Category: Match Report

Serie A | Empoli 1-1 Salernitana: Penalty save blows race wide open

May 14, 2022

Salernitana fought back for a point in Empoli, but saw a late Diego Perotti penalty saved by Guglielmo Vicario, this result still mathematically relegating Venezia and leaving the rest wide open.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Empoli 1-1 Salernitana

The Tuscans were already comfortably mid-table, while Davide Nicola had dragged his side kicking and screaming from a seemingly impossible situation to one point clear of the drop zone. Valerio Verre and Petar Stojanovic returned from suspension, with Riccardo Marchizza, Lorenzo Tonelli and Nicolas Haas injured. Franck Ribery and Emil Bohinen sat out bans after the chaotic 1-1 draw with Cagliari.

Serie A Liveblog: Empoli-Salernitana, Roma-Venezia, Udinese-Spezia, Verona-Torino

Just seven minutes in, Fabiano Parisi needed a goal-line clearance to prevent the Milan Djuric header on a corner. Moments later, Guglielmo Vicario fingertipped a Norbert Gyomber header onto the underside of the bar from Simone Verdi’s free kick.

However, it was Empoli who broke the deadlock when Kristjan Asllani threaded through for Patrick Cutrone, who squeezed his right-foot shot between the goalkeeper and the near post. That was Cutrone’s third Serie A goal of the season, his second past Salernitana.

Ivan Radovanovic’s daisy-cutter flashed inches wide, while Pasquale Mazzocchi and Ederson strikes skimmed the far top corner.

Valerio Verre tested Luigi Sepe from distance and Cutrone should’ve made it 2-0, his free header off target from six yards.

Guglielmo Vicario made a simply extraordinary save to claw Federico Bonazzoli’s header off the line after a Matteo Ruggeri cross.

Moments later, Empoli went on the counter and Cutrone hit the base of the upright, then Sepe needed a double save on Nedim Bajrami and Filippo Bandinelli.

Vicario made another extraordinary save on Djuric’s header and the attempted Bonazzoli tap-in. However, Vicario also fumbled the successive corner and Bonazzoli equalised with a spectacular bicycle-kick.

The drama wasn’t over, as Mamadou Coulibaly and Simone Romagnoli both lunged at the same ball, the Salernitana man getting there millimetres earlier and so a penalty was awarded after a VAR review. Diego Perotti stepped up, but his spot-kick was fingertipped out of the bottom corner by Vicario.

Andrea La Mantia almost won it for Empoli, a header inches over in the final kick. At the final whistle Perotti collapsed in tears, consoled by his teammates.

Empoli 1-1 Salernitana

Cutrone 31 (E), Bonazzoli 76 (S)

Saved penalty: Perotti 84 (S)

Serie A | Empoli 1-1 Salernitana: Penalty save blows race wide open

May 14, 2022

Salernitana fought back for a point in Empoli, but saw a late Diego Perotti penalty saved by Guglielmo Vicario, this result still mathematically relegating Venezia and leaving the rest wide open.

The Tuscans were already comfortably mid-table, while Davide Nicola had dragged his side kicking and screaming from a seemingly impossible situation to one point clear of the drop zone. Valerio Verre and Petar Stojanovic returned from suspension, with Riccardo Marchizza, Lorenzo Tonelli and Nicolas Haas injured. Franck Ribery and Emil Bohinen sat out bans after the chaotic 1-1 draw with Cagliari.

Serie A Liveblog: Empoli-Salernitana, Roma-Venezia, Udinese-Spezia, Verona-Torino

Just seven minutes in, Fabiano Parisi needed a goal-line clearance to prevent the Milan Djuric header on a corner. Moments later, Guglielmo Vicario fingertipped a Norbert Gyomber header onto the underside of the bar from Simone Verdi’s free kick.

However, it was Empoli who broke the deadlock when Kristjan Asllani threaded through for Patrick Cutrone, who squeezed his right-foot shot between the goalkeeper and the near post. That was Cutrone’s third Serie A goal of the season, his second past Salernitana.

Ivan Radovanovic’s daisy-cutter flashed inches wide, while Pasquale Mazzocchi and Ederson strikes skimmed the far top corner.

Valerio Verre tested Luigi Sepe from distance and Cutrone should’ve made it 2-0, his free header off target from six yards.

