Milan slipped to a surprise 1-0 loss at home against Parma on Sunday evening, their first league defeat since the opening weekend of the 2025-26 season. They remain in second place, but now find themselves 10 points shy of league leaders Inter.
Milan have recently been in contact with the AIA to express their frustrations about recent calls that have gone against them, but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Rossoneri decided against making a formal complaint to the AIA after the Parma match.
Still, they feel that another two decisions went against them during Sunday’s 1-0 loss against Parma.
Which refereeing decisions have angered Milan?
FEBRUARY 22: Edoardo Corvi of Parma Calcio clashes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The first incident in question is the lack of punishment for Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi following the collision that led Ruben Loftus-Cheek to be stretchered off and needing surgery on his jaw.
Replays showed that Corvi did not get to the ball, which was headed clear by defender Emmanuele Valeri, but that he did make clear and forceful contact with Loftus-Cheek, who lost several teeth during the incident, but has since been discharged from hospital after suffering a fractured alveolar bone.
Milan were also annoyed by the decision to award Parma’s Mariano Troilo’s goal, which put the Rossoneri 1-0 down in the 80th minute.
FEBRUARY 22: Mariano Troilo,Edoardo Corvi and Emanuele Valeri of Parma Calcio celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The on-field decision had been to disallow the goal for an attacking foul on Davide Bartesaghi in the Milan area, but referee Marco Piccinini was later referred to the VAR screen and subsequently overturned his decision, handing Parma the lead with 10 minutes to go.
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Piccinini had not made a clear and obvious error in his decision to disallow Troilo’s goal, and therefore it should not have been an incident for VAR to review.
Aside from the Parma match, Milan feel that they were also hard done by in their recent 1-1 draw with Como.
FEBRUARY 18: Cesc Fabregas, Head Coach of Como 1907, reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
They feel that Como head coach Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off for interfering with Alexis Saelemaekers while the game was being played, and that Ignace van der Brempt should have also seen red for a bad tackle on Strahinja Pavlovic, which left the Serbian injured while the Belgian went away unpunished.
Nicolo Rovella is facing several months on the sidelines as Lazio have confirmed that the midfielder has undergone surgery to fix a fractured collar bone he suffered during Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Cagliari.
Rovella withdrew after 59 minutes of Lazio’s 0-0 stalemate against Cagliari at the Unipol Domus on Saturday afternoon with what was later confirmed to be a fracture to his clavicle, otherwise known as his collar bone.
Lazio have confirmed in a statement on Monday evening that the four-time Italy international has had surgery to repair the damage and that the procedure was ‘perfectly successful’.
CAGLIARI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Nicolò Rovella injured during the Serie A match against Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Sant’Elia on February 21, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
Rovella will begin a personalised recovery programme within the next few days, and reports in Italy suggest that it will take him around two months before he is in a position to return to competitive first-team action.
This means that Rovella will likely miss out on Lazio’s upcoming fixtures against Torino, Atalanta in the Coppa Italia, Sassuolo, Milan, Bologna, Parma, Fiorentina and Napoli.
What Lazio said about Rovella injury
Nicolò Rovella during the training session infront of the fans at the Formello sport centre on January 04, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
S.S. Lazio announces that Nicolò Rovella underwent surgical intervention this afternoon for the reduction and osteosynthesis of a fracture to his right collarbone, sustained during the match played in Cagliari,” read a statement on Monday evening.
“The procedure was perfectly successful. The player will begin the specific rehabilitation program in the coming days, under the constant monitoring of the biancoceleste medical staff.”
Moise Kean registered his third Serie A goal in as many games to lift Fiorentina out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over local rivals Pisa on Monday evening.
Fiorentina made several alterations to their starting line-up following Thursday evening’s 3-0 victory over Jagiellonia in the Conference League play-off round first leg, with Kean, Manor Solomon, Nicolo Fagioli and Marco Brescianini among the players to return to the Viola XI. Pisa made just two changes following their 2-1 defeat against Milan last weekend, with Samuel Iling-Junior and Marius Marin coming into the XI in place of Matteo Tramoni and Michel Aebischer.
FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Pisa SC at Artemio Franchi on February 23, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina were the better of the Tuscan teams across the first half in Florence, and needed less than 13 minutes to find the lead against their local rivals: Kean couldn’t have asked for a simpler chance.
Jack Harrison’s cross in from the right flank was headed clear by Rosen Bozhinov, but only as far as Cher Ndour on the follow-up. Simone Canestrelli made a mess of his attempted clearance of Ndour’s shot and inadvertently sent it into the path of Kean, who was unmarked less than 10 yards out from goal.
FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina scores a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Pisa SC at Artemio Franchi on February 23, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fagioli and Dodo tried to test goalkeeper Nicolas with a pair of shots from the edge of the area midway through the first half, but they were unable to find the target through a congested penalty area.
Kean tried to find the back of the net with a header a few minutes before the interval, but got too far underneath Brescianini’s ball in from the left and saw his effort go over the crossbar for a goal-kick.
Fagioli tested Nicolas from a free-kick from just over 25 yards out a few minutes after the break, but this was nothing that the Brazilian stopper wasn’t able to handle.
Ndour saved his best attempt of the game for the 87th minute, rifling an effort towards the top corner of the net from the edge of the area, but Nicolas got a strong wrist behind it and sent it behind for a corner.
Pisa were unable to register a shot on target across the 90 minutes.
FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Idrissa Toure’ of Pisa Sporting Club in action against Manor Solomon of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Pisa SC at Artemio Franchi on February 23, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
This result lifts Fiorentina out of the relegation zone and into 16th place, but are not entirely clear of danger just yet given that they are still level on points with Cremonese (17th) and Lecce (18th).
Pisa remain stuck in 19th, on the same tally of points as Hellas Verona (20th). They remain nine points off safety after 26 matches.
Riccardo Orsolini and Jonathan Rowe return to the Bologna attack as Vincenzo Italiano and his squad prepare to take on Udinese in Serie A on Monday evening.
Bologna are coming in off the back of a 1-0 win away against Brann in the first leg of their Europa League play-off round tie on Thursday evening. The Rossoblu also picked up a 2–1 win over Torino in their most recent Serie A match, which ended a run of five league matches without a win.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side currently find themselves in 10th place on 33 points from 25 matches ahead of kick-off.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Nikola Moro of Bologna FC 1909 celebrates a goal with team mates during the Serie A match between Torino FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on February 15, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Udinese were beaten 2-1 at home against Sasuolo last time out in Serie A, which means that they are currently one point and one position behind Bologna ahead of kick-off on Monday night.
Bologna have made plenty of changes from their Europa League victory on Thursday night. Five fresh faces come in with Joao Mario, Tommaso Pobega, Riccardo Orsolini, Simon Sohm and Jonathan Rowe all returning to the starting XI in place of Nadir Zortea, Nikola Moro, Lewis Ferguson, Federico Bernardeschi and Nicolo Cambiaghi.
Udinese have made three personnel changes after their defeat against Sassuolo, with Kingsley Ehizibue, Jakub Piotorowski and Adam Buska coming in to replace Nicolo Bertola, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Vakoun Bayo.
Kick-off is due at 19.45 GMT.
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Nicolò Zaniolo of Udinese and Luca Lipani of Sassuolo in action during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Friuli on February 15, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Torino have officially announced that Marco Baroni has been relieved of his duties as head coach, and have already appointed a replacement on a short-term contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Baroni leaves the club in 15th place in the Serie A table on 27 points after 26 matches. Torino currently find themselves just three points above the relegation zone.
Baroni oversaw just one win in his final seven matches in charge of Torino, with the final straw coming in a 3-0 defeat away against Genoa on Sunday afternoon. Toro were also eliminated by Inter in the Coppa Italia quarter-final and had been beaten 6-0 by Como in Serie A in the final weeks of Baroni’s tenure.
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Brooke Norton Cuffy of Genoa (R) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Torino FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
“Torino Football Club announces that it has sacked Marco Baroni from the position of coach of the first team,” read a statement on the club website.
“The Club thanks the coach and his staff for the activity carried out so far with commitment and fairness and wishes them the best in the continuation of their careers.”
Torino hire D’Aversa to replace Baroni
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 24: Roberto D’Aversa, Head Coach of Empoli, looks on prior to the coppa Italia Semi Final match between Bologna FC and Empoli at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 24, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Torino have also announced on Monday that Roberto D’Aversa has been appointed to the role of head coach on a short-term contract until June 30, 2026.
D’Aversa has been out of work since June 2025 following Empoli’s relegation to Serie B at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. He also has experiences with Lecce, where by coincidence he also replaced Marco Baroni, as well as Sampdoria and Parma.
“Torino Football Club is pleased to announce that it has entrusted the management of the First Team to coach Roberto D’Aversa. The coach has signed a contract until June 30, 2026,” Torino confirmed.
Loftus-Cheek was left with several missing teeth and a fracture of the alveolar bone in his jaw after a nasty coming together with goalkeeper Corvi 11 minutes into Sunday’s match in San Sirio.
The former Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Fulham midfielder was stretchered off in a neck brace and was taken to a nearby medical facility for tests. He was taken to the specialist maxillofacial department at the San Paolo hospital in Milan on Monday, where he has since had surgery to repair the damage to his jaw.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Edoardo Corvi of Parma Calcio clashes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Milan have confirmed that they expect Loftus-Cheek to return to action in around eight weeks’ time.
Pictures: Loftus-Cheek missing teeth after horror clash
“A heartfelt thanks to all the medical staff who supported me over these past hours with professionalism and care. A special thanks to all the fans for your countless messages of love and support. I’ve read them, felt them, and they’ve given me incredible strength.
“Thanks to my teammates: We are a team. We are a family. Now, forward towards our goals, strong and united. Together.”
Loftus-Cheek has also shared a pair of ‘before and after’ photos of his face on Monday.
Paolo Vanoli has made wholesale changes to his Fiorentina side and has reintroduced Moise Kean in attack for the visit of Pisa in Serie A on Monday evening.
The Viola return to league action following Thursday’s 3-0 Conference League victory over Jagiellonia in Poland. Vanoli’s side (18th) require three points this evening if they are to lift themselves above Pisa, who sit one position, but six points below them in the table (19th).
FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Manor Solomon of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Artemio Franchi on February 7, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Kean was among the Fiorentina players to be rested on Thursday night, but returns to the attack on Monday along with Manor Solomon. Jack Harrison keeps his place in the front three.
Cher Ndour is the only midfielder to keep his place in the starting XI, joined by Nicolo Fagioli and Marco Brescianini against Pisa.
Pisa have made just two changes following their 2-1 defeat against Milan last weekend, with Samuel Iling-Junior and Marius Marin coming into the XI in place of Matteo Tramoni and Michel Aebischer.
Kick-off is due at 17.30 GMT.
Fiorentina vs. Pisa: Confirmed line-ups
FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Artemio Franchi on February 7, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Milan have confirmed that midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has undergone surgery, that he has been discharged and that he is expected to return to action in around eight weeks time after suffering a horror facial injury during Milan’s 1-0 loss against Parma in Serie A on Sunday evening.
Milan give official Loftus-Cheek update
The former Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Fulham midfielder was stretchered off in a neck brace after a horror clash with Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi just 11 minutes into Sunday’s loss in San Siro.
Loftus-Cheek was immediately taken to the nearby San Carlo hospital for emergency tests, which confirmed that he has suffered a fracture to the alveolar bone in his jaw. The Englishman also lost several teeth during the incident according to reports in Italy.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Edoardo Corvi of Parma Calcio clashes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
According to Sky Sport Italia, the initial plan was for Loftus-Cheek to have immediate surgery on Sunday evening, but this was eventually held off until Monday morning in order to arrange a surgical team at the San Paolo hospital in Milan, which houses a specialist maxillofacial department.
Milan have since released a statement confirming that Loftus-Cheek underwent surgery on his jaw, that he has been discharged and that he is expected to return to action in around eight weeks.
“AC Milan announce that Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered a significant facial trauma yesterday, which resulted in a fracture of the alveolar process of the jaw,” read a statement on the club website.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan leaves the pitch on a stretcher during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“The player was admitted to the Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Clinic department of ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, where today he underwent surgery performed by Dr. Luca Autelitano. The operation to reduce and stabilise the fracture was completely successful. Ruben is doing well and has already been discharged.
“The estimated recovery time is around eight weeks.”
Douglas Luiz has finally returned to playing regular top-flight football during his loan spell with Aston Villa, but how much will it cost the Premier League outfit to sign the Brazilian on a permanent transfer from Juventus?
