Italian winger Domenico Berardi scored a brace in Sassuolo’s 3-0 win over Verona on Friday evening, with a result that sends the Neroverdi up into eighth place in Serie A.

Fabio Grosso’s side leapfrogged Bologna and Lazio to go temporarily 8th, pending the rest of the weekend’s fixtures. Lazio travel to Cagliari on Saturday night whilst Bologna host Udinese on Monday.

Verona arguably started the stronger of the two sides, as they sought just their third Serie A victory.

After about a quarter of an hour, Amin Sarr was quick to pounce on a loose rebound but the shot was blocked, before five minutes later, Verona January signing Kieron Bowie had a shot cleared off the line after a nice piece of play inside the Neroverdi box.

However, that was about it as far as Veronese optimism was concerned.

Sassuolo 3-0 Verona – Neroverdi put Gialloblu to the sword

In the 40th minute, nice interplay between Lauriente and Pinamonti, led the Italian to taking a shot that took a deflection and went in.

A few minutes later, Sassuolo were given a penalty after Cheikh Niasse committed a foul inside his box. Montipo ended up guessing correctly to deny Berardi from the spot but the Italian pounced on the rebound to give Grosso’s side a healthy lead headed into half-time.

Berardi put the game beyond any doubt around the hour mark, after a quick break in which the Italian converted a simple one-on-one against Montipo.

Things went from bad to worse for the Gialloblu in the closing stages when Al Musrati was shown a second yellow card with five minutes to go, taking the visitors down to 10 men and eliminating any chance of a dramatic comeback.

The match finished with a comfortable three points for the team in green and black, led by a spirited display from their captain.

Leonardo Bonucci has paid a glowing tribute to AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri, describing his former Juventus manager as the greatest he has ever worked under.

Speaking in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, via MilanNews, the retired Italy international, who had a brief and largely difficult spell at Milan earlier in his career, was asked to reflect on the coaches who shaped him.

His words on Allegri were unequivocal.

“In terms of intuition, Allegri was the greatest coach I ever had,” Bonucci said.

“Sometimes he made decisions that seemed absurd, but they produced results. Being a coach allows you to see the full picture, as a player and as a human being. In that sense, Max is a master, a phenomenon. He never speaks negatively. Complaints? Never. He knows how to put players in the best possible conditions.”

Not just Milan coach Allegri, Bonucci has kind words for Gattuso

The retired defender also reflected warmly on another figure with strong Milan connections, Gennaro Gattuso, who coached Bonucci during his time at San Siro.

The defender recalled a period of difficulty and credited the former midfielder’s straightforward approach with helping him rediscover his best form.

“When I had the fortune of being coached by him at Milan, we were coming through a difficult period,” Bonucci said of Gattuso.

“He told me: ‘Leo, when you’re going through a tough time, you have to keep things simple.’ And so that’s what we did, a 4-3-3, nothing complicated. He gave confidence to all of us.”

Both Allegri and Gattuso remain prominent figures in the Milan conversation, making Bonucci’s reflections particularly timely.

Mattia De Sciglio has broken his silence over his failed transfer to Czech side Hradec Kralove, firmly rejecting the club’s suggestion that he did not pass his medical.

The 33-year-old former Milan and Juventus defender had travelled to the Czech Republic earlier this month, completing medical tests and taking part in two training sessions over a three-day stay, before being told the move would not be going ahead.

Hradec Kralove, whose ownership group includes former Juventus director Pavel Nedved, issued a statement saying the club had evaluated “all results and circumstances” before deciding against signing De Sciglio, with sporting director Petr Pojezný adding that the defender would not have provided the “immediate help” they were looking for.

Ex-Juventus & Milan full-back De Sciglio: ‘Here’s the truth’

De Sciglio took to Instagram to offer a starkly different account of events.

The Italian insisted he passed all medical examinations, with his physical condition certified by official medical reports.

He also revealed he had been persistently approached by the club and received multiple versions of his contract over several weeks, often incomplete or requiring amendments, yet maintained full professionalism throughout.

 

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A post shared by Mattia De Sciglio Official (@mattiadesciglio2)

In a pointed statement, De Sciglio wrote that he “firmly rejects any reference or insinuation” regarding the medical tests, calling the club’s conclusion surprising given the weeks of negotiations, the checks carried out, and his confirmed medical fitness.

He concluded by calling for mutual respect, transparency and professionalism to form the basis of any working relationship, expressing hope that similar situations would not be repeated, for himself or any other professional.

Como have confirmed their squad for Saturday’s Serie A fixture at Juventus, and Cesc Fàbregas will be without three notable players for the trip to Turin.

Nico Paz misses out after picking up a yellow card in the draw with Milan and reaching the limit.

The suspension comes as a timely blow for Como given the Argentine‘s influence in their attacking play.

Addai and Goldaniga also remain sidelined through injury, though Alvaro Morata returns to the squad after serving his own suspension, as per IlBianconero.

Como suffer injury blows for Juventus clash

Fàbregas himself will be in the dugout after escaping a touchline ban, despite a heated altercation with Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri that attracted considerable attention in the build-up to the match.

The stakes are high for both sides, though perhaps more so for Como.

Fabregas’ men drew 1-1 with Milan in their last outing and currently sit four points behind Juventus in the table.

A win on Saturday would cut that gap and put significant pressure on those around them, while defeat would see Juventus pull seven points clear, a potentially decisive margin at this stage of the season.

For Juventus, the match is the first in a demanding run of fixtures that also includes the Champions League second leg against Galatasaray and a crucial Serie A encounter with Roma, making maximum points against Como all the more important before the schedule intensifies.

Antonio Conte could hand Alisson Santos a surprise start when Napoli travel to Atalanta on Sunday.

The Serie A clash kicks-off at 15:00 CET on Sunday and January addition Alisson looks set to start, according to Sky Sport, via IlNapolista.

The Brazilian forward, formerly of Sporting Lisbon, has made an immediate impression since arriving at the club, netting a late equaliser off the bench in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Roma.

That cameo appearance may have been enough to convince Conte to hand him a place in the starting XI, with Santos potentially lining up in the front three alongside Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Højlund.

Napoli team news: Conte keeps things fresh amongst injury crisis

In midfield, Eljif Elmas could drop into a deeper role to partner Stanislav Lobotka, with Scott McTominay dropping to the bench as a result.

Fellow Scot Billy Gilmour would then be among the substitutes, likely to feature from the bench.

Matteo Politano may also find himself left out of the starting lineup, with Mazzocchi set to take his place on the right flank.

