Category: Match Report

Serie A Highlights: Spezia 1-3 Atalanta

May 8, 2022

Watch as Atalanta turn on the style to beat Spezia with Luis Muriel scoring and assisting for Mario Pasalic, but Daniele Verde pounced on some spectacularly suicidal defending.

Muriel combined with Ruslan Malinovskyi and sold Jakub Kiwior a dummy to break through, but all the Atalanta outfield players were in the opposition half when Verde went on the counter-attack to equalise.

Serie A | Spezia 1-3 Atalanta: Muriel gets Dea back on track

Merih Demiral knocked down a free kick for fellow defender Berat Djimsiti’s header, with Jeremie Boga thumping the bar and Emmanuel Gyasi missing a sitter.

Mario Pasalic sealed it late on from a Muriel assist.

Serie A Highlights: Spezia 1-3 Atalanta

May 8, 2022

Watch as Atalanta turn on the style to beat Spezia with Luis Muriel scoring and assisting for Mario Pasalic, but Daniele Verde pounced on some spectacularly suicidal defending.

Muriel combined with Ruslan Malinovskyi and sold Jakub Kiwior a dummy to break through, but all the Atalanta outfield players were in the opposition half when Verde went on the counter-attack to equalise.

Serie A | Spezia 1-3 Atalanta: Muriel gets Dea back on track

Merih Demiral knocked down a free kick for fellow defender Berat Djimsiti’s header, with Jeremie Boga thumping the bar and Emmanuel Gyasi missing a sitter.

Mario Pasalic sealed it late on from a Muriel assist.

Serie A | Spezia 1-3 Atalanta: Muriel gets Dea back on track

May 8, 2022

Luis Muriel contributed a goal and an assist around the Berat Djimsiti header, as Atalanta conquered La Spezia despite conceding after some suicidal defending.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Spezia 1-3 Atalanta

Both teams were furious at recent refereeing decisions, so tension was high at the Stadio Picco. Ivan Provedel was available after his one-match ban for blasphemous phrases was revoked on appeal, while Martin Erlic returned from suspension, with Leo Sena and Ebrima Colley still injured. La Dea missed Giuseppe Pezzella, Rafael Toloi and Josip Ilicic.

Simone Bastoni ran onto a slide-rule pass and narrowed the angle too much, only able to hit the outside of the near post.

Atalanta took the lead moments later, Luis Muriel exchanging passes with Ruslan Malinovskyi to enter the penalty area, selling a dummy on Jakub Kiwior before drilling into the far bottom corner.

Serie A Liveblog: Verona-Milan, Spezia-Atalanta, Salernitana-Cagliari, Venezia-Bologna

Spezia equalised with the most route one approach, because every Atalanta outfield player was inside the opposition half when Daniele Verde was sent clear on a Giulio Maggiore ball over the top, beating Juan Musso one-on-one.

Verde almost had another a couple of minutes later, although he was offside, but still worth noting both the spectacular chest and volley with his back to goal and Musso’s save at the near top corner.

Remo Freuler should’ve done better when prodding a Teun Koopmeiners cross wide from six yards and Malinovskyi’s free kick stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Muriel skimmed the far top corner with a powerful strike off the outside of the boot that swerved at the last second.

Jeremie Boga’s free header was off target, but two defenders combined for the second Atalanta goal. A free kick was taken quickly, Merih Demiral knocked it down for the Berat Djimsiti header at the back post, his first Serie A goal of the season and the 20th different Atalanta player to score in the league this term.

Boga smashed a powerful strike onto the crossbar after a smart passing move, Provedel parrying the follow-up too, while Emmanuel Gyasi missed a sitter after turning Hans Hateboer.

Mario Pasalic sealed it when Muriel threaded through a slide-rule pass and he just swept it first-time into the far bottom corner with the inside of the right boot from 12 yards.

Spezia 1-3 Atalanta

Muriel 16 (A), Verde 30 (S), Djimsiti 73 (A), Pasalic 88 (A)

Serie A | Spezia 1-3 Atalanta: Muriel gets Dea back on track

May 8, 2022

Luis Muriel contributed a goal and an assist around the Berat Djimsiti header, as Atalanta conquered La Spezia despite conceding after some suicidal defending.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Spezia 1-3 Atalanta

Both teams were furious at recent refereeing decisions, so tension was high at the Stadio Picco. Ivan Provedel was available after his one-match ban for blasphemous phrases was revoked on appeal, while Martin Erlic returned from suspension, with Leo Sena and Ebrima Colley still injured. La Dea missed Giuseppe Pezzella, Rafael Toloi and Josip Ilicic.