Guglielmo Vicario made a simply extraordinary save to claw Federico Bonazzoli’s header off the line after a Matteo Ruggeri cross.

Moments later, Empoli went on the counter and Cutrone hit the base of the upright, then Sepe needed a double save on Nedim Bajrami and Filippo Bandinelli.

Vicario made another extraordinary save on Djuric’s header and the attempted Bonazzoli tap-in. However, Vicario also fumbled the successive corner and Bonazzoli equalised with a spectacular bicycle-kick.

The drama wasn’t over, as Mamadou Coulibaly and Simone Romagnoli both lunged at the same ball, the Salernitana man getting there millimetres earlier and so a penalty was awarded after a VAR review. Diego Perotti stepped up, but his spot-kick was fingertipped out of the bottom corner by Vicario.

Andrea La Mantia almost won it for Empoli, a header inches over in the final kick. At the final whistle Perotti collapsed in tears, consoled by his teammates.

Empoli 1-1 Salernitana

Cutrone 31 (E), Bonazzoli 76 (S)

Saved penalty: Perotti 84 (S)

Nadal Blunts Isner To Kick-Start Rome Bid

May 11, 2022

Rafael Nadal’s bid for an 11th crown at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia enjoyed a smooth start on Wednesday afternoon as the legendary Spaniard blunted the big-serving John Isner to seal a 6-3, 6-1 second-round win at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Nadal has been untouchable at the Foro Italico for much of his career and he immediately looked settled in his return games against Isner, countering the American’s huge serve with his trademark spinning groundstrokes. Although the unseeded Isner competed well, he struggled to recover any momentum after letting slip two break points at 3-3 in the opening set as Nadal dominated the second to move to a 69-7 match record in the Italian capital.

Nadal identified his hold in the seventh game of the first set as the key turning point in his eighth tour-level win over Isner. “I finished better than how I started, without a doubt,” said the Spaniard after the match. “The beginning of the match was not good for me.

“He had some chances on the return and had two break points. [He had] two not difficult balls so I was in his hands at that moment. I was lucky that he missed those shots and then I was able to break. Then the match changed, of course. With the first set on the board, and having the break in the first game of the second [set], everything changed.”

The win continued Nadal’s comeback to competitive action after he reached the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open last week following a six-week layoff due to a rib injury. Having lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in Spain, the win over Isner ensured Nadal has still never lost consecutive matches on clay, with Wednesday’s victory taking him to 44-0 in matches following a defeat on the surface.

An evenly matched opening set hinged on the seventh and eighth games, as Nadal saved two break points to hold before breaking the American for 5-3. He served out to clinch the set as Nadal began to up his level to the delight of a passionate Italian crowd.

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Nadal’s return game continued to look in good shape against former World No. 8 Isner, and the 36-time Masters 1000 champion broke the World No. 27 three times in the second set to complete a comfortable 76-minute victory. The win was built on relentless consistency from Nadal, who made just three unforced errors in the match.

“I just focussed on myself,” added Nadal when asked about his second-set improvement. “I focussed on trying to keep going. I knew I had to do things better than I had done, and I need to practise to try and do it better and better.”

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The Spaniard next faces another North American star in the third round, 13th seed Denis Shapovalov. The pair met in a memorable semi-final in Rome last year, when Nadal saved two match points before prevailing over the Canadian in a deciding-set tie-break after three hours, 27 minutes.

“Last year was a joke, the match that I saved here against him,” said Nadal. “[I was] super lucky. I know how dangerous he is, I need to play well, of course. I need to play better than today, but after a while without being on court it is another victory and I have the chance again to play against one of the best players in the world.

“I need to build things again after a tough stoppage and that’s what I am trying now. I just need to stay with the right attitude, and let’s see if I am able to make that happen.”

Nadal Blunts Isner To Kick-Start Rome Bid

May 11, 2022

Rafael Nadal’s bid for an 11th crown at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia enjoyed a smooth start on Wednesday afternoon as the legendary Spaniard blunted the big-serving John Isner to seal a 6-3, 6-1 second-round win at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Nadal has been untouchable at the Foro Italico for much of his career and he immediately looked settled in his return games against Isner, countering the American’s huge serve with his trademark spinning groundstrokes. Although the unseeded Isner competed well, he struggled to recover any momentum after letting slip two break points at 3-3 in the opening set as Nadal dominated the second to move to a 69-7 match record in the Italian capital.