Gutiérrez is expected to operate on the left side.

At the back, Conte looks set to continue with a back three of Sam Beukema, Juan Jesus and Alessandro Buongiorno, providing the defensive foundation the Napoli head coach demands.

Between the posts, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is again expected to be preferred to Alex Meret, continuing what has become an established pattern in recent weeks.

Sassuolo could move up into eighth place tonight with a win over last-placed Verona, as the Neroverdi look to take advantage of a struggling Gialloblu side.

Fabio Grosso’s side can leapfrog both Lazio and Bologna this evening, with those two sides playing later in the weekend.

Despite Sassuolo‘s negative goal difference, they have been performing well under Grosso and look destined for a mid table finish.

Verona, meanwhile, are more fragile. With just two wins from 25 games this season, the Veronese side are in troubled waters and currently float nine points adrift from safety.

Verona have conceded 43 goals this season and have not been efficient at the other end either, scoring just 19.

Sassuolo vs Verona – Official Starting Lineups

SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Muric; Coulibaly, Walukiewicz, Idzes, Ulisses; Thorstvedt, Lipani, Koné; Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté

HELLAS VERONA (3-5-2): Montipò; Bella-Kotchap, Nelsson, Edmundsson; Bradaric, Niasse, Al-Musrati, Harroui, Frese; Bowie, Sarr

20-02-2026 19:45

MatchDay 26

Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore

Sassuolo

Verona

Live

2 - 0

Player statistic

1st half

Woyo Coulibaly		17'
		39'		Andrias Edmundsson
Andrea Pinamonti (Assist: Armand Lauriente)		40'
Domenico Berardi		44'
Domenico Berardi		44'

Sassuolo

Verona

Starting lineups

49

Arijanet Muric

Goalkeeper

21

Jay Idzes

Defender

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz

Defender

23

Ulisses Garcia

Defender

25

Woyo Coulibaly

Defender

36'

90

Ismaël Koné

Midfielder

42

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

35

Luca Lipani

Midfielder

99

Andrea Pinamonti

Attacker

45

Armand Lauriente

Attacker

10

Domenico Berardi

Attacker

1

Lorenzo Montipò

Goalkeeper

5

Andrias Edmundsson

Defender

37

Armel Bella-Kotchap

Defender

12

Domagoj Bradaric

Defender

3

Martin Frese

Defender

15

Victor Nelsson

Defender

21

Abdou Harroui

Midfielder

73

Moatasem Al-Musrati

Midfielder

9

Amin Sarr

Attacker

36

Cheikh Niasse

Attacker

18

Kieron Bowie

Attacker

Substitutes

7

Cristian Volpato

Midfielder

12

Giacomo Satalino

Goalkeeper

16

Gioele Zacchi

Goalkeeper

8

M’Bala Nzola

Attacker

13

Stefano Turati

Goalkeeper

24

Luca Moro

Attacker

44

Edoardo Iannoni

Midfielder

3

Josh Doig

Defender

40

Aster Vranckx

Midfielder

20

Alieu Fadera

Midfielder

50

Darryl Bakola

Midfielder

66

Pedro Felipe

Defender

19

Filippo Romagna

Defender

36'

34

Simone Perilli

Goalkeeper

10

Tomas Suslov

Attacker

94

Giacomo Toniolo

Goalkeeper

25

Daniel Mosquera

Attacker

92

Luca Monticelli

Attacker

2

Daniel Oyegoke

Defender

19

Tobias Slotsager

Defender

70

Fallou Cham

Defender

90

Ioan Vermesan

Attacker

71

Davide De Battisti

Defender

30

Luca Szimionaș

Midfielder

41

Isaac

Attacker

99

Jurgen Peci

Midfielder

AC Milan are quietly but decisively building their plans for the summer transfer window, and according to reports emerging from Belgium, Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi has emerged as one of their primary attacking targets for 2026.

The interest is not a recent development, as noted by MilanNews24.

Milan sporting director Igli Tare and CEO Giorgio Furlani have been tracking the young forward for some time, and the situation has now developed to the point where concrete steps have been taken to secure a deal.

Perhaps most significantly, Milan already submitted a formal offer to Tresoldi’s camp during the January window, a move that has given them a clear competitive advantage heading into the summer.

Milan eager to wrap up move for Club Brugge’s Tresoldi

Contacts between the club and the player’s entourage are described as frequent and ongoing, with Milan keen to wrap up an agreement before a potential international bidding war develops.

A key factor working in the Rossoneri’s favour is Tresoldi’s own position. The forward is said to be firmly set on a move to San Siro, with Massimiliano Allegri’s project and the allure of one of Europe’s iconic stadiums having convinced him to place Milan at the top of his wishlist.

Should the deal go through, Tresoldi would be considered a leading candidate to fill the number nine role.

Indeed, a position that could see significant change this summer, with the prospect of a free transfer for Robert Lewandowski still lingering in the background.

Juventus have been dealt a defensive blow after the FIGC rejected their appeal to have Pierre Kalulu’s suspension overturned, ruling the Frenchman out of Saturday’s Serie A clash with Como.

The Italian Football Federation, led by president Gabriele Gravina, dismissed Juventus’ request to have Kalulu reinstated following the controversy of the Derby d’Italia, as per reports from Goal Italia.

The Turin club had argued the ban was unjust in light of what they considered a simulation by Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, which led to the red card shown to their defender.

Kalulu will therefore miss the Como fixture before returning to the fold for Juventus’ trip to Roma on 1 March.

Kalulu ban upheld as Juventus prepare to do without

His absence is a notable one, the Frenchman has been ever-present this season, featuring in every competition including the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia.

Since August, Kalulu has made 36 appearances under both Igor Tudor and Luciano Spalletti, contributing two goals and five assists.

Saturday will mark the first time he has missed a match in the entire 2025/26 campaign.

Juventus will look to their squad depth to cope without him, though history offers some encouragement.

The last time Kalulu was absent, across the final two rounds of last season against Udinese and Venezia, serving a suspension, the Bianconeri won both games.

Whether they can repeat the trick without their defensive cornerstone remains to be seen when Como arrive at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Juventus are preparing for an important Serie A match against Como on Saturday, when they host Cesc Fabregas’ side at the Allianz Stadium in what could prove to be a decisive six-pointer in the race for European football.

According to the latest reports from Alfredo Pedulla, Brazilian defender Bremer and Canadian forward Jonathan David trained separately from the rest of the team in the run-up to the match.