Simone Bastoni ran onto a slide-rule pass and narrowed the angle too much, only able to hit the outside of the near post.

Atalanta took the lead moments later, Luis Muriel exchanging passes with Ruslan Malinovskyi to enter the penalty area, selling a dummy on Jakub Kiwior before drilling into the far bottom corner.

Serie A Liveblog: Verona-Milan, Spezia-Atalanta, Salernitana-Cagliari, Venezia-Bologna

Spezia equalised with the most route one approach, because every Atalanta outfield player was inside the opposition half when Daniele Verde was sent clear on a Giulio Maggiore ball over the top, beating Juan Musso one-on-one.

Verde almost had another a couple of minutes later, although he was offside, but still worth noting both the spectacular chest and volley with his back to goal and Musso’s save at the near top corner.

Remo Freuler should’ve done better when prodding a Teun Koopmeiners cross wide from six yards and Malinovskyi’s free kick stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Muriel skimmed the far top corner with a powerful strike off the outside of the boot that swerved at the last second.

Jeremie Boga’s free header was off target, but two defenders combined for the second Atalanta goal. A free kick was taken quickly, Merih Demiral knocked it down for the Berat Djimsiti header at the back post, his first Serie A goal of the season and the 20th different Atalanta player to score in the league this term.

Boga smashed a powerful strike onto the crossbar after a smart passing move, Provedel parrying the follow-up too, while Emmanuel Gyasi missed a sitter after turning Hans Hateboer.

Mario Pasalic sealed it when Muriel threaded through a slide-rule pass and he just swept it first-time into the far bottom corner with the inside of the right boot from 12 yards.

Spezia 1-3 Atalanta

Muriel 16 (A), Verde 30 (S), Djimsiti 73 (A), Pasalic 88 (A)

Zverev Gains Revenge vs. Tsitsipas, To Face Alcaraz In Madrid Final

May 7, 2022

Alexander Zverev avenged a Monte Carlo semi-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas with a three-set victory at the same stage on Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open. Following his 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win, the German will now aim to complete his Madrid title defence against the turbo-charged Carlos Alcaraz.

In a match that largely favoured the server throughout, Zverev capitalised on his first two break opportunities to set him on the path to his 10th ATP Masters 1000 final. The second seed is seeking his sixth title at that level, with his five current crowns the most of any active player outside the Big 4.

“I thought from yesterday onwards I started to play really well,” said Zverev, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets on Friday. “Im just extremely happy to be in the final here. I know it’s going to be an extremely tough match tomorrow but I hope I can manage to play my best and give myself a chance.”

After Tsitsipas broke late in the second set on his first look on the return, the German quickly turned the tide by winning the opening three games of the decider. Firmly in the ascendency, he missed out on a break point at 4-2 before closing out the match with his third break of the one-hour, 53-minute contest.

Zverev bounced back from a difficult serving day in the quarter-finals to make 73 per cent of his first serves (48/66) against the Greek, winning a stellar 83 per cent of those points. After hitting nine double faults in the quarter-finals, including eight in the second set, he cut that number to four in the semis.

The German also improved his ATP Head2Head record to 4-7 against Tsitsipas, earning his first clay-court win over the fourth seed in the process. The two-time Madrid champion (2018, 2021) is now to 8-1 against Top 10 opponents in the Spanish capital, where his overall record is a pristine 19-2.

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Asked if his record in Madrid makes Manolo Santana Stadium feel like his court, as opposed to home favourite Alcaraz’s, Zverev deferred to his final opponent.

“Yes, I have been playing well, so I’m just renting it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s going to be his court for the next 15 years probably. It has been Rafa’s court for the past 15 years and it’s going to be his court for the next 15 years.

“I just hope I can give him some trouble and I hope I can manage to win tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final is set for 6:30 p.m. local time.

Tsitsipas leaves Madrid with a 27-8 tour-level record on the season, now tied with Alcaraz for the joint-most wins in 2022. After successfully defending his Monte Carlo title last month, he heads to Rome with an opportunity to reach at least the semi-finals at all three clay-court Masters 1000s.

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Zverev Gains Revenge vs. Tsitsipas, To Face Alcaraz In Madrid Final

May 7, 2022

Alexander Zverev avenged a Monte Carlo semi-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas with a three-set victory at the same stage on Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open. Following his 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win, the German will now aim to complete his Madrid title defence against the turbo-charged Carlos Alcaraz.