How much will Aston Villa have to pay Juventus to sign Douglas Luiz permanently?
It has been a strange few years for Douglas Luiz, who earned rave reviews towards the end of his first stint with Villa, which began in 2019 and ended in 2024. His performances, particularly during the 2023-24 season, earned him a big-money move away from Villa, joining Juventus in a deal worth €50m.
Despite his promising Premier League performances, Douglas Luiz failed to hit the ground running in Serie A, and soon became somewhat of an outcast in the Bianconeri first-team. In the end, he made just 19 Serie A appearances during his first season in Italy, and only three of those came as a starter.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Douglas Luiz of Juventus is challenged by Karol Linetty of Torino during the Serie A match between Torino and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 11, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
The Old Lady decided to cut their losses during the most recent summer transfer window, sending Douglas Luiz on a season-long loan deal to Nottingham Forest with a conditional obligation to buy.
Still, largely due to injuries, Douglas Luiz struggled to make an impact at the City Ground and was limited to just eight league appearances during the first half of the 2025-26 season.
His loan deal was terminated in January, which facilitated a return to Aston Villa, this time on loan with an option to buy.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on February 11, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Since then, Douglas Luiz has gone on to make four consecutive starts and is looking increasingly settled back in his familiar environment at Villa Park.
If Aston Villa were to activate their option to buy clause this season, Juventus would receive a €25m fee, which is payable over three financial years. The Bianconeri could also claim bonuses of up to €3.5m, the club confirmed in January.
Inter and Italy full-back Federico Dimarco is now just one assist away from matching the Serie A record for the most assists in a single season after laying on two goals for his teammates during Saturday’s 2-0 win away against Lecce.
Dimarco is in the form of his life, and there have been recent suggestions that he will be one of the contenders for the league’s MVP award at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, which sees Inter 10 points clear at the top of the table as things stand.
What Dimarco needs to break Serie A assists record
Dimarco is currently on 15 assists from 24 appearances so far in Serie A. He added two assists to his season tally during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Lecce: Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Manuel Akanji’s goals came directly from his corners.
Only Papu Gomez (16), during the 2019-20 season, has registered more assists in a single Serie A season than the Nerazzurri wing-back has in 2025-26 (15).
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Lassana Coulibaly of US Lecce competes for the ball with Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Dimarco now needs just one more assist from the remaining 12 matches of the 2025-26 season to match Papu Gomez’s tally, and two more to break it. So far this season, the 28-year-old has been averaging an assist every 1.2 matches.
The Italy international also has five goals to his name from his 24 Serie A appearances so far this season, which comes to an impressive tally of 20 goal contributions from 24 matches at left wing-back.
Reports in Italy claim that Juventus could make a move for Inter-linked Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario this summer amidst growing concerns surrounding the form of current Bianconeri no.1 Michele Di Gregorio.
Di Gregorio has come under fire in recent weeks after a series of high-profile errors in matches against Lazio, Inter and most recently against Como. Juventus collectively find themselves in a troubling run of form with four losses from their last five matches across all competitions and 15 goals conceded across that period.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus could be poised to bring in a new goalkeeper during the summer transfer window.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – MAY 04: Michele Di Gregorio of Juventus gestures during the Serie A match between Bologna and Juventus at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on May 04, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The Bianconeri had toyed with the idea of signing Mike Maignan, who had been into the final few months of his contract with Milan until signing a long-term renewal at the end of January. That move is now a no-goer.
Could Juventus make a move for Tottenham’s Vicario?
Now, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are keen to add an Italian shot-stopper to their ranks, given that aside from Di Gregorio, Andrea Cambiaso and Manuel Locatelli are the only ‘Italian starters’ in the current Bianconeri squad.
The Pink Paper claims that Tottenham’s Vicario, who has also been linked with a move to Inter this summer, is currently the no.1 pick for Juventus.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 16: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Given that Vicario is now 30, will be into the final two years of his Tottenham contract in the summer, and is said to be keen on the idea of a return to Serie A, it is unlikely that Tottenham will be able to demand much more than €25m-€30m for the former Empoli stopper this summer.
Vicario reportedly earns a salary in the region of €4.5m per season at Tottenham, which would not exceed Juve’s current salary structure.
Marco Baroni’s job is under increasing threat after a disappointing 3-0 loss away against Genoa in Serie A on Sunday afternoon after goals from Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Caleb Ekuban and Junior Messias after a costly Emirhan Ilkhan sending off in the first half.
Just three points separated the two sides, who were ranked in 14th and 15th place in the Serie A table ahead of kick-off. Genoa made just two changes to their starting line-up, swapping Ekuuban and Tommaso Baldanzi in for Vitinha and Messias, while Torino made five alterations, introducing Enzo Ebosse, Valentino Lazaro, Emirhan Ilkhan, Rafael Obrador and Sandro Kulenovic to their XI.
ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Brooke Norton Cuffy of Genoa (R) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Torino FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Genoa broke the deadlock midway through the first period when Ekuban got a fortunate touch off Enzo Ebosse, which sent him through into the right hand side of the area. His shot was parried by Alberto Paleari and Norton-Cuffy was on-hand to finish off the rebound in the middle of the box.
Genoa’s second was not too dissimilar to their first. They again broke down the right flank, this time with Baldanzi, whose shot was parried into the path of Ekuban, who just had to stick his leg out to tap home the rebound from point-blank range.
ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Caleb Ekuban of Genoa (left) celebrates with his team-mates Lorenzo Colombo, Brooke Norton Cuffy and Patrizio Masini after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Torino FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 22, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Torino were left frustrated when they had a penalty appeal waved away just after the 40th minute. They were adamant that Ekuuban had handled the ball in the area from a corner, but there was no spot kick awarded despite a lengthy VAR check.
Things went from bad to worse before the interval for Torino, as Ilhan was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Lorenzo Colombo inside the centre circle.
Replays showed that his studs were up, his challenge was high on Colombo’s calf and that the referee was correct in his decision to send the Granata midfielder off for dangerous play.
Daniele De Rossi’s side wrapped up the three points after a disastrous slip on the ball from Torino defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen in his own half. Second-half substitute Junior Messisas pounced, found himself one-on-one and made no mistake in front of goal from close range.
This result means that Genoa and Torino have swapped positions in the Serie A table, both now sitting level on points on 27. Reports from Tuttosport suggest that Baroni’s job could not be under serious threat after picking up just four points from the last five matches.
ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Brooke Norton Cuffy of Genoa (R) celebrates with his team-mate Caleb Ekuban after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Torino FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 22, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Juventus have found themselves in the middle of a poor run of form, and now, Luciano Spalletti may have to do without his star attacker, Kenan Yildiz, for Wednesday evening’s crucial Champions League play-off round decider against Galatasaray.
Juventus were beaten 2-0 at home against Como in Serie A on Saturday afternoon, and are now at risk of slipping four points behind the fourth-placed Roma, who are in league action against Cremonese on Sunday.
Juventus have now lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, have failed to win and have conceded 15 goals across that period.
Yildiz at risk of missing Juventus-Galatasaray second leg
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC is challenged by Martin Baturina of Como 1907 during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
To make matters worse for Juventus, they may also have to do without Yildiz for the upcoming second leg of their Champions League play-off match against Galatasaray on Wednesday night.
That is because the Turkish talent came off with a calf issue against Como on Saturday, which required immediate icing and treatment on the sidelines.
According to reports from Ilbianconero.com, he is a risk for the Champions League match on Wednesday. La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Yildiz was unable to take part in Juve’s recovery training session on Sunday as a result of the blow he suffered agaist Como.
The race for Serie A’s Champions League positions table took a major turn when Como beat Juventus 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but which of the four teams currently contesting for fourth place have the toughest set of remaining fixtures between now and the end of the season?
Remaining Roma, Juventus, Como and Atalanta fixtures compared
As things stand, Roma are currently in fourth place and could move four points clear of Juventus if they beat Cremonese on Sunday. There are still 12, or in some cases 13 matches of the Serie A season left to play, and with Como and Atalanta both in respectable form, there is still a lot left to play for before the end of the campaign.
According to the average difficulty rating of the remaining fixtures, it is Juventus who have the ‘easiest’ run-in of any of the teams ranked from fourth to seventh. That is largely because they have already played against league leaders Inter, twice, and third-place Napoli home and away as well. Their toughest remaining fixture on paper is their away trip to face 2nd-placed Milan on April 26.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Fabio Miretti of Juventus and Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale Milano battle for possession during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Of the teams competing for the top four, current fourth-place holders Roma have the second-easiest run-in on paper. They still have to take on Inter in San Siro and also face a huge, direct clash against Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico on March 1.
Como are back in the mix for the top four positions after defeating Juventus on Saturday, but still have a series of tough home games left to play, including matches against Inter, Napoli and Roma.
Of the teams competing for the Champions League spots, it is Atalanta who have the toughest set of remaining fixtures. La Dea still have to face Inter, Milan and Roma away from home, and also still have home matches against Napoli and Juventus left to play.
Roma
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Donyell Malen of AS Roma celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Jonathan David of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Mergim Vojvoda of Como 1907 celebrates the opening goal with head coach Francesc Fabregas Soler during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Nikola Krstovic of Atalanta BC celebrates with his team after scoring his sides first goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Cremonese at Gewiss Stadium on February 09, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Tommaso Baldanzi and Caleb Ekuban return to the Genoa line-up, while Sandro Kulenovic comes in to replace Che Adams for Torino in a mid-table six-pointer in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.
Genoa were held to a 0-0 draw by Cremonese last time out in Serie A and currently find themselves in 15th place in the league table with 24 points from 25 matches so far. Their last victory in the league came in a 3-2 win over Bologna on January 25.
Torino were beaten 2-1 by Torino last weekend, and currently sit in 14th place in the league standings, three points above Sunday’s opponents, Genoa.
ITALY – JANUARY 12: Morten Frendrup of Genoa (center) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on January 12, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Daniele De Rossi has kept the core of his starting XI from the Cremonese match intact, but has made two alterations to his attacking personnel, with Tommaso Baldanzi and Caleb Ekuban coming in to replace Vitinha and Junior Messias.
Marco Baroni has made a few more changes to his Torino side, handing opportunities to Enzo Ebosse, Valentino Lazaro, Emirhan Ilkhan, Rafael Obrador and Sandro Kulenovic.
Kick-off is due at 11.30 GMT.
Genoa vs. Torino: Confirmed line-ups
COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 24: Torino FC coach Marco Baroni during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Torino FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Following a 2-0 defeat against Como in Serie A on Saturday afternoon, which puts Champions League qualification at a major risk, Turin-based outlet Tuttosport claims that Juventus have only made two successful signings over the last three seasons, which is why they have hit a stumbling block again under Luciano Spalletti.
The Bianconeri were hit with a 2-0 defeat at home against Cesc Fabregas’s Como thanks to goals from Mergim Vojvoda and Lucas Da Cunha on Saturday. This result means that the race for the top four is no longer in Juve’s hands, and now, Roma could move four points clear in fourth place if they beat Cremonese on Sunday.
Are Juventus’s poor transfers behind recent lack of form?
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus FC looks dejected at the end of the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Juventus have now picked up just one point from their last five matches across all competitions and have also conceded 15 goals across that period as well.
In response to their poor performance against Como on Saturday, Turin-based outlet Tuttosport suggests that Juventus have only made two successful signings over the last three seasons i.e. six transfer windows, which is why they are unable to progress on the pitch.
Tuttosport claims that Pierre Kalulu, who joined from Milan in the summer of 2024, and Khephren Thuram, signed from OGC Nice earlier in the same summer, have been the only two exceptions to a poor run of Juventus transfers.
All Juventus signings of the last three seasons
2023-24
epa11712328 Juventus’ Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and Torino FC, in Turin, Italy, 09 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
Timothy Weah from Lille (€11m)
Tiago Djalo from Lille (€5.1m)
Carlos Alcaraz on loan from Southampton (€3.9m)
Facundo Gonzalez (€1.75m)
Also exercised options/obligations to buy for Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo, Moise Kean from Everton and Arkadiusz Milik from Marseille.