Nadal identified his hold in the seventh game of the first set as the key turning point in his eighth tour-level win over Isner. “I finished better than how I started, without a doubt,” said the Spaniard after the match. “The beginning of the match was not good for me.

“He had some chances on the return and had two break points. [He had] two not difficult balls so I was in his hands at that moment. I was lucky that he missed those shots and then I was able to break. Then the match changed, of course. With the first set on the board, and having the break in the first game of the second [set], everything changed.”

The win continued Nadal’s comeback to competitive action after he reached the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open last week following a six-week layoff due to a rib injury. Having lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in Spain, the win over Isner ensured Nadal has still never lost consecutive matches on clay, with Wednesday’s victory taking him to 44-0 in matches following a defeat on the surface.

An evenly matched opening set hinged on the seventh and eighth games, as Nadal saved two break points to hold before breaking the American for 5-3. He served out to clinch the set as Nadal began to up his level to the delight of a passionate Italian crowd.

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Nadal’s return game continued to look in good shape against former World No. 8 Isner, and the 36-time Masters 1000 champion broke the World No. 27 three times in the second set to complete a comfortable 76-minute victory. The win was built on relentless consistency from Nadal, who made just three unforced errors in the match.

“I just focussed on myself,” added Nadal when asked about his second-set improvement. “I focussed on trying to keep going. I knew I had to do things better than I had done, and I need to practise to try and do it better and better.”

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The Spaniard next faces another North American star in the third round, 13th seed Denis Shapovalov. The pair met in a memorable semi-final in Rome last year, when Nadal saved two match points before prevailing over the Canadian in a deciding-set tie-break after three hours, 27 minutes.

“Last year was a joke, the match that I saved here against him,” said Nadal. “[I was] super lucky. I know how dangerous he is, I need to play well, of course. I need to play better than today, but after a while without being on court it is another victory and I have the chance again to play against one of the best players in the world.

“I need to build things again after a tough stoppage and that’s what I am trying now. I just need to stay with the right attitude, and let’s see if I am able to make that happen.”

Zverev Holds Off Baez To Advance In Rome

May 11, 2022

Alexander Zverev was given no time to settle in his opening match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Wednesday, but the second seed raised his game to fend off a strong challenge from the in-form Sebastian Baez at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

The German struggled to find the form that carried him to a 10th Masters 1000 championship match appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open last week, but he found a sufficient level to outlast Estoril champion Baez and clinch a 7-6(6), 6-3 in an intriguing second-round encounter at the Foro Italico.

“I’m [very pleased], especially coming from Madrid to here,” said Zverev after his 89-minute win over qualifier Baez. “It’s not always not easy because Madrid is at altitude and the balls are flying like crazy, but here everything is pretty slow. It wasn’t an easy match and I’m happy with the way I played at the end. He played three matches already here, it’s my first, so I’m happy with the win.”

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Despite a disappointing loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid final, the German looked back to his best at times in the Spanish capital after an inconsistent start to 2022 that has left the World No. 3 still hunting a first title of the year. He will hope to use the victory over Baez as a foundation for another deep run in Rome, where he claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title as a 20-year-old in 2017.

Although it was not the most fluent performance from Zverev, the World No.3’s ballstriking ability was vital in helping him overcome the stubborn Argentine. The German fired 28 winners to his opponent’s 19, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Baez came out with all the confidence of a man on a six-match winning streak. The World No. 37 won his first 21 points on serve as Zverev struggled to fire up his return game. The German was also solid behind his delivery, however, with neither player facing a break point in the first set. Despite letting a 6/2 lead slip in the tie-break, Zverev’s extra power proved the difference as he converted his fifth set point with an ace.

The second set looked to be playing out in a similar fashion as Baez continued to give little away behind his delivery, but Zverev belatedly put together a streak of top-quality returns to clinch the only break of the match in the eighth game. He served out without issue to improve his match record in Rome to 14-4.