In a match that largely favoured the server throughout, Zverev capitalised on his first two break opportunities to set him on the path to his 10th ATP Masters 1000 final. The second seed is seeking his sixth title at that level, with his five current crowns the most of any active player outside the Big 4.

“I thought from yesterday onwards I started to play really well,” said Zverev, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets on Friday. “Im just extremely happy to be in the final here. I know it’s going to be an extremely tough match tomorrow but I hope I can manage to play my best and give myself a chance.”

After Tsitsipas broke late in the second set on his first look on the return, the German quickly turned the tide by winning the opening three games of the decider. Firmly in the ascendency, he missed out on a break point at 4-2 before closing out the match with his third break of the one-hour, 53-minute contest.

Zverev bounced back from a difficult serving day in the quarter-finals to make 73 per cent of his first serves (48/66) against the Greek, winning a stellar 83 per cent of those points. After hitting nine double faults in the quarter-finals, including eight in the second set, he cut that number to four in the semis.

The German also improved his ATP Head2Head record to 4-7 against Tsitsipas, earning his first clay-court win over the fourth seed in the process. The two-time Madrid champion (2018, 2021) is now to 8-1 against Top 10 opponents in the Spanish capital, where his overall record is a pristine 19-2.

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Asked if his record in Madrid makes Manolo Santana Stadium feel like his court, as opposed to home favourite Alcaraz’s, Zverev deferred to his final opponent.

“Yes, I have been playing well, so I’m just renting it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s going to be his court for the next 15 years probably. It has been Rafa’s court for the past 15 years and it’s going to be his court for the next 15 years.

“I just hope I can give him some trouble and I hope I can manage to win tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final is set for 6:30 p.m. local time.

Tsitsipas leaves Madrid with a 27-8 tour-level record on the season, now tied with Alcaraz for the joint-most wins in 2022. After successfully defending his Monte Carlo title last month, he heads to Rome with an opportunity to reach at least the semi-finals at all three clay-court Masters 1000s.

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Zverev Gains Revenge vs. Tsitsipas, To Face Alcaraz In Madrid Final

May 7, 2022

Alexander Zverev avenged a Monte Carlo semi-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas with a three-set victory at the same stage on Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open. Following his 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win, the German will now aim to complete his Madrid title defence against the turbo-charged Carlos Alcaraz.

In a match that largely favoured the server throughout, Zverev capitalised on his first two break opportunities to set him on the path to his 10th ATP Masters 1000 final. The second seed is seeking his sixth title at that level, with his five current crowns the most of any active player outside the Big 4.

“I thought from yesterday onwards I started to play really well,” said Zverev, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets on Friday. “Im just extremely happy to be in the final here. I know it’s going to be an extremely tough match tomorrow but I hope I can manage to play my best and give myself a chance.”

After Tsitsipas broke late in the second set on his first look on the return, the German quickly turned the tide by winning the opening three games of the decider. Firmly in the ascendency, he missed out on a break point at 4-2 before closing out the match with his third break of the one-hour, 53-minute contest.

Zverev bounced back from a difficult serving day in the quarter-finals to make 73 per cent of his first serves (48/66) against the Greek, winning a stellar 83 per cent of those points. After hitting nine double faults in the quarter-finals, including eight in the second set, he cut that number to four in the semis.

The German also improved his ATP Head2Head record to 4-7 against Tsitsipas, earning his first clay-court win over the fourth seed in the process. The two-time Madrid champion (2018, 2021) is now to 8-1 against Top 10 opponents in the Spanish capital, where his overall record is a pristine 19-2.

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Asked if his record in Madrid makes Manolo Santana Stadium feel like his court, as opposed to home favourite Alcaraz’s, Zverev deferred to his final opponent.

“Yes, I have been playing well, so I’m just renting it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s going to be his court for the next 15 years probably. It has been Rafa’s court for the past 15 years and it’s going to be his court for the next 15 years.

“I just hope I can give him some trouble and I hope I can manage to win tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final is set for 6:30 p.m. local time.

Tsitsipas leaves Madrid with a 27-8 tour-level record on the season, now tied with Alcaraz for the joint-most wins in 2022. After successfully defending his Monte Carlo title last month, he heads to Rome with an opportunity to reach at least the semi-finals at all three clay-court Masters 1000s.