Both, therefore, are major doubts for the match against Como and Luciano Spalletti will have to adjust his squad accordingly.

Bad news piles up for Juventus as Bremer & David to miss Como match

Juventus have not had a good week – suffering a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Galatasaray on Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off round.

Now, they must get refocused for Saturday’s league match – with Como just four points behind Juventus as both teams chase Champions League football.

With Italian clubs’ overall underperformance in Europe this season, it looks unlikely that there will be a 5th Champions League spot given to Serie A this campaign.

Therefore, fourth place becomes even more valuable and Juventus and Como are amongst the sides that will be tussling for that coveted spot until the campaign is over.

Arsenal threw away a 2-0 lead at last-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers last night in the Premier League, as the Gunners lost valuable momentum in the title race – with just a two point lead if Manchester City win their game in hand.

Riccardo Calafiori was at the centre of much of the drama yesterday evening, coming on as a late substitute for an injured Leandro Trossard before being involved in the stoppage-time equaliser that gave Wolves a prideful point against the league leaders.

After a mix-up between goalkeeper David Raya and centre-back Gabriel, Wolves youngster Edozie was quickest to react and fired a shot goalwards.

The shot flew past Raya, before bouncing off Gabriel and onto the post, before bouncing back into the goalmouth, off Calafiori, and over the line.

Initially the goal was credited as a Calafiori own goal before it was given to Edozie in the end.

In fairness, there was not much that the Italian could have done – his body weight was already where it was and much of the blame can be placed on Gabriel and Raya for their mix-up which allowed the chance to materialise in the first place.

And Arsenal fans have leapt to the Italian’s defence on social media.

Arsenal fans react to Calafiori

“I actually felt really sorry for Calafiori last night,” one user wrote on X, “his face said it all and he did everything he could to stop that goal.”

“Leave Riccardo Calafiori out of this,” said another, “it’s between David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and Mikel Arteta.”

I actually felt really sorry for Calafiori last night. He’s face said it all and he did everything he could to stop that goal. pic.twitter.com/xOxWSmnLTs

— Sir Johnny OBE (@Farmer_Boycie) February 19, 2026

Leave Riccardo Calafiori out of this. It’s between David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and Mikel Arteta pic.twitter.com/4NDzXmKmqO

— Triple M (@Tripple____M) February 19, 2026

Arsenal fans coming for Riccardo Calafiori for this goal need to chill. First of all look at Martin Zubimendi then David Raya and Gabriel Marghaleas. This goal has nothing to do with Calafiori pic.twitter.com/cYQKy2i4aS

— ISAAC (@Isaac_AFC_) February 19, 2026

Roma forward Paulo Dybala has been missing since the beginning of the month due to a knee problem but the latest reports from Italy claim that the Argentine will not require surgery and is progressing with his recovery ‘as originally planned.’

According to reports from TuttoMercatoWeb, there was initial speculation that the Argentine would have to undergo surgery on his knee. However, Roma’s staff are now considering other options.

Indeed, after an MRI scan revealed no issues that would be fixed with surgery, Roma decided against any extreme medical intervention.

No Dybala surgery required but Roma teammate Soule not so lucky

Instead, it appears that another of Roma’s forwards, Matias Soule, may not be so lucky.

The Argentine has been suffering from a pubalgia injury that has prevented him from playing a full ninety minutes since last October.

Surgery may help prevent any issues from reoccurring and could likewise help Soule manage the pain.

Roma will need all hands on deck as they prepare to battle for a place in the top four of Serie A. They currently lead 5th-placed Juventus by just one point, and will welcome the Bianconeri to the Stadio Olimpico in March 1 in what is a must-win game.

Milan will breathe a sigh of relief this morning, after medical examinations revealed that Strahinja Pavlovic has not suffered a fracture after being forced off at half-time in Milan’s Serie A draw against Como yesterday evening.

According to what has been reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport, Pavlovic underwent tests this morning which have confirmed no fractures but instead a hematoma in the soft tissue around his fibula in his left leg.

Therefore, a serious injury has been ruled out but it is one that may still keep the Milan defender out for a little while at least.

Pavlovic fracture ruled out as Milan prepare for absence in Parma clash

The Gazzetta reports claim that there’s some concern that the Serbian will be unavailable for Sunday’s match against Parma, whilst he will aim to return for the trip to Cremonese at the start of March.

With Pavlovic in doubt for Sunday, the reports suggest that Allegri will turn to Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Koni De Winter as his back three – as he did for the second half in the draw against Como.

Lautaro Martinez was forced off with an injury tonight, in one of many painful moments as the Nerazzurri slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

Cristian Chivu’s side came into the first leg of their Champions League play-off, knowing it was going to be a tough test in the freezing temperatures and on the artificial pitch.

Speaking after the game, Chivu described Lautaro as “lost”, and when prompted to elaborate, confirmed “it’s pretty serious.”

Inter forward Lautaro to undergo medical exams on Friday

Sky Italia are now reporting that the Argentine forward will undergo tests on Friday to establish the seriousness and nature of the injury, which early reports indicated may be calf-related.

It looks unlikely, therefore, that the Argentine will be available for the second leg of the play-off, due to take place next Tuesday at San Siro.

It comes as a major blow to Chivu’s side, who need to overcome a two-goal deficit to progress in Europe and are still attempting to consolidate their lead at the top of Serie A.

Lautaro has been ever-present this season for the Nerazzurri and whilst the club have talented back-up options in the likes of Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny, their talismanic forward’s absence is sure to sting.

Inter fell to a 3-1 defeat on a cold night in Norway to a strong Bodo/Glimt side who used their artificial pitch to their advantage to overcome the Nerazzurri with a quick-fire second-half double.

Speaking to the press after the game, Chivu was quick to acknowledge the inevitable point about the pitch, saying his side “tried, despite the pitch” but also acknowledged that “it’s not an excuse, but I can’t be too harsh on the players,” he said, via FCInter1908.

He added that “[Bodo/Glimt] are more accustomed to this pitch, that’s not an excuse. The tie is wide open, there’s the return leg to come. We knew they are a team that can hurt you on the break, now we’ll try to advance to the next round at San Siro.”

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Chivu: ‘Lautaro is lost’

Cristian Chivu also issued a pretty concerning statement that Lautaro Martinez is “lost” and when asked to elaborate on what he means by “lost”, he said “it means Lautaro got injured, it’s pretty serious.”

“I think he’s hurt and he will be out for a while,” he concluded on the matter.

The Romanian added that the Nerazzurri have “a few issues” that “we need to take stock of.”