2024-25
EMPOLI, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: Douglas Luiz of Juventus reacts during the Serie A match between Empoli and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 14, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Teun Koopmeiners from Atalanta (€58.4m)
Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa (€51.5m)
Khephren Thuram from Nice (€20.6m)
Alberto Costa from Vitoria Guimaraes (€13.8m)
Francisco Conceicao on loan from Porto (€9.5m)
Nico Gonzalez on loan from Fiorentina (€8.4m)
Vasilije Adzic from Pogorica (€7.2m)
Michele Di Gregorio on loan from Monza (€4.5m)
Lloyd Kelly on loan from Newcastle (€3.8m)
Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG (€3.6m)
Pierre Kalulu on loan from Milan (€3.3m)
2025-26
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Loïs Openda of Juventus during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Edon Zhegrova from Lille (€15.5m)
Joao Mario from Porto (€12.6m)
Lois Openda on loan from RB Leipzig (€3.3m)
Jonathan David from Lille (free)
Emil Holm, on loan from Bologna (free)
Jeremie Boga on loan from Nice (free)
Also exercised options/obligations to buy for Francisco Conceicao, Nico Gonzalez, Lloyd Kelly, Pierre Kalulu and Michele Di Gregorio.
Newspapers in Italy have not looked too kindly on Juventus after their 2-0 loss at home against Como in Serie A on Saturday afternoon, which has put the Champions League race out of the Old Lady’s hands.
Juventus were beaten 2-0 by Cesc Fabregas’s side in their own back yard on Saturday afternoon, marking a troubling run of form for the Bianconeri, who have lost three games in a row in all competitions, are without a win in any of their last five and have conceded 15 goals from those last five matches.
Saturday’s loss against Como keeps Juve in fifth place in the Serie A table on 46 points from 26 matches. Roma, currently on 47 points in fourth place, will play against relegation-threatened Cremonese on Sunday afternoon and will move four points above the Bianconeri if they record a victory.
How Italian media responded to Juventus 0-2 Como
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC looks dejected at the end of the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote on Sunday that the midweek defeats in the Champions League served as a wake-up call for Serie A leaders Inter, but sent Juventus into a stunned state.
The Pink Paper notes that it was Juventus who were the better of the two sides during last weekend’s Derby d’Italia, won 3-2 by Inter, but that it now feels like a different team altogether. It has only been eight days since the Inter derby, but La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that it feels more like eight months.
Like most outlets in Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that qualification for next year’s Champions League is now at major risk, and that without a top four finish, Luciano Spalletti’s future in Turin will be in doubt.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Juventus FC head coach Luciano Spalletti looks on during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Corriere dello Sport noted that this was a Juventus side lacking in identity against Como on Saturday.
Spalletti claimed after Tuesday’s 5-2 Champions League defeat against Galatasaray that the Bianconeri had taken ‘three steps backwards’, but Corriere dello Sport suggests that they have taken twice as many.
Like many outlets in Italy, Corriere dello Sport were also critical of goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, claiming that he should have done better for Mergim Vojvoda’s goal for 1-0, despite the deflection off Fabio Miretti, and that he got away with one when Lucas Da Cunha rattled the crossbar after a horror clearance from the stopper.
Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio fails to prevent an Andrea Cambiaso own goal for Inter
Like Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport also rated Di Gregorio at 4/10 for his performance against Como, suggesting that the ‘error’ for Vojvoda’s goal is ‘simply unacceptable for the standard of Serie A’.
The Turin-based outlet also adds that Juventus’s current form is a direct consequence of ‘three years’ of poor signings across various transfer windows. They suggest that Pierre Kalulu and Khephren Thuram are the only successful Juventus signings of the last three years.
Gian Piero Gasperini continues to be troubled by injuries as his Roma side prepares to face Cremonese in Serie A on Sunday afternoon, with no Paulo Dybala nor Matias Soule available at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi are coming in off the back of a 2-2 draw away against Napoli last time out in Serie A, which leaves them in fourth place in the Serie A table ahead of kick-off. They have one point more and have played one game fewer than the fifth-placed Juventus.
Cremonese, meanwhile, settled for a 0-0 draw at home against Genoa in the league last weekend: Their first Serie A point in just shy of a month. They sit in 16th place ahead of kick-off, but with 24 points to their name from 25 matches, they are still at risk of slipping into the relegation zone by the end of the weekend if they fall to a defeat against Roma.
CREMONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Evan Ferguson of AS Roma scores the 0-2 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AS Roma at Stadio Giovanni Zini on November 23, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Gasperini and Roma will have to do without both Dybala and Soule in attack, which means that January signing Bryan Zaragoza and former captain Lorenzo Pellegrini are likely to keep their places behind the new go-to centre-forward, Donyell Malen.
Wesley is a doubt ahead of kick-off, and if the Brazilian is unable to start, then it is likely that Gasperini will field Zeki Celik and Kostas Tsimikas as his wing-backs.
Manu Kone is back, available for selection and could be handed a start against Cremonese at the Stadio Olimpico.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Manu Kone with his teammates of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on January 10, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Pre-match reports from Sky Sport Italia suggest that it will be a similar, if not the same Cremonese line-up as the one that drew with Genoa last weekend, with Jamie Vardy and Milan Djuric running things in attack.
Federico Baschirotto is a doubt with a muscular issue, and if he is unable to start, then it is likely that Matteo Bianchetti will instead.
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 29: Manu Kone of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on December 29, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 3 and online through DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+.
Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao look set to partner each other in attack for just the fourth time this season as Milan host Parma in San Siro in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.
Milan are coming in off the back of a 1-1 draw against Como in their rearranged fixture in San Siro on Wednesday evening, while Parma claimed all three points in a 2-1 win over Hellas Verona in their most recent Serie A fixture.
As things stand ahead of kick-off, Milan occupy second place in the Serie A table, and are hoping to move back within seven points of the league leaders, Inter, with a victory on Sunday. Parma, meanwhile, sit in 13th place on 29 points from 25 matches, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Pre-match reports suggest that Pulisic and Leao will both return to start in the Milan attack on Sunday. The star Rossoneri attackers both have eight goals from 18 appearances in the league so far this season, but have only started alongside each other on four occasions, and not since the 1-0 victory over Lecce back in January, over a month ago.
ITALY – AUGUST 17: Rafael Leao celebrates with his team-mate Christian Pulisic after scoring the opening goal during the Coppa Italia match between AC Milan and SSC Bari at Stadio San Siro on August 17, 2025 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Adrien Rabiot is also back from suspension and is expected to return to the midfield alongside Luka Modric, while Alexis Saelemaekers could also return to the XI at right wing-back.
With a slight shortage of defensive options, Sky Sport Italia claims that Davide Bartesaghi could start in the back three rather than at wing-back, which could mean an opportunity for Pervis Estupinan out on the left flank.
Head coach Massimiliano Allegri is suspended and will hand over his touchline duties to trusted assistant Marco Landucci.
ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Pre-match reports suggest that Carlos Cuesta will go with a similar line-up to the one that beat Verona last weekend, with the attacking line lead by Mateo Pellegrino and Gabriel Strefezza.
PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Christian Pulisic shoots at goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AC Milan at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 08, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Tonight’s match will be available to watch live in the UK and Ireland exclusively on DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+.
Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Alisson Santos could be set to make his full Napoli debut away against Atalanta, who are likely to turn to Nikola Krstovic in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.
La Dea find themselves in seventh place in the Serie A standings ahead of kick-off, with 42 points to their name from 25 matches so far in 2025-26. They are currently five points shy of Roma in fourth place.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Mario Pasalic, Isak Hien and Marten de Roon of Atalanta applaud the fans following the team’s defeat during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Pre-match reports from Sky Sport Italia suggest that Raffaele Palladino will stick with a rotated side compared to the one that lined up against Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday afternoon. Nikola Krstovic is likely to lead the line over Gianluca Scammacca, Ederson is expected to be rested in midfield, while Giorgio Scalvini and Isak Hien could come back in to the defence to replace Berat Djimsiti and Odilon Kossounou.
Injury issues continue to trouble Antonio Conte and his Partenopei side, who are still without Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, David Neres, Amir Rrahmani and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Eljif Elmas of Napoli (right) sprays his teammate Scott McTominay’s right ankle during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
With their hands forced, It is set to be a similar Napoli side to the one that drew 2-2 with Roma last time out in Serie A, with Eljif Elmas continuing to partner Stanislav Lobotka in midfield.
Alisson Santons scored off the bench on his Serie A debut last weekend and could be rewarded with a start in attack alongside Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Hojlund according to the pre-match reports.
Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Juan Jesus, Buongiorno; Mazocchi; Lobotka, Elmas, Gutierrez; Vergara, Alisson Santos; Hojlund.
Where to watch Atalanta vs. Napoli
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on DAZN and in the UK and Ireland. BBC Alba will also be showing the game in Scotland. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in through Paramount+.
Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Demoredis is the king of the ski cross and celebrates Italy’s 10th triumph. Tomasoni silver for his partner Matilde Lorenzi, who died on the slopes. Giovannini bronze in the skating. Medals record with 30
Inter are leaving
Flying to +10 with their seventh victory in a row
Dimarco’s corners for the Mkhitaryan and Akanji goals: The Lecce wall crumbles. Chivu record-breaking debutant
Milan try to revive the Championship
Against Parma at 17.00
Juve disappear: What a lesson from Como
Boos and Champions League fading away. Spalletti: ‘You’ll never win like that’
Roma could go +4 today
Corriere dello Sport
Unrecognisable
Juve sunken by Fabregas, Spalletti alarms
Champions League risk | Como supremacy (0-2): Third KO in a row, it finishes with boos at the Stadium
‘If this is our level, we can’t aspire to anything’. 16 goals conceded in the last six games. Cesc part: Vojvoda and Caqueret score. Fear for Yildiz: Problem with his calf, a doubt for Gala
Marvelous Italy: 30 medals
Another triumphant day at the Olympics: A double in the ski cross, gold for Deromedis and silver for Tomasoni. Another bronze arrives from Giovannini in the skating. Closing ceremony at the Arena di Verona at 19.00
Inter breakaway: Chivu at +10 on Milan
Mkhitaryan and Akanji decisive in Lecce (0-2)
Nine away victories in a row and the lead at the top lengthens. Allegri takes on Parma today (17.00) to return to -7
Napoli: Under 23 attack
In Bergamo at 14.00
Conte launches a previously unseen trident against Atalanta: Hojlund with Vergara and Alisson Santos. McTominay not called up
Tuttosport
Juve: Como profound
Cesc dominates even without Paz (2-0). Fourth victory in the last five games for Spalletti: The supporters criticise this time
No emotional reaction, no game nor intensity: That’s how fourth place becomes a mirage. And this evening, Roma (closest competitor) could go +4. Lucio: ‘If this is the level, we can’t aspire to anything. But I won’t give an inch’. The Di Gregorio case. Yildiz fears: A doubt for the return leg against Galatasaray on Wednesday
Italy, 30 and honours
A Moving double in the ski cross, Giovannini bronze in the skating
Tortona masterpiece, Final against Milan
Basketball, Coppa Italia: 16.00 in Torino
Two corners, two goals. Inter beat Lecce. Bastoni, what boos
Milan at 17.00, now at -10
Torino: Baroni, last call
The relegation clash at the Marassi cauldron could prove fatal for the coach. Maripan doubt, Ebosse tempts
Italy’s chances of attaining an additional spot in next year’s Champions League remain slim despite a Europa League and Conference League victories for play-off victory for Bologna over Brann on Thursday night, as Inter added to Juventus and Atalanta losses with their 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt.
Where Italy stands in race for extra Champions League spot after play-off first legs
As things stand, Italy remains in fifth place in UEFA’s season association coefficient ranking, which is used to determine the nations that receive an extra spot in the following year’s Champions League. Only the nations that finish the season in the top two will receive an additional Champions League place.
BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Jens Petter Hauge of Bodo/Glimt celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Kasper Hogh during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and FC Internazionale Milano at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)
These results leave Italy in fifth place in UEFA’s season association coefficient ranking with a score of 16.071 points.
England top the rankings with 21.513, Germany are currently second with 17.071, Portugal are third with 16.600 and Spain are fourth with 16.156.
How is the extra Champions League spot determined?
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: Zinedine Zidane places the Champions League Trophy onto the plinth after the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 01, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
The nations that finish the season in the top two on UEFA’s season association coefficient are awarded one additional spot each in the following season’s Champions League.
So, how does the coefficient ranking work?
Teams competing in the three UEFA competitions (the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) are awarded points based on their results in the European competitions. Nations are awarded two points for each of its teams’ wins, one for a draw and zero for a defeat. Those points are halved for qualifying matches.
Bonus points are also awarded depending on each team’s finish in the league phase table. The team that finishes top of the Champions League pile gets an additional 12 points, the team in second gets 11.750, the team in third gets 11.500 and so on all the way down to the team in 36th. The winner of the Europa League league phase is awarded 6 points and 4 for the team at the top of the Conference League table. Points are awarded for places 1-24 in both the Europa League and Conference League.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: The UEFA Champions League trophy is cleaned as it is displayed on a plinth at the side of the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Additional bonus points are also awarded for each knockout stage that a team passes through.