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Koolhof/Skupski Edge Hurkacz/Isner To Reach Madrid Final

May 7, 2022

Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski continued the stellar start to their partnership by reaching their sixth ATP Tour final since first teaming in January. On Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open, the seventh seeds defeated Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner, 7-6(7), 7-5, to continue their bid for a fourth title on the season.

One week after falling just short of the Barcelona trophy in a Match Tie-break, the Dutch-British duo will contest their second straight final on Sunday at La Caja Magica.

Facing the Miami Open presented by Itau champions in the semi-finals, Koolhof and Skupski were at their best at the closing stages of two tight sets, both of which included an early trade of breaks. After missing out on a pair of set points from 6/4 in the opening tie-break, they saved a set point of their own before closing it out.

In set two, after recovering an early break, Koolhof and Skupski secured their third break of the match at love to clinch their final place.

They will take on fifth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah after the Colombians beat Jamie Murray and Michael Venus, 7-6(3), 6-3. Cabal and Farah are through to their second straight ATP Masters 1000 final following a Match Tie-break loss of their own in the Monte Carlo title match.

The Colombians saved their lone break point of the match, which doubled as a set point against them 5-6 in the opening set. But after winning that deciding point, they took command by following a strong tie-break with an early break in set two.

The 19-time tour-level champions are seeking their first title of 2022 and their third at the Masters 1000 level.

Sunday’s doubles final will open play on Manolo Santana Stadium at 3:30 pm local time.

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Koolhof/Skupski Edge Hurkacz/Isner To Reach Madrid Final

May 7, 2022

Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski continued the stellar start to their partnership by reaching their sixth ATP Tour final since first teaming in January. On Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open, the seventh seeds defeated Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner, 7-6(7), 7-5, to continue their bid for a fourth title on the season.

One week after falling just short of the Barcelona trophy in a Match Tie-break, the Dutch-British duo will contest their second straight final on Sunday at La Caja Magica.

Facing the Miami Open presented by Itau champions in the semi-finals, Koolhof and Skupski were at their best at the closing stages of two tight sets, both of which included an early trade of breaks. After missing out on a pair of set points from 6/4 in the opening tie-break, they saved a set point of their own before closing it out.

In set two, after recovering an early break, Koolhof and Skupski secured their third break of the match at love to clinch their final place.

They will take on fifth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah after the Colombians beat Jamie Murray and Michael Venus, 7-6(3), 6-3. Cabal and Farah are through to their second straight ATP Masters 1000 final following a Match Tie-break loss of their own in the Monte Carlo title match.

The Colombians saved their lone break point of the match, which doubled as a set point against them 5-6 in the opening set. But after winning that deciding point, they took command by following a strong tie-break with an early break in set two.

The 19-time tour-level champions are seeking their first title of 2022 and their third at the Masters 1000 level.

Sunday’s doubles final will open play on Manolo Santana Stadium at 3:30 pm local time.

ATP WTA Live App

Koolhof/Skupski Edge Hurkacz/Isner To Reach Madrid Final

May 7, 2022

Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski continued the stellar start to their partnership by reaching their sixth ATP Tour final since first teaming in January. On Saturday at the Mutua Madrid Open, the seventh seeds defeated Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner, 7-6(7), 7-5, to continue their bid for a fourth title on the season.

One week after falling just short of the Barcelona trophy in a Match Tie-break, the Dutch-British duo will contest their second straight final on Sunday at La Caja Magica.

Facing the Miami Open presented by Itau champions in the semi-finals, Koolhof and Skupski were at their best at the closing stages of two tight sets, both of which included an early trade of breaks. After missing out on a pair of set points from 6/4 in the opening tie-break, they saved a set point of their own before closing it out.

In set two, after recovering an early break, Koolhof and Skupski secured their third break of the match at love to clinch their final place.

They will take on fifth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah after the Colombians beat Jamie Murray and Michael Venus, 7-6(3), 6-3. Cabal and Farah are through to their second straight ATP Masters 1000 final following a Match Tie-break loss of their own in the Monte Carlo title match.

The Colombians saved their lone break point of the match, which doubled as a set point against them 5-6 in the opening set. But after winning that deciding point, they took command by following a strong tie-break with an early break in set two.

The 19-time tour-level champions are seeking their first title of 2022 and their third at the Masters 1000 level.

Sunday’s doubles final will open play on Manolo Santana Stadium at 3:30 pm local time.

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