing eighth in the Italian top-flight league last season, begin their Serie A campaign against newly-promoted Cremonese on August 23.

-Reuters

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SERIE A

Pope Leo meets Italian Serie A champions Napoli

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Pope Leo XIV meets with SSC Napoli players and managers after Serie A title victory, at the Vatican, May 27, 2025. Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS

 Pope Leo XIV welcomed Italy’s newly crowned Serie A champions Napoli to the Vatican on Tuesday, joking about his own soccer allegiances.

Napoli won their fourth “Scudetto” on Friday with a 2-0 home victory over Cagliari, edging out Inter Milan by one point in a nail-biting end to the season.

The team, captained by Italian international Giovanni Di Lorenzo, arrived for their papal audience a day after a triumphant open-top bus parade through central Naples.

“The press says I am an AS Roma fan, but you are welcome! This is what the press says. Not everything you read in the press is true,” the pope said, according to a transcript.

Leo, the first pope to come from the U.S., follows and practices sports, including tennis. People who know him have described him to the media as an AS Roma supporter.

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Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis gave him a blue Napoli jersey signed by players, bearing the number 10 and his name in Italian, “Papa Leone XIV”.

“You are a number 10, so you are a great striker”, De Laurentiis said. Leo replied with a chuckle and a simple “thank you”.

Coach Antonio Conte, whom De Laurentiis introduced as “deeply Catholic”, knelt down and kissed the pope’s hand, before Leo told him he had seen him many times on TV.

In a short speech, the pontiff stressed the importance of team spirit and collaboration, and sport’s educational value, especially for young people.

Winning comes “at the end of a long journey, where what matters the most is not a one-time exploit or the extraordinary performance of one champion”, he said.

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“The championship is won by the team, and when I say ‘team’ I mean the players, the coach with the whole squad, and the club,” he added.

Leo ended his remarks giving his blessings to players and club officials, and offering congratulations, also on behalf of his personal cook.

“She is from Naples and she says: best wishes! She would like to be here too, Mrs Rosa, (she is) a big fan”, the pope said.

-Reuters

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SERIE A

Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta secure Champions League spot with Roma win

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Atalanta v AS Roma - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - May 12, 2025 Atalanta's Ibrahim Sulemana scores their second goal past AS Roma's Mile Svilar REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

A second-half goal by substitute Ibrahim Sulemana earned Atalanta a 2-1 home win over AS Roma in Serie A on Monday, securing Champions League qualification for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.

Sulemana sealed the three points for Atalanta in the 76th minute, scoring with a low strike from just outside the area, after Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante cancelled out an early opener by Ademola Lookman.

Atalanta, who fell behind in the title race, sit third in the standings on 71 points and have a seven-point cushion over fourth-placed Juventus and Lazio in fifth with two games left to play.

Roma, who failed to capitalise on Lazio and Juventus dropping points in a 1-1 stalemate on Saturday, are sixth with 63 points.

Atalanta snapped the visitors’ impressive unbeaten league run of 19 games, with Claudio Ranieri’s side previously having been defeated mid-December at Como.

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Things started off brightly for Atalanta as Lookman stroked in past Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar to put them in front after nine minutes.

Charles De Ketelaere dribbled past the Roma defence to set the Nigerian up with a precise low cross inside the box and the striker controlled the ball to score inside the right post.

It was Atalanta’s 100th goal this season across all competitions.

De Ketelaere had two good chances to double the advantage but Roma midfielder Cristante levelled for the visitors instead, netting with a flicked header after the half-hour mark.

Things slowed down significantly after a lively first half until Roma were awarded a penalty after an hour of play, following a clash between Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic and Manu Kone.

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The referee, however, overturned his decision after consulting VAR.

Sulemana eventually restored the lead for Atalanta in the 76th minute, scoring with a low strike from just outside the area — a goal that stood after a VAR check for a potential offside.

Roma host AC Milan next weekend before visiting mid-table Torino in their bid to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.

Atalanta travel to Genoa on Sunday before welcoming lowly Parma in their final fixture.

-Reuters

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