All of those points are added up and are then divided by the number of teams that the nation in question has competing in UEFA competitions.
Italy’s collective points tally stands at 112.500, which comes to a coefficient score of 16.071 when divided by the number of Italian sides involved in European competition this season (seven).
That score of 16.071 keeps Italy in fifth place in this season’s association coefficient ranking.
Juventus have reportedly lodged a request with FIGC President Gabriele Gravina in an attempt to get Pierre Kalulu’s red card rescinded after the controversial Derby d’Italia between the Old Lady and rivals Inter last weekend.
Juventus go to FIGC chief in attempt to get Kalulu red card overturned
The Frenchman had been shown a yellow card for a foul on Nicolo Barella, and was then given his marching orders after a supposed foul on Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
However, replays showed that Bastoni, who was on a yellow card himself at the time, had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off and was then seen passionately celebrating when Kalulu was given his marching orders.
Despite the fact that Rocchi has admitted that the decision to send off Kalulu was incorrect, the Juventus defender has still picked up a one-match suspension, which rules him out of this Saturday’s Serie A match against Como.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
This problem has become more severe for Luciano Spalletti and his team given that Gleison Bremer is now a major doubt after his first-half withdrawal from Juve’s 5-2 Champions League loss against Galatasaray on Tuesday night.
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia and TMW, Juventus followed protocol by appealing the Kalulu red card decision with the sporting court of appeal, which was, however, unsuccessful.
Now, according to Friday’s reports, Juventus have appealed directly to FIGC President Gravina, hoping for a pardon from the man at the top of Italian football.
The most recent time that Gravina sanctioned a pardon over a sending off decision was in 2023, when Romelu Lukaku was shown a second yellow card for his reaction to racist and discriminatory chants from the crowd, again in a match involving Inter and Juventus.
Milan have reportedly been in contact with the Italian referees’ association (AIA) after a series of controversial decisions during their 1-1 draw against Como on Wednesday evening.
Milan frustrated by refereeing decisions and complain to AIA
The game was not without its controversies, though, as Rossoneri head coach Massimiliano Allegri saw red along with two members of the Como coaching staff for a scuffle on the touchline.
ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A match against Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Allegri later explained in his post-match interviews that he felt Como head coach Cesc Fabregas had pulled Alexis Saelemaekers back while on the attack, which prompted the touchline arguments: “Next time someone runs by me, I’ll go into a sliding tackle,” Allegri said after full-time.
Milan were also left frustrated after Ignace van der Brempt went unpunished for a foul on Strahinja Pavlovic during the Como match, which has made the Serbian a big doubt for Sunday’s match at home against Parma.
Immediately after the challenge, there had been concerns that Pavlovic had suffered a fracture to his shin, which would have ended his 2025-26 season.
PISA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Strahinja Pavlovic in action during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and AC Milan at Arena Garibaldi on February 13, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan have taken their frustrations up with the AIA after Wednesday’s match against Como. This was not a formal complaint, but an expression of their frustration after a series of matches in 2026 where Milan were left ‘perplexed’ by officiating calls.
As well as the Como match, Milan are also annoyed about Christian Pulisic’s goal against Sassuolo being incorrectly ruled out, which would have sent the Rossoneri 3-1 up in a match that eventually ended 2-2.
The Rossoneri also mentioned a penalty that should have been awarded to Chsitopher Nkunku against Bologna back in September and for the lack of a foul awarded in favour of Matteo Gabbia in the build-up to the goal that sent Pisa 2-1 up against Milan in San Siro in October.
Only Napoli (eight) have had more penalties awarded against them than Milan (seven) in Serie A so far this season.
Juventus have officially released their new fourth strip for the 2025-26 season, which features horizontal black and white stripes instead of the traditional vertical bars.
Juventus drop new Adidas fourth kit
Juve announced on Friday that they have released a new fourth kit, which is a collaboration between the club, kit manufacturer Adidas and Studio Sgura, led by photographer Giampaolo Sgura.
The kit is intended to “bring together the past and present, tradition and progression,” according to a statement on the club website.
Official: Juven release new 2025-26 fourth kit (via club website)
The new shirt is inspired by a concept design from the 1996-97 season, which also featured vertical stripes instead of horizontal, but was never used in an official match.
The club have confirmed that this new kit will be used in a competitive league fixture, specifically against Como on Saturday, February 21.
The stripes evolve into something one-of-a-kind. Past and present, moving in the same direction.
The official 2025-26 4th kit, born from the collaboration between @adidasfootball ft. @giampaolosgura x Juventus, is here.
Juventus and centre-back Gleison Bremer can breathe a sigh of relief following his early withdrawal during Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss away against Galatasaray, as medical tests have confirmed that the Brazilian has not torn a muscle in his leg.
When is Bremer expected to return for Juventus?
Bremer was forced off the pitch in the 37th minute of Juventus’s 5-2 Champions League play-off defeat against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening with the scores 2-1 in favour of the Bianconeri at the time. Many outlets in Italy suggest that it was not a coincidence that Juventus collapsed in the second half after their most trusted defender went off.
Initial reports suspected that it was a muscular injury that was troubling Bremer during the first half in Istanbul.
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Bremer of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Francisco Conceicao during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The club have since been able to rule out any serious tears or lesions, which means that Bremer is not expected to be sidelined for a significant period of time.
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bremer will follow an individualised training programme over the next few days, but a spot in the squad to face Como in Serie A on Saturday evening has not been ruled out.
A more likely scenario, however, is that Bremer is rested for the Como match and marks his return in the second leg against Galatasaray on Tuesday according to the Pink Paper.
Milan are due to take on Como in Serie A on Sunday evening, the only league fixture on the schedule for this midweek block of fixtures. Here’s why the Rossoneri and Lariani are facing each other in the league despite Champions League action taking place on the same night.
Why is Milan vs. Como taking place on Wednesday night?
The Milan vs. Como match was originally scheduled to take place on February 8, during the 24th round of Serie A fixtures, but was later pushed back due to a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which revolved around San Siro.
ITALY – SEPTEMBER 23: A general view of the stadium reflected in rainwater prior to the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 23, 2025 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
For much of the 2025-26 season, the Lega Serie A had sought to play this game in Perth, Western Australia instead. There were talks and agreements in place between the Lega Serie A, all 20 member clubs, the FIGC and from UEFA to play the match abroad as a one-off, but the idea was eventually blocked by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in December.
In the end, the Lega Serie A opted to simply rearrange the match instead of relocating it.
It will now kick off in San Siro at 19.45 GMT on Wednesday evening.
Italy’s chances of receiving an extra spot in next season’s Champions League were dealt another blow after defeats for both Juventus and Inter in the play-off round first legs on Tuesday night.
These losses mean that Italy remains in fifth place in UEFA’s season association coefficient, which is used to determine which nations receive an additional spot in the following season’s tournament. Only the nations that finish the season in the top two will be afforded an extra Champions League spot.
MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale looks dejected as he walks past the UEFA Champions League trophy after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
As things stand after the conclusion of Tuesday night’s fixtures, England remain top of the rankings with a score of 20.958. Portugal are in second on 16.600, Germany in third with 16.500, Spain in fourth with 15.781 and Italy in fifth with 15.500.
Unfortunately for Italy, the gap between themselves and Spain has opened up slightly following the conclusion of Tuesday night’s games.
How are the extra Champions League spots decided?
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: The UEFA Champions League trophy is cleaned as it is displayed on a plinth at the side of the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The nations that finish the season in the top two on UEFA’s season association coefficient are awarded one additional spot each in the following season’s Champions League.
So, how does the coefficient ranking work?
Teams competing in the three UEFA competitions (the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) are awarded points based on their results in the European competitions. Nations are awarded two points for each of its teams’ wins, one for a draw and zero for a defeat. Those points are halved for qualifying matches.
Bonus points are also awarded depending on each team’s finish in the league phase table. The team that finishes top of the Champions League pile gets an additional 12 points, the team in second gets 11.750, the team in third gets 11.500 and so on all the way down to the team in 36th. The winner of the Europa League league phase is awarded 6 points and 4 for the team at the top of the Conference League table. Points are awarded for places 1-24 in both the Europa League and Conference League.
Additional bonus points are also awarded for each knockout stage that a team passes through.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Real Madrid, lifts the UEFA Champions League Trophy after his team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 01, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
All of those points are added up and are then divided by the number of teams that the nation in question has competing in UEFA competitions.
Italy’s collective points tally stands at 108.500, which comes to a coefficient score of 15.500 when divided by the number of Italian sides involved in European competition this season (seven).
That score of 15.500 keeps Italy in fifth place in the season’s association coefficient ranking.
Bologna have officially announced their signing of Tommaso Pobega on a definitive, permanent transfer from fellow Serie A outfit Milan.
The 26-year-old has spent the last season-and-a-half on loan at the Dall’Ara from Milan, initially signing on loan with an option to buy in the summer of 2024, reuniting with head coach Vincenzo Italiano, under whom he had played at Spezia.
Bologna then negotiated a new loan deal for Pobega in the summer of 2025, this time with a conditional obligation to buy.
How much will Milan receive from Pobega transfer to Bologna?
BOLOGNA, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Arne Engels of Celtic FC competes for the ball with Tommaso Pobega of Bologna FC during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
According to recent reports, the obligation to buy clause was triggered after the first point that Bologna picked up during the month of February, which came in a 2-1 victory away against Torino on Sunday.
Bologna have confirmed on Wednesday that the obligation to buy clause has been triggered and that Pobega is now a Rossoblu player on a permanent basis. He has put pen to paper on a contract that will run until the summer of 2028 with an option for an additional 12 months.
Juventus conceded five goals in a European match for just the second time in the club’s history with their 5-2 loss away against Galatasaray on Tuesday night, and now the Bianconeri are left needing to make history if they are to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.
Juventus’s Champions League play-off round got off to the worst possible of starts after a 5-2 thrashing in Istanbul on Tuesday evening: Teun Koopmeiners came up with a half-time brace, but the Old Lady were overwhelmed with goals from Gabriel Sara, Noa Lang (x2), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey.
Gleison Bremer was forced off with an injury in the second half, and half-time substitute Juan Cabal was also sent off in the 67th minute.
Not since a 7-0 defeat against Wiener Sport-Club in the second leg of the preliminary rounds of the 1958/59 European Cup have Juventus conceded five or more goals in a European match.
What do Juventus need to do in the second leg of the Champions League play-off?
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Juventus are left needing a three-goal victory at a minimum if they are to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 alive. Even more damning for the Bianconeri and their hopes of progressing is previous the precedent set by Lazio, Inter and Roma.
There has only ever been four times previously that an Italian side has conceded five goals or more in the first of a two-legged European tie. Those results were as follows:
Valencia 5-2 Lazio 1999-2000 (Champions League)
Inter 2-5 Schalke 2010-11 (Champions League)
Liverpool 5-2 Roma 2017-18 (Champions League)
Manchester United 6-2 Roma 2020-21 (Europa League)
On all four of those previous occasions, the Italian sides were knocked out in the second leg.
Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly has named and shamed an individual for racially abusing him on social media in the hours following Juventus’s 5-2 loss against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday night: ‘This I won’t accept’.
Kelly names and shames racist fan after Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus
The first round of Champions League play-off matches were marred by accusations of racist abuse on Tuesday evening. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. has accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of making a racist remark during their first leg match in Lisbon, and Kelly has shown evidence of a racist comment that he was subjected to online.
Posting on his Instagram story on Wednesday morning, the former Newcastle and Bournemouth defender has shared a screenshot of a comment left on one of his posts, which reads: “Go back to the zoo.”
Kelly himself wrote: “Criticism comes all throughout life and in sports and I’ve always accepted this. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions but this I won’t accept.
“Words and actions have meaning and also consequences.”
He proceeded to tag the individual who left the comment as well as the company that he is believed to work for.
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has had his say on the 5-2 hammering by Galatasaray in the Champions League play-off round on Tuesday evening, and has claimed that it might not be ‘the worst of evils for this side to play one game a week’ if they are to be knocked out of the competition next week.
Juventus’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 were dealt an enormous blow after a 5-2 defeat away against Galatasaray in the first leg of their play-off round tie on Tuesday night.
Gabriel Sara opened the scoring for the hosts, but Juventus still went in for the interval leading 2-1 thanks to a brace from Teun Koopmeiners. The Old Lady capitulated in the second half, though, with goals from Noa Lang (x2), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey, plus a red card for half-time substitute Juan Cabal in the 67th minute.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Gabriel Sara of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
The situation means that Juventus need to win by a three goal margin at a minimum in the return leg at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday if they are to keep their Champions League campaign alive.