When asked if his side showed a ‘lack of determination’, Chivu replied that “We asked for pressure on the markers but that was not the problem.”

“The problem is that on some transitions,” he added, “we were surprised by their speed on the break.”

Inter and Chivu must now prepare for the second leg, next week at San Siro. They have a two-goal deficit to overcome, and there can be no blaming of the pitch if they don’t turn the tie around.

Bodo/Glimt and Inter played out an exciting match in their Champions League play-off first leg, with Inter collapsing in the second half to slump to a 3-1 defeat.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Bodo forward Kasper Høgh.

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Player Ratings

Bodo/Glimt: Haikin 6; Sjøvold 6.5, Bjørtuft 6, Gundersen 7, Bjørkan 7; Evjen 6.5, Berg 7, Fet 7.5; Blomberg 7, Høgh 9, Hauge 7.5

Best Bodo/Glimt player: Kasper Høgh – The Danish forward keeps up his impressive form in the Champions League with a goal and two assists this evening, spearheading his side to a massive victory over a strong Inter team. Was a menace for the Inter backline and deserves his plaudits.

Lowest Bodo/Glimt rating: Nikita Haikin – Bit harsh to have to pick a lowest rating but goalkeeper Nikita Haikin did nothing to shout about. He made a few easy saves and potentially could have done more to prevent Inter’s goal but he had a decent game overall.

Coach: Kjetil Knutsen 8 – Continues his giant-killing displays in Europe with tonight’s opponents added to the scalps of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid this season. Put out his strongest team, allowed them to soak up and neutralise Inter’s pressure – and then coached his side to an impressive second half display to pick up an important win.

Inter: Sommer 5.5; Akanji 5.5, Acerbi 5.5, Bastoni 6; Darmian 7 (Luis Henrique), Sucic 6.5, Barella 7, Mkhitaryan 6 (Zielinski), Augusto 6; Lautaro 6.5 (Thuram 6), Esposito 7 (Bonny)

Best Inter player: Nicolo Barella – Not much more the midfielder could have done, playing the regista role in place of the still-absent Hakan Calhanoglu. He created a number of chances for his attackers and was strong in his midfield battles.

Lowest Inter rating: Manuel Akanji – Arguably could have been any of Inter’s back line and goalkeeper but Akanji was especially weak on all fronts. Bastoni was beaten far more often by his man but was more instrumental in Inter’s other phases of play. Acerbi looked weak but less exposed than Akanji, sitting on the right-hand side of the back three.

Coach: Cristian Chivu 5 – Made some questionable adjustments to his side that make you wonder if the Champions League is being seen as second priority to the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri look placid without Federico Dimarco and whilst Darmian and Carlos Augusto were not horrific on the wings, they did not offer the sort of killer final ball that Dimarco can deliver. His substitutions failed to inspire either and matters were made worse when Lautaro Martinez was forced off with an injury.

Inter capitulated in the second-half on a freezing night in Norway, losing 3-1 to Bodo/Glimt after conceding two goals in the space of three minutes in the second half.

The Nerazzurri came into the game with a lot of debate around their hosts’ artificial turf and the freezing temperatures of the Norwegian city ahead of the Champions League play-off first leg.

However, the occasion got the better of Cristian Chivu’s side and has left them with it all to do in the second leg at San Siro next week.

You can relive all the action, as it happened, on our Live Blog.

Bodo/Glimt took the lead after a nervy first twenty minutes, with midfielder Sondre Fet scoring a lovely goal, beating Yann Sommer in the Inter net.

Their lead, however, did not last long. Ten minutes later, Italian youngster Francesco Pio Esposito equalised – after a Nicolo Barella cross was nodded down by Carlos Augusto and turned in by the Italy international.

Inter had a couple of late chances in the first half but neither amounted to a serious attempt on goal.

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Second-half double sinks Nerazzurri

The second half started brightly for the Nerazzurri, with Lautaro Martinez hitting the woodwork before Bodo goalkeeper Haikin saved a Carlos Augusto free-kick.

However, after a more tame ten minutes, it was the hosts who would score the next goal, with former Milan forward Jens Petter Hauge converting after an error from Carlos Augusto gifted Bodo/Glimt the ball in a dangerous position.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for Inter, who found themselves 3-1 down just three minutes later, with Kasper Høgh tapping the ball in from close range after good work from Ole Blomberg.

Inter were also forced into a change after Lautaro Martinez felt an issue in his calf, with Marcus Thuram coming on in his place.

However, Thuram and the rest of Chivu’s substitutes offered too little, too late, as Bodo confirmed their victory, with a two-goal advantage heading into next week’s pivotal tie at San Siro.

18-02-2026 20:00

Knockout phase play-offs

Aspmyra Stadion

Bodø/Glimt

Inter

3 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Sondre Brunstad Fet (Assist: Kasper Högh)		20'
		30'		Pio Esposito (Assist: Carlos Augusto)
		45'		Pio Esposito

2nd half

Jens Petter Hauge (Assist: Kasper Högh)		61'
Kasper Högh (Assist: Ole Didrik Blomberg)		64'
Ole Didrik Blomberg		77'

Match statistic

42

Possession %

58

8

Total shots

15

6

Shots on target

4

1

Shots off target

7

1

Blocked shots

4

3

Corners

3

0

Offsides

3

12

Fouls

6

Bodø/Glimt

Inter

Starting lineups

12

Nikita Haikin

Goalkeeper

15

Fredrik Björkan

Defender

6

Jostein Gundersen

Defender

89'

4

Odin Bjørtuft

Defender

20

Fredrik Sjövold

Midfielder

7

Patrick Berg

Midfielder

19

Sondre Brunstad Fet

Midfielder

89'

26

Hakon Evjen

Attacker

10

Jens Petter Hauge

Attacker

9

Kasper Högh

Attacker

78'

11

Ole Didrik Blomberg

Attacker

78'

1

Yann Sommer

Goalkeeper

95

Alessandro Bastoni

Defender

15

Francesco Acerbi

Defender

25

Manuel Akanji

Defender

36

Matteo Darmian

Defender

75'

8

Petar Sucic

Defender

30

Carlos Augusto

Midfielder

22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Midfielder

76'

23

Nicolò Barella

Midfielder

90'

94

Pio Esposito

Attacker

76'

10

Lautaro Martínez

Attacker

61'