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Zverev was pleased with the way he recovered to seal the first set tie-break 8/6 after letting four set points slip. “At the end of the day I feel like I did nothing wrong,” said the German. “I got a little bit unlucky, made one unforced error with my overhead, but those are not easy shots either. In the end you have to fight until the very last moment, and the first set was [very important] for me.”

Zverev’s third-round opponent in Rome will be Alex de Minaur or Tommy Paul.

Zverev Holds Off Baez To Advance In Rome

May 11, 2022

Alexander Zverev was given no time to settle in his opening match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Wednesday, but the second seed raised his game to fend off a strong challenge from the in-form Sebastian Baez at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

The German struggled to find the form that carried him to a 10th Masters 1000 championship match appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open last week, but he found a sufficient level to outlast Estoril champion Baez and clinch a 7-6(6), 6-3 in an intriguing second-round encounter at the Foro Italico.

“I’m [very pleased], especially coming from Madrid to here,” said Zverev after his 89-minute win over qualifier Baez. “It’s not always not easy because Madrid is at altitude and the balls are flying like crazy, but here everything is pretty slow. It wasn’t an easy match and I’m happy with the way I played at the end. He played three matches already here, it’s my first, so I’m happy with the win.”

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Despite a disappointing loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid final, the German looked back to his best at times in the Spanish capital after an inconsistent start to 2022 that has left the World No. 3 still hunting a first title of the year. He will hope to use the victory over Baez as a foundation for another deep run in Rome, where he claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title as a 20-year-old in 2017.

Although it was not the most fluent performance from Zverev, the World No.3’s ballstriking ability was vital in helping him overcome the stubborn Argentine. The German fired 28 winners to his opponent’s 19, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Baez came out with all the confidence of a man on a six-match winning streak. The World No. 37 won his first 21 points on serve as Zverev struggled to fire up his return game. The German was also solid behind his delivery, however, with neither player facing a break point in the first set. Despite letting a 6/2 lead slip in the tie-break, Zverev’s extra power proved the difference as he converted his fifth set point with an ace.

The second set looked to be playing out in a similar fashion as Baez continued to give little away behind his delivery, but Zverev belatedly put together a streak of top-quality returns to clinch the only break of the match in the eighth game. He served out without issue to improve his match record in Rome to 14-4.

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Zverev was pleased with the way he recovered to seal the first set tie-break 8/6 after letting four set points slip. “At the end of the day I feel like I did nothing wrong,” said the German. “I got a little bit unlucky, made one unforced error with my overhead, but those are not easy shots either. In the end you have to fight until the very last moment, and the first set was [very important] for me.”

Zverev’s third-round opponent in Rome will be Alex de Minaur or Tommy Paul.

Serie A Highlights: Verona 1-3 Milan

May 8, 2022

Watch as Milan come back to conquer their Verona fears with a birthday brace for Sandro Tonali on Rafael Leao assists and Alessandro Florenzi’s strike.

Tonali thought he had opened the scoring on his 22nd birthday only to be denied by the offside flag.

Serie A | Verona 1-3 Milan: Birthday boy Tonali conquers the Bentegodi

Instead, Marco Davide Faraoni nodded in the Darko Lazovic cross, but Leao’s pace caused huge problems for Hellas, setting up two more goals for Tonali.

Florenzi marked his return from knee surgery with a goal under two minutes after coming off the bench.

Serie A Highlights: Verona 1-3 Milan

May 8, 2022

Watch as Milan come back to conquer their Verona fears with a birthday brace for Sandro Tonali on Rafael Leao assists and Alessandro Florenzi’s strike.

Tonali thought he had opened the scoring on his 22nd birthday only to be denied by the offside flag.

Serie A | Verona 1-3 Milan: Birthday boy Tonali conquers the Bentegodi

Instead, Marco Davide Faraoni nodded in the Darko Lazovic cross, but Leao’s pace caused huge problems for Hellas, setting up two more goals for Tonali.

Florenzi marked his return from knee surgery with a goal under two minutes after coming off the bench.

Karatsev Ousts Harris, Sets Djokovic Clash In Rome

May 8, 2022

Digging deep to escape a poor run of form is a crucial part of life on the ATP Tour, and Aslan Karatsev showed he was up for the fight at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday afternoon.