Del Piero: ‘Maybe it’s not the worst of evils for this Juventus side to play one game a week’
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 08: Alessandro Del Piero looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Real Madrid and FC Bayern München at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 08, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Del Piero was among the pundits on Sky Sport Italia for Tuesday night’s hammering in Istanbul.
The legendary former no.10 was not best pleased with what he saw from Luciano Spalletti’s side, and claims that this sort of performance is what Juventus ‘risk’ if they do not perform at their best.
“All aspects affected Spalletti, outlining that everything went wrong,” Del Piero said (via Tuttosport).
“It shows that if Juventus aren’t at their best, then this is what they risk. That’s the reality. They risk making trivial mistakes, which are punished, they risk not having a real presence on the pitch.
“Galatasaray played an excellent game, they played better. Juve struggled a lot, mentally and physically.
“When you play every three days and you need to be at your best in every game, that’s where you see the real potential in a team and where it can aspire to finish. If Juve can’t find that, they will struggle with having three games a week, despite what they had shown in the weeks before.”
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Lloyd Kelly and Pierre Kalulu celebrate after Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus (obscured) scored their sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Del Piero went on to explain what Juventus need to do if they are to have any hope of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League. He also conceded that it might not be the worst thing in the world if this current Juve side were to be eliminated, though.
“They need to reverse their energy if they are to get through to the next round, because those Galatasaray players were almost possessed.”
And if the Champions League journey were to come to an end for Juventus next week, Del Piero admitted: “Maybe it’s not the worst of evils for this Juventus side to play one game a week.”
Newspapers in Italy have not looked kindly on Juventus after their 5-2 Champions League defeat away against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening, which has put their chances of qualifying for the round of 16 in major doubt.
The Bianconeri travelled to Istanbul to begin the first leg of their Champions League play-off round tie with Galatasaray on Tuesday night.
Luciano Spalletti’s side fell 1-0 behind after a 15th-minute strike from Gabriel Sara, but went in for the interval 2-1 up thanks to a brace from Teun Koopmeiners. The Old Lady capitualted in the second half, though, with goals from Noa Lang (x2), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey and a red card for half-time substitute Juan Cabal.
Juventus left needing a minor miracle in Galatasaray second leg
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Juventus players pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match against Galatasaray A.S. at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport believes that Tuesday evening’s result was not just a damning indictment of Juventus, but of the wider state of Italian football on the whole – Atalanta were also beaten 2-0 by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.
The Pink Paper also criticised Juve’s striking options, pointing out that Lois Openda, for whom Juventus will have to pay in excess of €40m to sign permanently in the summer, can not get into the team ahead of the makeshift false nine, Weston McKennie.
This striking situation looks even worse when compared to Galatasaray, who had the privilege of being able to field a prime Victor Osimhen and leave Mauro Icardi on the substitutes bench. Both are players that Juventus have looked at signing over the last 12 months.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Gabriel Sara of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, labelled the Galatasaray loss as a ‘defensive disaster’. Naturally, the injury to Gleison Bremer in the first half and the foolish sending off of Juan Cabal in the second did not help Juventus’s cause.
Corriere dello Sport suggests that Juventus should practice 10 vs. 11 matches in training, given that they have had players sent off in back-to-back matches.
Turin-based outlet Tuttosport described the Galatasaray loss as a night from hell. They claimed that Galatasaray were ‘superior in everything’ on the night, and claims that Juventus’s dreams of progressing to the next round have all but been extinguished.
Juventus’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 were dealt an enormous blow after a 5-2 defeat away against Galatasaray in the play-off round first leg on Tuesday evening. Here are the Bianconeri players who failed to live up to expectations on the night.
Juventus took a 2-1 advantage into the break thanks to a brace from Teun Koopmeiners, but the hosts hit back with goals from Noa Lang (x2), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey in a second half that saw half-time substitute Juan Cabal sent off in the 67th minute.
This means that Juventus will need to win by a three goal margin at an absolute minimum at the Allianz Stadium in the return leg next week if they are to keep their Champions League campaign alive.
Which Juventus players disappointed the most against Galatasaray?
VERONA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Juan Cabal of Juventus FC looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on September 20, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Naturally, Juan Cabal has earned his fair share of criticism for earning two bookings within the space of 22 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute.
The Colombian was brought on in an attempt to stop Galatasaray’s Baris Yilmaz, but just four minutes after his introduction, he was caught out of position, which led to Yilmaz providing the assist for Galatasaray’s equaliser at 2-2.
Then, 10 minutes later, he earned his first booking of the game, giving Galatasaray a free-kick that led to Davinson Sanchez’s goal for 3-2. A further eight minutes down the line and he was sent off for his second bookable offence. A nightmare evening for the Bianconeri full-back.
Lloyd Kelly was also involved in two of the Galatasaray goals on Tuesday night. He was the one marking Davinson Sanchez, who scored from a free-kick delivery for 3-2 a quarter of an hour into the second half.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Lloyd Kelly and Pierre Kalulu celebrate after Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus (obscured) scored their sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
The Englishman was also caught sleeping by Victor Osimhen in the 74th minute, giving away possession on the edge of his own six-yard box, which directly resulted in Noa Lang’s second goal of the game for 4-2.
Much was expected of Turkiye national team star Kenan Yildiz, who failed to live up to expectations back on his home soil. In fact, it was him who lost possession on the edge of his own box that led to Sara’s opening goal of the game a quarter of an hour in.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Khephren Thuram was also not at his best in Istanbul. The Frenchman had missed the Derby d’Italia against Inter over the weekend due to injury, and it looked at times as if he was still struggling with that issue.
He lost possession 13 times, misplaced 10 passes and only won one of his five challenges on the night. He also gave the dangerous backpass to Kelly, which led to Lang’s second goal of the game.
Tuesday night was another game that goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio failed to impress. While there were a handful of saves from the Italian on the night, the former Monza man looked short of confidence and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that he should have done better for the Galatasaray goals at 3-2 and 5-2.
Noa Lang was one of the stars of the show as Galatasaray beat Juventus 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off round clash on Tuesday evening, and has since aimed a subtle dig at his former club Napoli and head coach Antonio Conte: ‘I’m a player who needs to feel appreciated’.
Juventus’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 were dealt a big blow after a surprise 5-2 defeat away against Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday night. Among the Galatasaray goalscorers was former Napoli man Lang, who netted twice in the second half, adding to goals from Gabriel Sara, Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey.
Lang joined Galatasaray from Napoli on loan for a fee of €2m with an option to buy believed to be in the region of €30m during the January transfer window. He had spent just six months at the Stadio Maradona following his €25m transfer from PSV Eindhoven in the summer.
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Noa Lang of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Tuesday night’s victory for Galatasaray against Juventus was Lang’s first Champions League outing for his new club.
Of the eight Champions League matches that Napoli took part in this season, Lang was named as a starter just twice and failed to register any goal involvements. He now has two from his first appearance in the competition with Galatasaray.
What did Lang say about Conte and Napoli after Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus?
Speaking to the press after full-time, Lang explained why Galatasaray have managed to immediately get the best out of him, while Napoli struggled and were willing to cut their losses after just six months.
“We showed great character in the second half today,” Lang told Sky after full-time on Tuesday night (via Calcionapoli1926).
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Noa Lang of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates after the team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
“I scored two goals in the second half, we showed that we have great spirit, that we are strong mentally, but the job isn’t done yet,” he warned.
Lang was asked for his thoughts on his brief spell with Napoli, but replied: “I’d prefer to talk about Galatasaray now. I feel the love of the supporters, the club and most importantly, the coach. I’m a player who needs to feel appreciated. Then, see what happens. Today wasn’t even my best game and I scored twice, but normally I would want to dribble more.
“Juventus are a strong team, we still have to finish the job. We will play away against a very difficult team. We’re in a good situation but still only halfway there.”
Milan will be without several of their key first team players when they take on Como, who are also without the suspended Alvaro Morata, in Wednesday evening’s re-arranged Serie A tie.
This game had originally been scheduled to be played on February 8, during the 24th round of Serie A fixtures, but was postponed due to a clash with the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which revolved around San Siro.
In the end, the match was simply rearranged rather than relocated, and will kick off at 19.45 GMT on Wednesday evening.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 23: A general view of the stadium reflected in rainwater prior to the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Milan are hoping for a victory to move within five points of league leaders Inter at the top of the Serie A standings. They are coming in off the back of a 2-1 victory away against Pisa last time out.
Como, meanwhile, were dealt a surprise 2-1 blow by Fiorentina on Saturday but still sit in seventh place in the league table, six points off the top four. Cesc Fabregas’s side will leapfrog Atalanta into sixth if they win or draw this evening,
Milan are without Adrien Rabiot in midfield after being sent off at the end of the Pisa match on Friday evening, which means a potential opportunity for Ardon Jashari or Samuele Ricci, if not both, in midfield.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 18: Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan reacts during the Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at King Saud University Stadium on December 18, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic is a doubt and remains unlikely to start, but Rafael Leao could, and potentially alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek according to Sky Sport Italia. Zachary Athekame is expected to keep his place at right wing-back in the absence of Alexis Saelemaekers.
Alvaro Morata was also sent off in his last match, which means that Tosas Douvikas is expected to lead the line for Como in San Siro on Wednesday night. Support is likely to be provided by the youthful but talented trio of Jesus Rodriguez, Nico Paz and Martin Baturina.
Milan vs. Como: Probable line-ups
PISA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Massimiliano Allegri looks on during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and AC Milan at Arena Garibaldi on February 13, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, De WInter, Pavlovic; Athekame, Jashari, Modric, Ricci, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Leao.
Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Van der Brempt; Ramon, D.Carlos, Moreno; Perrone, Roberto; Rodriguez, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.
Where to watch Milan vs. Como
Tonight’s match between Milan and Como will be exclusively shown on DAZN in the UK. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. DAZN also has the rights for the game in Italy.
Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Inter have to put their Derby d’Italia win over Juventus to one side as Cristian Chivu and his players prepare for a different challenge altogether away against Bodo/Glimt on their artificial pitch in the arctic circle in the Champions League play-off round on Wednesday evening.
The Nerazzurri picked up a 3-2 win over their rivals Juventus in Serie A over the weekend, but their victory was somewhat overshadowed by the incorrect decision to send off Bianconeri defender Pierre Kalulu following a dive from Alessandro Bastoni.
Bastoni, speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s match against Bodo/Glimt, has since apologised for the way in which he celebrated the decision to send off Kalulu and has confirmed that he is still in the right frame of mind to play despite his family receiving death threats over the last few days.
BARI, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Internazionale and Olympiacos FC at Stadio San Nicola on August 16, 2025 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Bastoni is expected to keep his place in Inter’s back three away against Bodo/Glimt on Wednesday evening, likely alongside Yann Bisseck and Manuel Akanji.
The Nerazzurri will be without midfielders Hakan Calhanoglu and Davide Frattesi, neither of whom have travelled due to injury. Pre-match reports suggest that there will be an opportunity for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Nicolo Barella will be suspended for his next Serie A match, so is also expected to play in Norway this evening.
Captain Lautaro Martinez is in line to lead the attack for the Nerazzurri and is likely to be partnered by Pio Esposito rather than Marcus Thuram or Ange-Yoan Bonny.
Kick-off is due at 20.00 GMT.
Bodo/Glimt vs. Inter: Probable line-ups
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and online through Discovery+. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+.
Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Bremer ko, Cabal sent off, Galatasaray win 5-2. It will be very tough to qualify for the round of 16 in Turin on the 25th. Spalletti: ‘Backwards step’. Stops for Comolli and Chiellini after the chaos in the San Siro tunnel
Play-offs: A dark Tuesday. Atalanta cave in Dortmund
A 2-0 defeat against Borussia
Flying
The ninth golf from the skating at the Olympics
Ghiotto, Malfatti and Giovannini: Italy triumph in the team pursuit 20 years later
Bastoni: ‘I was wrong’
In Norway at 20.00
An immediate starter after the threats. Inter on the attack against Bodo
Milan chase
Playing for the Scudetto
San Siro at 19.45: The rematch against Como
Allegri: ‘No distractions’
Corriere dello Sport
Galagoal
Bremer goes off and Juve crumble
Five goals against Spalletti | Champions League, play-off first leg: Lesson from Galatasaray (5-2)
A double from Koopmeiners and the first half ended at 2-1. Total darkness after the injury to the Brazilian and the red card shown to Cabal. Lang (ex-Napoli) scores twice. Lucio: ‘Three steps back’. Comolli and Chiellini disqualified. Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0
Racist insults to Vinicius Jr: Real Madrid win in Mourinho’s back yard (0-1)
Bastoni plays the ace
Inter, from the defender’s apology to the play-off against Bodo (20.00)
‘I exaggerated the contact with Kalulu to have an advantage: I’m sorry. But the death threats to my wife and daughter are unjustifiable’. Chivu: ‘Enough morality, We were also dealt an injustice against Napoli
Allegri: ‘Mistakes are forbidden’
Milan-Como at 19.45, target -5
Rrahmani, two months out
Napoli, it never ends: Another KO
Lotito: ‘I’m not selling Lazio’
The Flaminio project is presented
Tuttosport
Juve, total alarms
5-2
An historic gaffe against Galatasaray. Requires a big turnaround in the return leg, but they need to secure Champions League football for next year as well
The double from Koopmeiners after the goal from Sara gives false hope. Then Bremer goes off with a muscular injury, Cabal then gets dismissed. The defence caves and Di Gregorio is dealt a five-goal scoreline. Spalletti: ‘A big step backwards. Let’s just give the ball away!’. Errors and a scare for Yildiz: ‘He has too much responsibility, now that’ll change’
Atalanta also flopped, Bodo freeze, Inter seething
Beaten in Dortmund (2-0)
Round of 16 at high risk for La Dea. Chivu in Norway: ‘I don’t want excuses for the cold and the artificial pitch’
VInicus chaos. Goal and an accusation: ‘Racists!’
Real win in Mou’s back yard
‘Grande Torino, school of art’
The 100 years of Susanna Egri
Ballerina and choreographer, daughter of the legendary director: ‘Here’s how we were saved from the Nazis’
‘Poison distracting Milan, let’s focus on ourselves
The game in hand against Como
Allegri on the controversies between Inter and Juve: ‘I want a self-focused squad’
Juventus CEO Damien Comolli has apologised and admitted that his reaction after the fiery Derby d’Italia against Inter was excessive, but insists that he was ‘trying to defend my club’.
Comolli has been given a fine of €15,000 and has been handed a Serie A ban until the end of March as a result of his comments and actions during and after the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday evening.
Inter’s victory in the derby was largely overshadowed by the incorrect decision to send off Pierre Kalulu in the 42nd minute. Comolli angrily confronted the referee Federico La Penna in the tunnel at half-time, and later made calls for refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi to resign after full-time.
AIA chief Gianluca Rocchi (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Comolli, speaking ahead of Juventus’s Champions League match against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening, apologised for the way in which he behaved in San Siro on Saturday.
“I always respect the decisions of the authorities, whatever the decision, I will comply to it,” Comolli told Sky Sport Italia.
“My passion was excessive, my reaction was excessive, I am sorry if I offended people, but I am here to defend my club, I felt it was an injustice, we reacted the wrong way and were excessive, but we still were on the wrong end of an injustice.
“I don’t want to respond to other clubs, as we don’t want to talk about the past, we want to focus on the future and what happens on the pitch.”
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Damien Comolli, General Manager of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Alessandro Bastoni, largely responsible for getting Kalulu sent off, has since offered his apologies for the way in which he celebrated the dismissal. Bastoni has avoided punishment from the league, but Kalulu remains suspended.
“I can’t comment, we are very sorry for Pierre Kalulu, he is the one who is going to be suspended, we think it is very unfair. I saw him in the tunnel after the game, he is extremely frustrated. Our thoughts are all with Kalulu at this moment.”
Comolli and Chiellini protested about referees in general and not just errors against Juventus, calling for Rocchi to stand down.
“We just want to help, to collaborate with the authorities, the FIGC and Lega Serie A, it is not about Rocchi or any one person. We just want to work with all the clubs to improve a system that does not work, that is defective. We never said it was a person, but the system that is the problem, and we want it to be better for the good of Italian football.”
And reflecting on Giorgo Chiellini’s role in the debacle, Comolli said: “I just want to say that as good as he was on the pitch, Chiellini is an even better executive off it. He represents the present and future of Juventus.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Former Juventus player Giorgio Chiellini looks on prior to the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“The more young executives we have, the better it will be for Italian football. I’ve been around a long time, and I have seen few executives as talented as Giorgio in his role. We think about the present and the future, we are not interested in people who live in the past.”
And finally getting around to the topic of the Champions League match against Galatasaray, Comolli said: “I think we need to show personality, which we did at San Siro on Saturday. I asked Kostic to explain the game between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, he said it was impossible, we had to just experience it.”
Cristian Chivu has shared his thoughts ahead of the Champions League play-off match between Bodo/Glimt and Inter on Wednesday evening, and has also been forced to return to the topic of the Derby d’Italia against Juventus in Serie A over the weekend.
The Nerazzurri have arrived in the arctic circle and are preparing to take on Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday evening. The two teams will meet again in San Siro next Tuesday.
Chivu on Bodo Glimt vs. Inter, Spalletti response and artificial pitch
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening, Chivu had an opportunity to reflect on Inter’s journey in the Champions League thus far and the task that lies ahead of them in Serie A.
“This is a different competition and we know how important it is and how far we’ve come,” he said. We’ve done quite well without, unfortunately, qualifying for the round of 16. Bodo is a tough team, the club has made great progress.”
There were, to little surprise, more questions asked about the controversial Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday afternoon. Inter won 3-2, but their victory was marred by a major refereeing error which led to the wrongful sending off of Pierre Kalulu.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
There have been plenty of takes, comments and apologies since the incident occurred on Saturday. Alessandro Bastoni, largely responsible for getting Kalulu sent off, sat next to Chivu for the press conference and apologised for the way in which he celebrated the red card decision.
Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti spoke to the press on Monday, defending Bastoni but criticising Chivu for the comments he made about Kalulu after full-time.
Chivu was asked if he had a response for Spalletti on Tuesday evening.
He said: “I don’t want to reply to what others say. I say what I say and what I think. I talked about the experiences of my team, and I don’t care what they have to say. The team at the top is always the most hated and criticised.
“Incidents happen for and against everyone, we were wronged in Naples and I’m saying that for the first time. We moved on. The season is long and we want to be competitive without forgetting about the way we’ve been portrayed.”
Returning his focus to the task at hand against Bodo/Glimt, Chivu proceeded to give an update on his players’ availability.
“Everyone wants the formation in Italy, I’ve never told you,” he laughed. I know who will play but I won’t say it. Calhanoglu has a small problem, that could be a matter of days, a week at most.”
And on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial pitch, which has caused problems for a number of Italian sides in recent seasons, Chivu said: “The concern is always for the safety of the players.
“Bodo have been achieving great results home and away and the club is ambitious. They will want to give it their all. We are also ready to do the same and adapt to this pitch and climate.”
And on the star players within Bodo/Glimt’s squad and the current quality of Norwegian football, Chivu added: “They have a lot of great players, Norwegian football has grown and Norway will be at the World Cup. We know it won’t be easy, we have to be ready for the intensity and their quality on the flanks, the power of their players. We’re ready to adapt.”
Turkiye head coach Vincenzo Montella has had his say on Kenan Yildiz ahead of Juventus’s Champions League play-off match away against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening, and has aimed a friendly dig at Bianconeri head coach Luciano Spalletti: ‘I’ve known him for 30 years … unfortunately’.
Juventus finished the Champions League league phase in 13th place, three points shy of a spot in the top eight and a guaranteed place in the round of 16. They have been drawn against Galatasaray in the play-off round, and will begin the first leg of that tie at 17.45 GMT on Tuesday evening.
Montella on Galatasaray vs. Juventus, Yildiz and Spalletti
DORTMUND, GERMANY – JUNE 18: Vincenzo Montella, Head Coach of Turkiye, gestures during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Turkiye and Georgia at Football Stadium Dortmund on June 18, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Montella, currently head coach of the Turkiye national team, knows full well what the atmosphere can be like at Galatasaray’s Rams Park.
“The stadium and atmosphere is marvellous, which is true of many places in Turkiye. As a former player, I can tell you this is the kind of atmosphere that inspires you stepping onto the pitch,” Montella told Sky Sport Italia.
And on his current role with the Turkiye national team, he added: “I am very happy, I’ve been here for four years, two at club level and two for the national team. I was welcomed very warmly, I really do feel at home, they care for me quite apart from my role as a coach, and that is the most satisfying thing for me.
TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 04: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Juventus and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Juventus Stadium on November 04, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
There was plenty of praise for Juventus posterboy Yildiz as well, “He is mature enough to play under pressure, both for the national team and Juventus, so I imagine he is super motivated, but the performance of an individual also depends on that of the team, and vice versa.
Lastly, Montella added: “I visited the Continassa training camp last week, it’s always a pleasure to talk to Spalletti about football. We’ve known each other for over 30 years now… unfortunately!”
Alessandro Bastoni has apologised for the manner in which he celebrated Pierre Kalulu’s red card during the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus, has revealed that he has received death threats as a result and has expressed his sympathies with referee Federico La Penna: ‘I thank those who just called me ‘stupid’ and left it at that’.
Bastoni found himself at the centre of controversy for his involvement in Kalulu’s sending off in the 42nd minute of the Derby d’Italia in Serie A on Saturday evening, which ended 3-2 in favour of the Nerazzurri thanks to a 90th minute winner from Piotr Zielinski.
Kalulu was sent off for two bookable offences, the latter of which was described as ‘absurd’ and ‘non-existent’ by newspapers in Italy. Bastoni was adjudged to have dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
To add insult to injury for Juventus, Bastoni was carrying a booking himself at the time and would have been sent off had he been shown a second yellow card for simulation.
Bastoni also came under criticism for the manner in which he celebrated Kalulu’s sending off. There have even been calls from some supporters for him to be dropped from the Italy national team squad as a result.
Bastoni on Kalulu red car, death threats and Wirtz comparison
BARI, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Internazionale and Olympiacos FC at Stadio San Nicola on August 16, 2025 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Bastoni has kept silent since the incident occured on Saturday, until Tuesday afternoon when he joined Cristian Chivu for the pre-match press conferences ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League play-off match away against Bodo/Glimt.
The Nerazzurri defender spoke to both Sky Sport Italia and the wider media at the press conference on Tuesday afternoon, apologising for the way he celebrated, but not for the way he went down.
He compared the situation to the incredibly soft penalty that Liverpool were awarded against Inter in the Champions League league phase earlier this season.
“I wanted to come here because a lot, a lot more has happened than I would have thought or imagined after Saturday. I waited a few days to review what happened,” Bastoni told Sky Sport Italia (via TMW).
“What I felt was a contact with my arm, which was emphasised when I watched it back. I’m here to take responsibility. What I regret is my subsequent behaviour. A human being has the right to make mistakes but equally the duty to recognise them. That’s why I’m here.”
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 09: Alessandro Bastoni of Internazionale acknowledges the fans following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
He repeated a similar statement at the beginning of his pre-match press conference: “A human being has the right to make mistakes, but also the duty to recognise them, so I’m here for that reason. I’m sorry I reacted like that, it’s right to hold my hands up to that.
“But, my career and character shouldn’t be defined by an incident like this. I didn’t think I would create so much of an uproar, I noticed a lot of hypocrisy, I heard insiders say things that shouldn’t be said in heaven or earth. I thank those who just called me ‘stupid’ and left it at that.”
Bastoni was asked whether he thinks he should have come out and made a statement earlier than Tuesday, given the abuse that he has received to which he replied: “No, it didn’t affect me that much. We’re exposed as people. Accustomed to this type of media pile-on and the (club) President rightly explained that.
“I’m able to handle the situation, I’m more sorry for my wife and daughter who have found themselves on the receiving end of death threats. I also feel sorry for the referee, La Penna, for everyone less used to being exposed like that.”
And on his current mindset heading into the Bodo/Glimt match on Wednesday, Bastoni said: “Mentally I’m doing very well, the same thing happened in reverse when Liverpool were awarded a penalty against us. Wirtz didn’t have the same trial that I did.
“Chivu has been consistent. Now I really want to get out onto the pitch. I’m not compromised physically or mentally, so I’m ready to play.”
Juventus directors Damien Comolli and Giorgio Chiellini have both earned bans after the controversial Derby d’Italia in Serie A over the weekend, so what are they allowed to do and what are they prohibited from doing during their suspensions?
Why were Juventus directors Comolli and Chiellini banned?