Substitutes

14

Ulrik Saltnes

Midfielder

1

Julian Faye Lund

Goalkeeper

22

Anders Klynge

Midfielder

45

Isak Sjong

Goalkeeper

24

Daniel Bassi

Midfielder

94

August Mikkelsen

Attacker

2

Villads Nielsen

Defender

23

Magnus Riisnæs

Midfielder

8

Sondre Auklend

Midfielder

78'

21

Andreas Helmersen

Attacker

78'

5

Haitam Aleesami

Defender

89'

25

Isak Dybvik Määttä

Midfielder

89'

32

Federico Dimarco

Defender

6

Stefan de Vrij

Defender

13

Josep Martínez

Goalkeeper

12

Raffaele Di Gennaro

Goalkeeper

31

Yann Bisseck

Defender

45

Leonardo Bovo

Midfielder

9

Marcus Thuram

Attacker

61'

11

Luis Henrique

Attacker

75'

7

Piotr Zielinski

Midfielder

76'

14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

Defender

76'

17

Andy Diouf

Attacker

90'

Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has written a recounting of his life and career in The Player’s Tribune, describing Luciano Spalletti as “like a father to me”, when he moved to Napoli from Lille at a difficult personal time.

In the article, titled ‘A Prayer From the Gutter’, he covers the entirety of his career, from playing barefoot in the streets of Nigeria as a boy, to having to help provide for his family at a young age – before his big break after a heartbreaking rejection.

It is quite the touching tale for the former Napoli man, and he was clearly very fond of his time in Naples.

Osimhen recounted how transfer negotiations at Lille prevented him from being able to go home and visit his dying father at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. He even considered “never playing football again” after the incident, as he was so “disgusted” by how the club operate as a business.

Osimhen said “When I left Lille, I was lost. When I came to Napoli, I was found.”

“I really have to thank the city and the fans and my teammates for turning my life around.

“I remember the first meeting I had when I arrived, I told the coach, Mr. Spalletti, “I am not well. I am very angry right now. Very sad. My head is not straight.””

Osimhen went on to describe Spalletti as “like a father to me. When I wasn’t doing something right, he came for my neck. But he believed in me deep in his soul, I swear. He thought I could be the best in the world.”

Osimhen: ‘Spalletti would sleep in his office at Napoli, I chose Galatasaray for their passion’

The Nigerian forward then described the hard working conditions expected at Napoli:

“We couldn’t even complain, because Mr. Spalletti was sleeping in his office during that time. He had a little bed set up. Like in the army. He had a wife at home, but for five months, he slept there.

“I remember before big matches he would tell us, “You guys don’t understand what will happen if you win the title. Me? They might speak about me for 2 or 3 years. But you players, they will speak about you until you are old men.””

His time at Napoli was summed up quite well in the end by the Galatasaray forward: “To win a title is one thing. But to win a Scudetto for Napoli for the first time in 33 years is true history. This is why I choose the teams that I choose.”

On this topic, he went on to describe why he left Napoli and, in particular, why he chose Galatasaray.

“When I left Napoli, do you know how many people told me, “Do not go to Turkey. Are you crazy?”

“A former agent even told me, “No, no, no. Don’t go there. It’s not a smart move.”

“But I think with my heart. I wanted to play for Galatasaray. How can I go from the emotion of Napoli to just any club? Impossible. Boring.

“I wanted to go to a top 3 club in the world in terms of passion. Those are the kind of people who really understand me. The ones who live football in a different way.”

Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta has expressed his eagerness to move on from the controversy surrounding Alessandro Bastoni and Pierre Kalulu’s red card in the Derby d’Italia as his side focus on tonight’s Champions League play-off against Bodo/Glimt.

You can follow all the action from the first leg, in addition to Milan-Como, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

Speaking on Sky, Marotta discussed several topics.

First he was asked about the debate surrounding tonight’s stadium, with Bodo/Glimt’s home pitch being an artificial turf. It has caused problems for some teams visiting the Norwegian side but Marotta dismissed it was any breaking news:

“We don’t want to get into controversy, we know this is an old-school synthetic pitch that inevitably is problematic. We must adapt to this situation too.”

Speaking about the Bastoni debate, the Inter president said:

“I don’t want to add anything else, this is a chapter that left a bitter taste in the mouth. We want to focus on this very difficult match, hoping that all the Italian teams can go through to the next phase in Europe.”

Bodo/Glimt vs Inter – Marotta on Italian football crisis & Stankovic buy-back

Marotta then addressed ongoing issues within Italian football, that he described as “going backwards in terms of quality, results and appeal.”

He added that “The foreign funds arrived during a moment of difficulty and complexity in the Calcio world, and if not for them, the Milanese clubs would be in a much worse situation.”

“Since Oaktree took over, we invested, and can consider ourselves fortunate in that sense. I am not sceptical about foreign funds owning clubs at all. Obviously, they must also have the desire to invest and not just have speculative interests.”

Marotta was then asked to talk about Aleksandar Stankovic, who is enjoying a fantastic season with Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge.

Stankovic joined the Belgian side last summer but the Nerazzurri kept a buy-back clause in his contract.

With his performances improving month-on-month, it seems fairly likely that Inter will activate said clause.

On the matter, Marotta said:

“He is from a fine football family and is doing very well. We have the option to buy him back, and we didn’t put that in the deal for no reason.

“It is premature to talk about it now, we’ll see what happens. He is our player and is having a wonderful experience in the Belgian league and Champions League.”

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has spoken to Prime Video ahead of Inter’s Champions League play-off first leg against Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt.

In the interview, he said that “there can be no alibis or excuses” when asked about playing in freezing conditions on an artificial turf in Norway – stating that “the pitch shouldn’t worry us, we have to be mentally and physically ready to play in these conditions.”

Inter vs Bodo/Glimt – Chivu warns of ‘proven’ opposition

He warned his side not to underestimate their opposition tonight, describing the Norwegian club’s “intensity that they are capable of on this pitch.”

Chivu said Bodo/Glimt have “proven themselves with the results they’ve achieved and beyond,” with all quotes via FCInterNews.

Finally, the Romanian coach underlined that the play-off covers two legs.

“There are two games to play, you have to play with maturity and understanding in these conditions. And you have to remember that it will be played over two legs. You have to do everything to secure qualification.”

You can follow all the action from the game, as well as Milan’s Serie A clash against Como, where they look to close the gap on their city rivals in the Scudetto race, on our Live Blog.

Bodo/Glimt welcome Inter on a freezing cold February evening in Norway, in what promises to be an interesting match as the two sides tussle in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie – Nerazzurri head coach Cristian Chivu has decided to start Matteo Darmian in a surprising move.