The World No. 34 saved a match point in the deciding set tie-break to defeat Lloyd Harris in the first round of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome and book a second-round clash with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Karatsev’s form has tailed off since he started the year with six straight wins and a third ATP Tour title in Sydney, with the 28-year-old holding a 2-10 record since his run to the third round at the Australian Open.

After splitting the opening two sets the match was settled in a nerve-wracking final-set tie-break, with the big-serving Harris saving a match point at 5/6 before letting slip one of his own at 7/6. Karatsev didn’t miss with his second chance to clinch the match as he edged home to move to 2-0 in the pair’s ATP Head2Head series.

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Filip Krajinovic made an impressive start to his Rome campaign as he took out Estoril finalist Frances Tiafoe with a 7-6(7), 7-6(4) win. The Serbian clinched a dramatic opening set tie-break by converting his third set-point and showed similar resolve in the same situation in the second set to move to 2-0 against the American on clay. Krajinovic also defeated Tiafoe over five sets at Roland Garros in 2019. His next opponent in Rome will be sixth seed Andrey Rublev.

Marin Cilic also advanced to the second round on Sunday as he enjoyed a comfortable win over Italian wild card Matteo Arnaldi. Cilic is a former semi-finalist at the Foro Italico, having reached the final four in 2018 before falling to Alexander Zverev. The Croatian’s experience proved too much for 21-year-old Arnaldi, with Cilic completing a 6-1, 6-4 victory to book a second-round appointment with Luca Nardi or ninth seed Cameron Norrie.

There was also opening-round success for Cristian Garin, who defeated #NextGenATP Italian Francesco Passaro, 6-3, 6-2, to match his best performance in the Italian capital from 2021. Standing between the Chilean and a maiden third-round appearance in Rome will be seventh seed Carlos Alcaraz.

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Serie A | Venezia 4-3 Bologna: Lagunari postpone relegation

May 8, 2022

Venezia postpone relegation a little longer with a dramatic 4-3 victory on the day Sinisa Mihajlovic returned to the Bologna bench from leukaemia treatment.

This was the first match with Mihajlovic back on the bench since going into hospital for leukaemia treatment six weeks ago. The Lagunari were rock bottom after 10 consecutive defeats, missing Sergio Romero, Marco Modolo and suspended Ethan Ampadu, knowing anything less than a victory would mathematically doom them.

It took just four minutes to break the deadlock with pure Route One football, as goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa booted a long ball over the top, Thomas Henry let it bounce and chipped it over on-rushing Lukasz Skorupski.

Bologna’s defending was all over the place again when Ridgeciano Haps was brought down by Skorupski for a penalty. Sofian Kiyine’s spot-kick was parried by the goalkeeper, but he was able to score on the rebound to double Venezia’s lead.

Lorenzo De Silvestri’s header was off target from a corner, while Skorupski got down to fingertip a Kiyine low drive round the post and had his gloves stung by Henry after sluggish Adama Soumaoro defending.

Musa Barrow also tested Maenpaa, but Mihajlovic hauled Arthur Theate off just 33 minutes in for a tactical switch and it proved a smart change, because Riccardo Orsolini was allowed a free header at the back post on Barrow’s cross.

Marko Arnautovic forced a couple of saves after the restart, then got the equaliser when De Silvestri steered a looping header back from the by-line for the veteran Austria international to tap in on the volley from close range.

It was all Bologna in the second half and the comeback was completed with a sensational bit of skill from Jerdy Schouten, who gathered from a corner on the edge of the area and aimed a remote-controlled right-foot curler into the far top corner.

Gary Medel clipped Mattia Aramu on the ankle for another penalty. It was certainly soft, but also late and caught him, so the VAR on-field review did not change the referee’s mind. Aramu stepped up and send Skorupski the wrong way for 3-3.

It still wasn’t over, as in stoppages Dennis Johnsen curled a fantastic finish into the far top corner after Henry’s initial attempt was parried for 4-3.

They still might go down this weekend if Salernitana beat Cagliari, but at least it’s with their first win since February, ending a run of 10 consecutive defeats.

Venezia 4-3 Bologna

Henry 4 (V), Kiyine 19 (V), Orsolini 45 (B), Arnautovic 55 (B), Schouten 68 (B), Aramu pen 77 (V), Johnsen 93 (V)

Saved penalty: Kiyine 19 (V)