Comolli was punished by the sports judge in Italy “for having adopted an aggressive and seriously intimidating attitude towards the match official in the tunnel at the end of the first half, seeking physical contact with him, which was prevented thanks to the intervention of the Juventus coach and other members of the coaching staff.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Comolli also made “seriously insulting remarks towards the match official and repeated such behaviour outside the referees’ dressing room.”
Chiellini was sanctioned “for having disrespectfully challenged the referee’s actions in the tunnel at the end of the first half and also repeating this behaviour outside the referees’ dressing room.”
He also “made offensive and critical remarks towards the match officials. This latter violation was reported by an assistant.”
The Juventus directors’ remarks and actions towards referee Federico La Penna and his team came after the 42nd-minute decision to send off Pierre Kalulu for a second bookable offence.
It has since been confirmed by refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi that a mistake was made by sending off Kalulu, given that Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, who was carrying a yellow card himself at the time, had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off.
What are Comolli and Chiellini allowed to do during bans?
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: (L-R) Francois Modesto, Juventus Technical Director, Marco Ottolini, Sporting Director of Juventus and Damien Comolli, General Manager of Juventus talk prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
According to article 9 in the sporting code of justice (Codice di Giustizia Sportiva), banned directors are prohibited from representing their clubs in national and international events, are prohibited from interacting with federal bodies, are prohibited from entering the dressing room on matchdays and are prohibited from holding meetings with players, club members or agents.
The latter of those prohibitions would have been particularly damning had the transfer window still been open, as neither Comolli nor Chiellini would have been able to sign off on incoming signings.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Former Juventus player Giorgio Chiellini looks on prior to the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
For now, Comolli and Chiellini will not be able to hold talks with players’ agents over potential contract extensions either, which means that a renewal for Weston McKennie, whose current deal will expire at the end of the 2026-27, could be temporarily put on hold.
As explained by La Gazzetta dello Sport, these sanctions currently apply within Italy, and it is unlikely that the FIGC will push for the bans to be upheld by UEFA or FIFA, as was done when Fabio Paratici earned a 30-month suspension in 2023.
Comolli and Chiellini are still allowed to carry out administrative tasks within the club, and are still permitted to represent the club and, where applicable, exercise their right to vote in meetings between the club and the league.
Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti was not among the Bianconeri representatives to receive a ban after the Derby d’Italia against Inter on Saturday evening, and was instead credited for breaking up a heated confrontation between CEO Damien Comolli and referee Federico La Penna in the tunnel.
The Derby d’Italia was marred by a first-half refereeing error when Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu was wrongly sent off for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute despite replays showing that Alessandro Bastoni, who was on a yellow card himself at the time, had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off.
The game ended 3-2 in favour of Inter, who found the eventual winner through Piotr Zielinski in the 90th minute against the 10-man Bianconeri.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale Milano is put under pressure by Jonathan David of Juventus during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Spalletti: ‘prevented’ physical confrontation between Comolli and La Penna
Juventus officials were not best pleased by the events that unfolded on the pitch. Comolli and Giorgio Chiellini were sent to address the media instead of head coach Spalletti, and Comolli was also seen angrily confronting the referee, La Penna, in the tunnel during the half-time break.
For his actions on Saturday, Comolli has been handed a €15,000 fine and has also been banned until the end of March. Chiellini has been banned until the end of February.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Damien Comolli, General Manager of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Kalulu will also have to serve a one-match ban despite being wrongly sent off, and Inter midfielders Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella have also earned one-match suspensions after picking up their fifth yellow cards in the league on Saturday.
Spalletti has not been given any punishment by the sports judge, whose report was released on Tuesday.
The only mention of Spalletti, in fact, came in the explanation of Comolli’s ban. The coach was credited with pulling the club CEO away from La Penna in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The report noted that Comolli earned his fine and suspension: “For having adopted an aggressive and seriously intimidating attitude towards the match official in the tunnel at the end of the first half, seeking physical contact with him, which was prevented thanks to the intervention of the Juventus coach and other members of the coaching staff.”
Comolli also made “seriously insulting remarks towards the match official and repeated such behaviour outside the referees’ dressing room.”
Spalletti, Comolli e Chiellini infuriati (a fine primo tempo) all’ingresso del tunnel contro La Penna
Massimiliano Allegri has had his say on the diving debate that has cropped up in Serie A since the weekend and has also pointed out an offside rule that he feels needs to be changed: ‘It’s subjectivity, at the discretion of the referee’.
Allegri sat down for his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon, ahead of the rearranged Serie A match between Milan and Como which will be played on Tuesday night. The game was originally scheduled to take place last weekend, but was postponed due to a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in San Siro.
During his chat with the media, Allegri was asked for his thoughts after the controversial Derby d’Italia between his former side Inter and his former side Juventus, which was overshadowed by the wrongful decision to send off Pierre Kalulu for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute.
Replays showed that Alessandro Bastoni had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off. Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi has since admitted that a mistake was made and has apologised on behalf of referee Federico La Penna.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Allegri comments on Inter 3-2 Juventus, diving and offside rules
Allegri was unwilling to go into too many details about the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus, but had plenty to say on the topic of diving, the state of refereeing and the protocols that are currently in place.
“Lots of people have already spoken [about the Derby], so it’s useless for us to continue doing so. We have to keep the energy on ourselves, not waste it on what happens to others,” he said (via TMW)
“The most important thing is that there are competent people who work to improve the objectivity of VAR, because those situations are not debatable.”
And when asked how he would combat diving in top-level football, Allegri said: “Football has become very quick, it’s not easy for the referees. The speed of the ball, the game, the physicality of the players is different to how it was 30-40 years ago.
“We need to improve VAR and find solutions, as I’m sure they will be doing. It’s not as if that happens overnight. Let’s try and achieve objectivity.”
COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 15: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri issues instructions to his players during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on January 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Allegri also called for a change in rules regarding potential offsides that result in corner kicks.
“In my opinion, one thing that absolutely needs to change is when there is an offside and the action results in a corner. The corner shouldn’t be given at all.”
And when pushed again on the topic of diving, he added: “It’s subjectivity, at the discretion of the referee. There’s nothing we can do about that. I struggle to select the team, let alone say what the VAR should be doing. The game of football is not easy to explain, we can’t indoctrinate everyone.
“What happened on Saturday is disappointing to everyone, but I think the most disappointed are the protagonists of the event.”
Juventus directors Damien Comolli and Giorgio Cheillini, plus players Pierre Kalulu, Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu are among those to have been fined and banned after the fiery Derby d’Italia in Serie A on Saturday evening.
Juventus directors given lengthy punishments after Derby d’Italia
The harshest punishment has been handed to Juventus CEO Comolli, who has been banned until March 31 and has been given a fine of €15,000 for adopting an ‘aggressive and seriously intimidating attitude’ towards referee Federico La Penna in the tunnel at half-time following the sending off of defender Pierre Kalulu.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
The report from the sports judge adds that Comolli sought to make physical contact with the referee, which ‘was prevented thanks to the intervention of the Juventus coach and other members and coaches’. This behaviour also continued outside the referees’ dressing room.
Chiellini has also been punished for protesting ‘in an agitated and disrespectful manner’ in the tunnel and outside the referees’ dressing room. He has been handed a ban until the end of February (27th).
Elsewhere, Milan sporting director Igli Tare has also been fined €10,000 for ‘aggressively’ protesting the referee’s decision after entering the field of play following Milan’s 2-1 victory away against Pisa.
Which players have been banned after Serie A Week 25?
Gift Orban has been handed the most severe punishment of any player after the conclusion of the 25th round of fixtures. He has been handed a two-match ban for his comments towards the match official during Hellas Verona’s 2-1 loss against Parma.
It has been confirmed that Pierre Kalulu will have to serve a one-match suspension, despite being wrongly sent off in the 42nd minute of the Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Como’s Alvaro Morata will also have to serve a one-match suspension after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession at the end of Saturday’s 2-1 loss against Fiorentina.
Adrien Rabiot was also shown two yellow cards during Milan’s win over Pisa and will also have to serve a one-match suspension.
Several players also picked up their fifth bookings of the season during the 25th round of Serie A fixtures and will have to serve a one-match suspension as a result.
MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: Nicolo Barella of Internazionale warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Cremonese at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
They are: Inter’s Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu, Hellas Verona’s Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro, Parma’s Alessandro Circati, Fiorentina’s Rolando Mandragora and Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic.
Referee Federico La Penna has reported to the police and public prosecutor’s office after receiving multiple death threats in the aftermath of the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus in Serie A over the weekend.
What happened between Inter and Juventus in the Derby d’Italia?
The Juventus defender was shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute for a foul on Nicolo Barella, which some deemed to have been harsh in the first place, and was then given his marching orders 10 minutes later for a supposed foul on Alessandro Bastoni. Replays confirmed that the Inter defender had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
As this was a second yellow card decision and not a straight red, VAR was not able to review the incident. For similar reasons, the sporting authorities will not be able to take retrospective action.
To add insult to injury for Juventus, Bastoni was also carrying a booking at the time of the incident and would have been sent off himself had the referee decided to book him for simulation.
Now, according to reports from Corriere dello Sport, La Penna has had to report to the police and the public prosecutor’s office after receiving multiple death threats online in the days following the Derby d’Italia. La Penna has reportedly received personal threats and threats to his family as well.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 13: Referee Federico La Penna reacts during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and AC Monza at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 13, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
An investigation was immediately opened, the results of which are pending.
La Penna is not expected to be involved in any Serie A matches this coming weekend, but Tuesday’s report suggests that he could be back for the following round of fixtures, either as a fourth official or as a VAR.
Lecce picked up a massively important 2-0 victory away against Cagliari in Serie A on Monday evening, which has lifted them out of the relegation zone at the expense of Fiorentina and has also drawn Genoa and Cremonses back into the dogfight: Omri Gandelman and Ylber Ramadani with the goals at the Unipol Domus.
Riccardo Sottil came close after 28 minutes when the ball bounced up for him inside the penalty area, but the former Fiorentina man saw his shot sail over the crossbar.
Gabriele Zappa also had an opportunity on the half volley inside the area down at the other end. The ball set up kinder for him than it did for Sottil, but he too blazed over the crossbar with his effort.
The eventual Lecce opener couldn’t have come in much simpler circumstances. Sottil stood over a free kick just off the right flank, he lofted one into the area where January signing Gandelman rose and powered in a header from the edge of the six-yard box.
That was the Israel international’s second goal in as many matches for the Salentini.
CAGLIARI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: Omri Gandelman of Lecce scores his goal 0-1 during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and US Lecce at Stadio Sant’Elia on February 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
It was another set-piece that indirectly led to Lecce doubling their advantage 10 minutes later.
Another Sottil free-kick off the right was aimed at Gandelman again, but he was unable to get his head on it this time. Cagliari struggled to clear their lines, Ramadani found himself on the left corner of the penalty area and managed to squeeze a shot past Elia Caprile.
The Cagliari stopper presumably saw the shot late, but will have been disappointed to have been beaten from that angle and range.
This is an enormous three points for Lecce in their bid to avoid relegation to Serie B. They move out of the relegation zone and move three points above Fiorentina, and are now level on points with Genoa and Cremonese in 15th and 16th respectively.
Cagliari now sit just four points above Lecce and have a seven-point cushion between themselves and the bottom three.
Cagliari 0-2 Lecce
Gandelman 64’, Ramadani 76’.
CAGLIARI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: Omri Gandelman of Lecce celebrates his goal 0-1 during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and US Lecce at Stadio Sant’Elia on February 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
Raffaele Palladino has given his pre-match thoughts ahead of Atalanta’s Champions League play-off tie against Borussia Dortmund, has commented on the absences of Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori and says that he disagrees with BVB coach Niko Kovac, who claims that both sides have a 50/50 chance of qualifying for the round of 16.
Atalanta finished the league phase in 15th place on 13 points, three points shy of a spot in the top eight and a guaranteed spot in the Champions League round of 16.
That set up a tie against Dortmund, who finished two points and two positions behind Atalanta in the Champions League league phase table.
Atalanta will take on Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday evening before hosting the return leg in Bergamo next week (Wednesday, February 25).
Palladino previews Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Atalanta BC coach Raffaele Palladino issues instructions to his players during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on February 01, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia before the Dortmund play-off tie gets underway, Palladino discussed the atmosphere that awaits them at the 81,000-capacity Signal Iduna Park.
“The fans are the most beautiful part of football, even when you’re playing against a strong atmosphere, it’s always a spectacle and that’s good for football,” he said. “We will play in such a beautiful, prestigious and intense stadium.