The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET) and you can follow all the action from that game, and Milan’s Serie A clash against Como, on our Live Blog.

The Serie A leaders looked strong for most of the Champions League league phase but narrowly missed out on a place in the top eight – which would have seen them bypass this tricky play-off tie altogether.

However, the cards have been dealt and Chivu has opted to rotate his team in part for the match.

La nostra formazione
Forza Nerazzurri pic.twitter.com/xxIMbcQdrP

— Inter (@Inter) February 18, 2026

The second leg will decide the Nerazzurri’s fate in the competition next Tuesday at San Siro, but they will hope to get themselves off to a good start this evening.

Bodo/Glimt vs Inter – Official Lineups

Bodo/Glimt: Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Fet; Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge

Inter: Sommer; Bastoni, Acerbi, Akanji; Darmian, Sucic, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Pio Esposito, Lautaro

18-02-2026 20:00

Knockout phase play-offs

Aspmyra Stadion

Bodø/Glimt

Inter

3 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Sondre Brunstad Fet (Assist: Kasper Högh)		20'
		30'		Pio Esposito (Assist: Carlos Augusto)
		45'		Pio Esposito

2nd half

Jens Petter Hauge (Assist: Kasper Högh)		61'
Kasper Högh (Assist: Ole Didrik Blomberg)		64'
Ole Didrik Blomberg		77'

Match statistic

42

Possession %

58

8

Total shots

15

6

Shots on target

4

1

Shots off target

7

1

Blocked shots

4

3

Corners

3

0

Offsides

3

12

Fouls

6

Bodø/Glimt

Inter

Starting lineups

12

Nikita Haikin

Goalkeeper

15

Fredrik Björkan

Defender

6

Jostein Gundersen

Defender

89'

4

Odin Bjørtuft

Defender

20

Fredrik Sjövold

Midfielder

7

Patrick Berg

Midfielder

19

Sondre Brunstad Fet

Midfielder

89'

26

Hakon Evjen

Attacker

10

Jens Petter Hauge

Attacker

9

Kasper Högh

Attacker

78'

11

Ole Didrik Blomberg

Attacker

78'

1

Yann Sommer

Goalkeeper

95

Alessandro Bastoni

Defender

15

Francesco Acerbi

Defender

25

Manuel Akanji

Defender

36

Matteo Darmian

Defender

75'

8

Petar Sucic

Defender

30

Carlos Augusto

Midfielder

22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Midfielder

76'

23

Nicolò Barella

Midfielder

90'

94

Pio Esposito

Attacker

76'

10

Lautaro Martínez

Attacker

61'

Substitutes

14

Ulrik Saltnes

Midfielder

1

Julian Faye Lund

Goalkeeper

22

Anders Klynge

Midfielder

45

Isak Sjong

Goalkeeper

24

Daniel Bassi

Midfielder

94

August Mikkelsen

Attacker

2

Villads Nielsen

Defender

23

Magnus Riisnæs

Midfielder

8

Sondre Auklend

Midfielder

78'

21

Andreas Helmersen

Attacker

78'

5

Haitam Aleesami

Defender

89'

25

Isak Dybvik Määttä

Midfielder

89'

32

Federico Dimarco

Defender

6

Stefan de Vrij

Defender

13

Josep Martínez

Goalkeeper

12

Raffaele Di Gennaro

Goalkeeper

31

Yann Bisseck

Defender

45

Leonardo Bovo

Midfielder

9

Marcus Thuram

Attacker

61'

11

Luis Henrique

Attacker

75'

7

Piotr Zielinski

Midfielder

76'

14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

Defender

76'

17

Andy Diouf

Attacker

90'

Milan are working hard to sign Luka Modric to a new one-year contract extension, after the legendary Croatian midfielder continues to play an important role for the Rossoneri.

The Croatian veteran has been a huge hit in Lombardy, after signing from Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer in a one-year deal.

So far this season, he has played nearly 2000 minutes for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, in all competitions, scoring twice, assisting three more and being an ever-present cog in the Rossoneri machine.

Milan working hard on Modric contract

According to CalcioMercato, there is a ‘growing optimism’ at Milan that Modric will agree to a new deal, after Allegri has developed a reported ‘relationship of great mutual respect and trust’ with the former Madrid midfielder.

The Croatian will turn 41 in September and it looks increasingly likely that he will continue into yet another year of football – for a man who in his own words just loves playing the sport.

There is already a clause in his contract that allows the club to trigger a one-year extension, with a higher salary of around €4.5 million, if the club qualify for the Champions League.

Of course, the former Ballon d’Or winner also wants guarantees that he will continue to play a starring role for the club – not content to just sit on the bench.

Inter make a chilly trip to Bodo/Glimt this evening, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off clash against the Norwegian side.

The match promises to be interesting for a number of reasons, with cold temperatures and an artificial pitch for the Nerazzurri to contend with – and the Serie A side have four players at risk of missing the second leg if they receive a booking tonight.

As noted by FCInterNews, Lautaro Martinez, Francesco Acerbi, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Alessandro Bastoni are all in danger of a one-match ban.

Bodo/Glimt vs Inter – Challenging Nerazzurri test with bans on the line

For players like Martinez, Mkhitaryan and Bastoni especially, being without them in the return leg could become a problem if Inter do not pick up a comfortable result in Norway.

However, that is easier said than done.

It is a tricky place for any team to go in the Champions League and strong teams like Manchester City have already slipped up in the freezing cold city of Bodø.

Inter hoped to avoid having to participate in the play-offs but just missed out on a place in the top eight of the league phase, giving them an awkward play-off tie against an unpredictable team.

Follow all the action from the match, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

Torino have confirmed that Scottish forward Ché Adams will miss up to three weeks after being pulled out of training and undergoing medical examinations that revealed a fresh injury.

According to the official statement from the Turin club, Adams has “undergone medical examinations that have revealed a partial sprain in the soleus muscle of his right leg.”

Frustrating blow for Torino as Adams confirmed injured

In short, it means that the forward will miss around 20 days of football, putting him out of action for Sunday’s trip to Genoa and the match against Lazio on March 1.

It will then be touch-and-go as to whether or not he is available for the match against Napoli after that.

It is a frustrating setback for the forward especially, who will want to be in prime condition for this summer’s World Cup.

Fortunately, Scotland qualified automatically and therefore Adams’ injury comes as no real blow to the national set-up, other than concerns if it becomes a reoccurring issue in the run-up to the tournament in North America & Mexico.

