Inter Milan 1-1 Lazio: Talking points as Biancocelesti lose vital ground in Champions League qualification race

Inter Milan and Lazio shared the spoils in an exciting contest at San Siro on Sunday, in the penultimate round of the 2023/24 Serie A season. Daichi Kamada put the visitors ahead in the 32nd minute, but Denzel Dumfries made sure the new Italian champions kept a point in the 87th.

The teams

Coach Simone Inzaghi deployed his Inter side in a familiar 3-5-2 formation. Yann Sommer was in goal, with Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni forming the back line. Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were in the middle of the park, flanked by Matteo Darmian on the right and Federico Dimarco on the left. Upfront, Lautaro Martinez paired up with Marcus Thuram.

For Lazio, Igor Tudor arranged his men a shape that looked mostly like 3-4-2-1, with …

Koeman´s Barca finally click as Ronaldo-less Juve struggle for identity

Two teams struggling to impress under respective club legends met in Turin on Wednesday, and without Juventus star player on show, it was Ronald Koeman s Barcelona who came out on top.

A 34th meeting between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in club football was put on hold due to the latter s latest coronavirus test result, and Andrea Pirlo s side paid the price in a clash that was short of quality.

There were moments. Ousmane Dembele s opener, albeit fortuitous, came at the culmination of a fine run from the winger. On Barca s opposite flank, teenager Pedri shined and Messi showed flashes of brilliance.

At the other end, Alvaro Morata displayed neat finishing, only to see all three of his strikes disallowed, yet Merih Demiral s dreadful second-minute pass u…

Austria v North Macedonia: Arnautovic decision due as Foda eyes long-awaited Euros win

Austria boss Franco Foda has a selection dilemma in Bucharest as he bids to deliver the country s first ever win at the European Championship.

No team have played more games at the Euros without earning at least one win than Austria, who have fallen short in all six of their past finals fixtures.

The Group C clash with North Macedonia on Sunday is one in which many expect Austria to prevail, but Foda must decide whether Marko Arnautovic, the team s star forward, starts the match.

Arnautovic has indicated he feels ready for a pivotal role after recovering from a thigh injury, but there is no certainty the 32-year-old will play from the start.

The former West Ham man, now with Shanghai Port, played half an hour for Austria in a friendly against Slovakia…

Carrick signs new three-year deal with Middlesbrough

Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has signed a new contract to remain Middlesbrough head coach until 2027.

Carrick was set to enter the final 12 months of the three-year deal he signed when arriving at the Riverside Stadium in 2022, and he had been linked with Premier League clubs after impressing on Teesside.

He led the side to a fourth-place finish in the Championship in 2022-23, though they were beaten by Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals.

Carrick s team then missed out on the play-offs as they finished eighth in 2023-24, though they did reach the EFL Cup semi-finals, winning the first leg against Chelsea 1-0 before being thumped 6-1 in the return fixture.

We re delighted to announce that Michael Carrick has signed a new three…

Azpilicueta set for Inter switch

Cesar Azpilicueta is set to leave Chelsea, having agreed a two-year contract with Inter Milan, according to Fabrizio Romano. There is still a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, but the club have decided to show respect to their captain by agreeing to terminate his obligation and to allow him to secure a transfer more easily as a free agent.

Primarily a right-back, Azpilicueta has played in every defensive role, and occasionally in midfield as well, since signing for Chelsea in 2012. Over the 11 years gone since, he made a total of 508 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and producing 56 assists. He will leave the club with two Premier League medals, one FA Cup, one League Cup, one Champions League medal, two Europa League medals, one UEFA S…

Winger Luis Palma says he snubbed Rangers interest to join Celtic

Celtic new boy Luis Palma claims that he rebuffed Rangers interest to sign for the Parkhead club.

The Honduras winger signed a five-year deal with the Scottish champions this week from Greek club Aris and could make his debut in the Old Firm game at Ibrox on Sunday.

Speaking through an interpreter at Celtic Park, after the Champions League draw saw the Hoops put in the same group as Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio, the 23-year-old said: “My agent told me that there was contact from Rangers but when I knew of Celtic’s interest, I wanted to come here and I am happy to be here.

Luis Palma: I want to bring joy to the Celtic fans and follow in Emilio’s footsteps

I spoke to Emilio a couple of days ago. We spoke about the club, and now that I’m her…

´Only Cristiano was as talented as him at 18´ – Leao compared to both Ronaldos by former coach

Rafael Leao s pace, power and flair invokes memories of Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario, while only Cristiano Ronaldo was as talented as the Milan winger aged 18 at Sporting CP.

That is according to former Sporting coach Tiago Fernandes, who worked with Leao as he came through the ranks at the Portuguese club and coached a young Ronaldo before he joined Manchester United.

Leao has become central to Stefano Pioli s plans at Milan this season as the Rossoneri seek a first Scudetto since the 2010-11 campaign, sitting two points clear of Inter with two Serie A games left to play.

The 22-year-old starred in the 3-1 comeback victory at Hellas Verona on Sunday, driving down the left flank to provide two almost identical assists for birthday boy Sandro Tonali to score.

Tottenham Hotspur linked with Levi Garcia

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Levi Garcia from AEK Athens in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Tottenham are looking for a new player to reinforce their attack, and that Garcia is a player on their radar.

Fichajes has claimed that although AEK Athens do not want to sell Garcia, they know that they cannot keep hold of him and would have to let him go if a good offer comes in. Spurs have not made a bid for the the 26-year-old yet.

Garcia, who can operate as a forward or as a winger, has been on the books of AEK Athens since 2020 and has established himself as a key player for the Greek club. The Trinidad and Tobago international scored 11 goals and gave two assists in 12 Super League 1 matches and scored two goals and pro…

Adam Lewis hopes to give his mates, Mason Mount excluded, the upset they crave

Liverpool loanee Adam Lewis has been flooded with messages to send Manchester United out of the FA Cup at Newport and says he has been in contact with “good mate” Mason Mount about it.

Left-back Lewis is in his second temporary spell at League Two Newport and will be thrust into the spotlight on Sunday when United make their first trip to Rodney Parade for a fourth round tie.

Ever since Newport eased past Eastleigh in their third-round replay, Lewis says his phone has not stopped pinging with messages from his native Merseyside insisting Liverpool’s bitter rivals are dumped out of the cup.

“I’ve had tons of messages this week saying ‘Get stuck into them’ and make sure you win,” said the 24-year-old, who has had previous loan spells at Livingston, …

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal ‘absolutely’ interested in signing Kylian Mbappe

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal should be in the running to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris St Germain this summer .

The France forward, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, announced on Thursday that he will leave the Ligue 1 champions when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Arteta feels that signing Mbappe would match Arsenal’s ambitions of becoming the “best team”.

When asked if Arsenal should be interested in the 25-year-old, Arteta said: “Absolutely. Why not? If we want to be the best team then we are going to need the best talent and the best players for sure.

“When there is a player of that calibre then we always need to be in the conversation but it looks like (his future) is in a different way.”

Arte…