Former Juventus midfielder Massimo Mauro has claimed that whilst there is nothing special about struggling left-backs Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal, there is a deeper rooted problem at the club in that they are missing the “five or six players who control the game, the ones they’ve always had.”

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mauro said “Cambiaso isn’t a leader, he’s just a normal person.”

However, he added that “neither he nor [Juan] Cabal are Juventus’ problem – rather the lack of five or six players who control the game, the ones they’ve always had.”

Mauro, on the whole, was not impressed by the players at Juventus’ disposal and claimed that “the coach [Luciano Spalletti] is the only one the club need to keep.”

Juventus brushed aside by Galatasaray in Istanbul

Juventus were humbled in a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Galatasaray on Tuesday night, with two goals from former Napoli man Noa Lang and a Juan Cabal red card adding insult to injury. Cabal had only come on for Cambiaso at half-time and it took him twenty minutes to pick up two yellow cards, putting a massive dent in the Bianconeri’s hopes of staying in the Champions League.

It would now take a miracle in Turin for Juventus to qualify for the next round but former players like Mauro remain unconvinced that the club have what it takes to pull it out of the bag.

On the upside, elimination from the continental competition would allow the Bianconeri to focus their efforts on a top four place in Serie A.

Milan are preparing to host Como at San Siro this evening, as the Rossoneri look to increase their pressure on league leaders Inter and prevent their rivals from running away in the Scudetto race. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to miss the match, with Christopher Nkunku ready to pair with Rafael Leao in attack.

The match kicks off at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET) and provides the Rossoneri with a fascinating challenge in Cesc Fabregas’ tricky Como side.

According to Sky Sport, via CalcioMercato, Loftus-Cheek is struggling with his overall fitness and is not ready to lead the line for Milan.

Milan vs Como – Loftus-Cheek to miss San Siro clash

Loftus-Cheek has scored in back-to-back games for the Rossoneri, playing in the front two but now Nkunku will step in to replace him.

The Frenchman has been inconsistent to say the least, since his big money move from Chelsea last summer.

However, Massimiliano Allegri will be hoping that Nkunku can step up in what may turn out to be a pivotal game in the race for the Scudetto.

Serie A | Napoli 2-2 Roma: New buys do battle as Alisson silences Malen, as Partenopei new boy Alisson Santos scored a late goal to cancel out a brace from Roma winter signing Donyell Malen.

Malen was Football Italia’s Man of the Match, whilst strong performances from Alisson, N’Dicka and Beukema underpinned a hard-fought draw at the Maradona.

Napoli 2-2 Roma – Player Ratings

Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic 6; Rrahmani 5 (Alisson 7.5), Buongiorno 5.5, Beukema 6.5; Gutierrez 5, Lobotka 6, Elmas 6.5 (Gilmour N/A), Spinazzola 6.5 (Olivera 6); Politano 5.5 (Mazzocchi N/A), Vergara 5.5 (Giovane 6.5); Hojlund 6

Best Napoli player: Alisson Santos – The Brazilian came on to not only save the game but inject some much needed venom into the Neapolitan attack. He scored the late equaliser and has potentially earned his right to start some upcoming games.

Lowest Napoli rating: Amir Rrahmani – Somewhat shocking performance from the experienced defender, who has been one of the very best in Serie A this season. Therefore, he must be held to a high standard – to which he fell short tonight – culminating with him injuring himself while giving away the penalty for Roma’s second goal.

Coach: Antonio Conte 6 – Reacted well with his substitutes despite a still paper thin squad. Clearly missing key difference makers in the midfield such as McTominay and Zambo-Anguissa but showed flexibility today to fight back against a spirited Roma.

Roma: Svilar 6; Mancini 6, N’Dicka 7, Ghilardi 6.5; Celik 6, Cristante 6, Pisilli 5.5 (El Aynaoui 6), Wesley 6.5 (Tsimikas 5); Pellegrini 5.5 (Venturino 5.5), Zaragoza 6 (Soule 5), Malen 8 (Vaz 5.5)

Best Roma player: Donyell Malen – Another brace for the Aston Villa loanee, who continues to shine following his two goals against Cagliari last Monday. The Dutchman has settled in well in the Italian capital and looked sharp today for his tap-in and penalty.

Lowest Roma rating: Kostas Tsimikas – Was only on the pitch for 20 minutes but can be held responsible for Alisson Santos’ equaliser. A poor clearance from the Greek full-back, who has hardly impressed on his loan spell from Liverpool.

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini 6 – Never an easy game to rock up to the Maradona and put two past the champions but Gasperini’s side did that and would have come away with three points were it not for Alisson’s equaliser.

The chaos and drama of this weekend’s Serie A continued with tonight’s battle between Napoli and Roma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples.

You can follow all the action, as it happened, on our Live Blog.

With roughly 25 minutes to go, Wesley made a charging run into the penalty box for the visitors, and was brought down by Napoli centre-back Amir Rrahmani.

However, both players ended up getting injured in the challenge. Wesley was carried off, with an ice pack later strapped to his left ankle.

January signing Donyell Malen then converted from the spot to give the visitors a temporary lead in Naples.

Watch: Rrahmani & Wesley injured as Malen completes brace in Napoli vs Roma

Malen gets the brace, taking advantage of a penalty against Napoli #SerieA pic.twitter.com/NmAXc6TeaC

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) February 15, 2026

Giacomo Raspadori faces a significant setback after picking up a first-degree hamstring strain during Atalanta BC’s clash with Lazio.

The injury, sustained late in the match, is expected to sideline him for at least three weeks, as per SportMediaset.

Head coach Raffaele Palladino, already without Charles De Ketelaere, confirmed that Raspadori will miss both legs of Atalanta’s Champions League play-off against Borussia Dortmund, with the first leg in Germany on February 17 and the return in Bergamo on February 25.

“It’s a real blow for us,” Palladino told club media.

“Raspadori has been in great form, and losing him for these crucial matches in Europe is a challenge we have to face together.”

Raspadori a doubt for Italy World Cup play-offs

The striker is also set to miss Atalanta’s trip to Naples and the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg against Lazio on March 4.

Beyond club commitments, his availability for the Italian national team is in doubt, with the World Cup play-off semifinal against Northern Ireland scheduled for March 26 in Bergamo now uncertain.

This injury deprives both Atalanta and Italy of one of their most versatile forwards.

Raspadori’s pace, movement, and finishing have been crucial this season, and his absence forces Palladino and Italy national team coach to reconsider attacking options.

Recovery over the next three weeks will be closely monitored, and the timing could influence squad selection for the World Cup play-offs, potentially reshaping Italy’s offensive strategy for one of the most important periods of the season.

Donyell Malen gave Roma the dream start against Napoli this evening, with an early goal from the Dutch forward gifting the Giallorossi the lead at the Maradona.

Malen, who signed on loan from Aston Villa in January, has settled in well in the Italian capital and has increased his goal tally.

Another January signing, Bryan Zaragoza, did well to make space on the right flank before playing a heavy low ball into the box for the Dutchman to convert comfortably.

Watch: Napoli vs Roma – Malen puts Giallorossi up

Donyell Malen silences the Maradona

Roma race free and into an early lead against Napoli!

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/z6OokMQkEG

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2026

Donyell Malen is on fire for Roma

He puts them ahead against Napoli in just six minutes! pic.twitter.com/vTe8QIVpr2

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 15, 2026

You can follow all the action from the rest of the game, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

Bologna returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory away to Torino FC, a result that could prove pivotal in reigniting their season after a difficult spell.

Head coach Vincenzo Italiano praised match-winner Santiago Castro for his decisive contribution, highlighting the striker’s natural instincts in front of goal.

“A centre-forward can sometimes operate in that area and decide matches with a great piece of skill, like he did,” Italiano told Sky Sport, via TMW.

“Not every goal comes from a structured move. He had a brilliant intuition and scored a fantastic goal that helped us win a very important match after a difficult period. We need more performances like that to move beyond it.”

Torino 1-2 Bologna – Italiano: ‘Rowe is improving a lot’

The Rossoblu front line showed encouraging signs, particularly summer arrival Jonathan Rowe, who continues to adapt to Italian football.

“Above all Rowe is improving a lot,” Italiano said. “He has the ability to do very well one-on-one. When he adds consistency and composure near goal, he can become a top-level player. He comes from a different footballing culture, he’s young and doesn’t speak much Italian yet.”

Italiano also pointed to the importance of wide players contributing goals, while lamenting the timing of a setback for Federico Bernardeschi.

“Berna was growing and it’s a shame about the injury, it happened just as he was finding his rhythm. When he regains sharpness, he has the quality to shoot with more precision. Goals from wingers are important.”

Despite the victory, Italiano stressed that Bologna’s recent struggles cannot be erased by one result alone.

“In a month and a half we lost our ability to score regularly and to limit opponents. We abandoned that. We need three, four, five results with strong performances. We want to progress in Europe and stay in a competition we care deeply about. Before saying we are out of this period, we need consistency in both performances and results.”

On whether the team had lost momentum or direction, he added:

“There are moments that turn negatively. We faced teams in great form, had red cards and mistakes all at once. We didn’t manage those situations gradually. Our true value isn’t the first place we had after Udine, but it’s much higher than what we’ve shown recently. Playing with more freedom helps, we can express ourselves even better than today.”

The win offers relief, but for Bologna the real test now lies in sustaining this level over the coming weeks.

Tensions between Inter Milan and Juventus remain high following the controversial refereeing incidents in last night’s 3-2 victory for the Nerazzurri.

In the hours after the match, John Elkann, CEO of Exor, reportedly contacted Gabriele Gravina to express Juventus’ dissatisfaction with the officiating, as per TuttoMercatoWeb.

From the Bianconeri perspective, the handling of key moments during the game was deemed unacceptable.

In particular, the moment that saw Pierre Kalulu given a second yellow card after an apparent dive by Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni.

Gravina, president of the FIGC, has since held discussions with refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi to address the specific incidents.

Inter-Juventus drama adds to unstable FIGC & AIA problems

The situation unfolds against a backdrop of instability within the AIA.

The referees’ body is awaiting a definitive ruling from the Federal Court of Appeal regarding its president, Antonio Zappi, who received a 13-month suspension at first instance.

The appeal verdict is scheduled for February 18. Should the suspension be upheld, the AIA could face the prospect of being placed under temporary administration.

FIGC president Gravina is also understood to have raised broader concerns with Rocchi, particularly regarding repeated simulations during Inter-Juventus.

According to FIGC sources, such behaviour risks influencing referees and increases the likelihood of mistakes, while also damaging the image of Italian football.

There was further emphasis on the potential benefits of broader use of VAR and technological support in situations involving clear and obvious errors.

The matter will be evaluated through the appropriate institutional channels.

Weston McKennie is once again at the centre of discussions at Juventus, with renewal talks ongoing but complicated by the midfielder’s wage demands.

Now a regular starter and one of the side’s driving forces, McKennie has turned what once looked like an uncertain future into a position of strength.

After summer rumours suggested he could be sacrificed, the American not only stayed but has become one of the most reliable figures under Luciano Spalletti. A new personal best for goals in a single season has only strengthened his standing inside the club.

McKennie demands double his salary to renew with Juventus

Juventus would like to accelerate negotiations, yet the talks are far from straightforward.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, McKennie’s entourage continue to request roughly double his current salary, a figure that has stalled progress over the past 18 months.

The midfielder currently earns between €2.5m and €3m per season including bonuses, most of which he has consistently triggered. The club are prepared to offer an increase, but not at the level being sought by his representatives.

After tying down Kenan Yildiz to a new deal, Juventus view McKennie as one of their next priorities.

However, time is becoming a factor with his contract edging closer to expiry. Interest remains strong.

In the United States he is a marketable figure, while several European clubs are monitoring the situation in case he becomes available on a free transfer this summer.

Former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has said that the red-card incident in last night’s Derby d’Italia is ‘not good for the game.’

Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was sent off after receiving a second yellow card after making minimal contact with his arm with Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.

Bastoni went down theatrically and the referee had no option but to award Kalulu a second yellow. As VAR cannot currently intervene with yellow cards, the dismissal stood and Inter managed to win the game 3-2.

Reo-Coker on Bastoni & Kalulu incident: ‘Too much cheating & diving in Serie A’

Speaking as a pundit on CBS Sports Golazo after the game, Reo-Coker said:

“Too many players in Serie A right now are cheating with the diving, it’s not good for the game and it’s not good for the future generations watching the game.”

He dismissed the suggestion that coaches should be allowed one ‘challenge’ per game, saying the trust needs to be put in the referees.

Therefore, the former midfielder implied that it is down to the players to start behaving more responsibly, as much as it is for the referees to do their job.

“It’s not good for the game and it’s not good for the generation watching.”

Nigel Reo-Coker calls for protecting the integrity of the game in Serie A pic.twitter.com/VI3QCsl5EP

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 14, 2026