“The Champions League gives us an extra bit of motivation as well. We’ve recovered physically and mentally, we hope to put in a great performance. We’ll face a great team.”
La Dea will be without two of their key attackers in De Ketelaere and Raspadori on Tuesday night.
“We’re sorry for them, Charles and Jack are very important to us. They’re strong players and give us an element of unpredictability and quality, but injuries and unforeseen events are unfortunately part of football,” Palladino said.
“We’re a big family, a big group and whoever replaces them will do it in the best possible way. We’ve reached a stage of awareness that whoever plays will do it well.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Giacomo Raspdori of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammate Nikola Krstovic of Atalanta during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Parma Calcio 1913 at Gewiss Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
And reflecting on the journey that has led Atalanta into the Champions League knock-out stages, Palladino said: “We have a lot of enthusiasm, there’s a lot of desire to continue growing and getting results, which have been positive.
“We know that the level is very high in the Champions League. Dortmund have great individuals and are very well coached. We want to try to put them in difficulty, we know we can do it in 180 minutes.”
Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac claimed that both sides have an equal 50% chance of qualifying for the round of 16.
Asked if he agrees, Palladino said: “You have to play the game first, I never do the percentages first. I try to bring a sense of light-heartedness and self-confidence. I want maturity and a team that understands how to react to certain moments in the game.”
Palladino is well familiar with Kovac’s brother, with whom he played at Juuvents.
“I know Robert, I’ll give him a big hug tomorrow. We shared the dressing room that year in Serie B.”
Weston McKennie has shared his thoughts ahead of Juventus’s upcoming Champions League play-off round tie against Galatasaray, has commented on his contract status and has joked that he hopes the passionate supporters in Turkey will go easy on the Bianconeri due to the presence of Kenan Yildiz.
The Bianconeri finished the league phase in 13th place, three points shy of a spot in the top eight and a guaranteed place in the round of 16. That means that they will have to beat Galatasaray over two legs if they are to make it into the hat for the round of 16.
McKennie: ‘We want to win because we are Juventus’
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Weston McKennie of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
“It’s a really important game for us, we want to win every game because we are Juventus,” McKennie told the media during his pre-match press conference.
There have been suggestions that McKennie could play as a false nine on Tuesday evening given that Jonathan David, Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik are all unavailable.
“I’m a player who is always available for my team. I play where the coach wants me to play, even in goal,” the American said.
And on his contract, which is due to expire at the end of the current campaign, McKennie said: “We’ll think about it later because I’m here to win a game.
“That’s something that’s between Juventus and my agent. I just have to think about the work on the pitch and my agent will think about the renewal.”
Weston McKennie celebrates his goal for Juventus against Pafos in the Champions League (@juventusfc)
McKennie was also given an opportunity to share his thoughts after the controversial Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter in Serie A over the weekend, but preferred to keep his focus on the task at hand against Galatasaray.
“It’s a bit difficult when these things happen, We have to just focus on tomorrow and we’re only thinking about winning. We want to give our best.”
And on the atmosphere that awaits the Old Lady in Istanbul and whether Yildiz has told the squad how to deal with it, McKennie said: “He’s talked about that and I played here many years ago as well, so I know what the atmosphere and the fans are like. We hope they won’t boo us too much because of Kenan.”
Luciano Spalletti has given his pre-match thoughts ahead of Juventus’s Champions League play-off round first leg against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening, has reflected on the controversial Derby d’Italia from Saturday night and has hinted at who could play at centre-forward for the Bianconeri in Istanbul.
Juventus finished the league phase in 13th place in the Champions League table, three points shy of a spot in the top eight. This means that they will have to play against Galatasaray over two legs in order to qualify for a spot in the round of 16.
The Bianconeri will take on a Galatasaray side featuring the likes of Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi and Noa Lang in Istanbul on Tuesday evening before hosting the return leg at the Allianz Stadium next Wednesday, February 25.
Spalletti on Juventus vs. Galatasaray: ‘We want to try and win’
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Juventus have been linked with moves for both of Galatasaray’s strikers, Icardi and Osimhen, over the last two transfer windows. Spalletti was asked which striker he would ‘prefer’ to have at his disposal.
“I don’t know who I prefer within my own team, I can’t imagine what my colleagues have to do,” he replied (via TMW).
“For me, they are both very strong players with different characteristics, and together, their characteristics could make up the encyclopaedia of being a no.9.
“They are two strikers who know how to move inside the area, one creates chaos and the other knows how to capitalise on the chaos. We have to give them the ball as little as possible and keep it ourselves.”
And on the importance of tomorrow’s match, Spalletti said: “When it’s a double-header, both matches are important. Any hesitation can cost dearly. I’m proud of the reaction they showed in Milan and I wouldn’t change my team for anyone in the world.
“We have to play as a team and not suffer from the opponent’s pressure, play our football.”
Jonathan David, Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadsiuz Milik are all unavailable for the Galatasaray match, so Spalletti was asked whether there could be an opportunity for Lois Openda on Tuesday night.
He replied: “This can be a turning point for anyone. Openda has already had opportunities and others will have them. We’ll see about how and when together.”
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Loïs Openda of Juventus during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Spalleti was then asked whether the in-form Weston McKennie, known for his versatility, is among the options to play at centre-forward.
He said: “I’m convinced that he’s already shown it. He’s a player who has the characteristics to play with his back to goal and also knows how to turn things around in a short space of time because he’s fast and technical.
“He’s shown everything, and we’ve had all the possible problems that have led him to going from a right-back to a left winger. His willingness to help his teammates is an example for everyone.”
And on the rest of the squad, Spalletti added: “I don’t know because we’ve had one training session and we won’t train before tomorrow night. We have to evaluate Thuram and there are some other situations that we’re carrying.
“The players have to recover and we have no other choice. Doing the same things repetitively is tiring on the mind as well.”
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Players of Juventus pose for a team group photo prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
And giving his assessment of Galatasaray, Spalletti said: “We have to be ready for Galatasaray’s selections. We’re anticipating decisions that will create confusion and chaos. We have to try and play our game and we can’t be intimidated by their ferocity.”
And when asked if a victory away in Istanbul will be ‘enough’ for Juventus to qualify for the Champions League round of 16, Spalletti said: “We know the difficulties we’re facing because we’ve watched Galatasaray’s games. They’re a strong team and we’ve come here deserving to play this game.
“We’re happy to play against opponents like this. We’ll try to play the game in the correct way and we will see what level of quality we’re at, because these stadiums show you what mental strength you need to have as well. We don’t want to hide, we want to play the game and try to win.”
Spalletti on Inter vs. Juventus controversy
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Spalletti was given the opportunity to share his thoughts after the controversial Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus from Saturday night. The Bianconeri were on the losing side of a 3-2 scoreline, and were left furious after Pierre Kalulu was wrongfully sent off after a dive by Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.
Spalletti gave his thoughts on the matter, the post-match comments made by Cristian Chivu, the reaction to Bastoni’s dive and what Juventus have to do to combat diving in the sport.
“I don’t want to speak over the words of Elkann and the directors. I can say that Pierre is a good guy, a decent person and the fact that he had to take a dig from an opposition coach is something I never expected.
“This would put me in a position to talk about Inter’s players and I don’t want to do that.
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, gestures during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Simulation is an offence to football and what I have to do is raise the team to a level where simulation does not allow others to determine games for us. What happens isn’t important, but what you do when something happens to you is. We needed to reverse the situation.
“We have to improve if we don’t want to concede that goal there, and we wanted to go and score again immediately afterwards. These are tests of maturity. Tomorrow will be a test of our maturity.”
There were some calls after the Inter vs. Juventus match that Bastoni should be dropped from the Italy national team squad as a result of his unsportsmanlike behaviour.
As the former head coach of the Italy national team, Spalletti was asked for his opinion on that thought.
He came out in defence of Bastoni, arguing that it would not be the right decision to drop him from the Italy squad: “Absolutely, Gattuso has to be free to call up whoever he wants. Unfortunately, I am no longer CT and I will leave that situation with him. We have a strong coach, we have to leave him to be free to do what he wants.”
Cagliari have reshuffled their personnel to take on an unchanged Lecce side in Monday evening’s Serie A kick-off.
Cagliari are coming in off the back of a 2-0 defeat away against Roma last time out in Serie A, but had gone on a three-match win streak the weeks prior, including victories over Fiorentina and Juventus.
Fabio Pisacane’s side find themselves in 13th place in the Serie A table ahead of kick-off, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Donyell Malen of AS Roma scores the team’s second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on February 09, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Lecce picked up their first win in nine matches with a 2-1 victory over Udinese last time out in the league.
Lecce are in 18th place ahead of kick-off with 21 points from 24 matches, but a draw on Monday evening will be enough for them to lift themselves out of the relegation zone at the expense of Fiorentina, who are level on points with Eusebio Di Francesco’s side as things stand.
Cagliari have made several changes to their starting line-up following last week’s defeat against Roma.
Yerry Mina and Adam Obert come back into the back three, while Gabriele Zappa comes back in at right wing-back. Marco Palestra is expected to play in a more advanced role on the right wing. There are also opportunities for Ibrahim Sulemana, Riyad Idrissi and Leandro Pavoletti.
Unsurprisingly, Lecce have stuck with the exact same starting XI that beat Udinese last time out in Serie A, with Santiago Pierotti, Walid Cheddira and Riccardo Sottil leading the attack.
Kick-off is due at 19.45 GMT.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Omri Gandelman (#16) of US Lecce scores his team’s opening goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare on February 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Luciano Spalletti has criticised Inter head coach Cristian Chivu after his comments on Pierre Kalulu following the eventful Derby d’Italia in Serie A over the weekend, but has defended Alessandro Bastoni despite his role in getting the Juventus man sent off.
Inter beat Juventus 3-2 in a fiery Derby d’Italia in Serie A over the weekend in a game that was not without its controversies. Most notably, Juventus’s Kalulu was wrongly sent off for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute.
Newspapers in Italy described the first booking as harsh, and claimed that the second was ‘absurd’ and ‘non-existent’.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
That is because Inter’s Bastoni was adjudged to have dived in order to get Kalulu sent off. However, as this was a second yellow card incident and not a straight red card, VAR was not able to intervene.
For a similar reason, Bastoni will not face retrospective punishment despite the fact that he was also carrying a yellow card at the time and would have been sent off had referee Federico La Penna shown him a second yellow card instead.
Spalletti comments on Inter 3-2 Juventus controversies
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Juventus camp were enraged at the decision to send Kalulu off. Spalletti along with Juventus CEO Damien Comolli were seen angrily confronting referee La Penna in the tunnel after full-time.
The Bianconeri sent Comolli and director Giorgio Chiellini to talk to the press after full-time over the weekend, which means that Spalletti did not have the opportunity to give his thoughts immediately after the Inter match.
Spalletti was finally able to share his opinions on the matter during his pre-match press conference ahead of Juventus’s Champions League play-off match against Galatasaray on Monday evening.
Spalletti was not best pleased about Chivu’s decision to criticise Kalulu during his post-match interview.
Chivu had said: “I think it is a light touch, but it’s still a touch. When I dealt with similar situations in the Champions League, I told my players not to put themselves in a situation where they force the referee to make the call.
“Even if it’s light, and we have to admit it is a light touch, my player still felt the touch and was running at full speed. Kalulu is an experienced player and he ought to know that in these situations, you keep your hands to yourself.”
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Giving his response on Monday evening, Spalletti replied: “I don’t want to speak over the words of Elkann and the directors. I can say that Pierre is a good guy, a decent person and the fact that he had to take a dig from an opposition coach is something I never expected.
“This would put me in a position to talk about Inter’s players and I don’t want to do that.
“Simulation is an offence to football and what I have to do is raise the team to a level where simulation does not allow others to determine games for us. What happens isn’t important, but what you do when something happens to you is. We needed to reverse the situation.
“We have to improve if we don’t want to concede that goal there, and we wanted to go and score again immediately afterwards. These are tests of maturity. Tomorrow will be a test of our maturity.”
There were some calls after the Inter vs. Juventus match that Bastoni should be dropped from the Italy national team squad as a result of his unsportsmanlike behaviour.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
As the former head coach of the Italy national team, Spalletti was asked for his opinion on that thought.
He came out in defence of Bastoni, arguing that it would not be the right decision to drop him from the Italy squad: “Absolutely, Gattuso has to be free to call up whoever he wants. Unfortunately, I am no longer CT and I will leave that situation with him. We have a strong coach, we have to leave him to be free to do what he wants.”
Brazil national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti was seen enjoying himself during carnival celebrations in Rio De Janeiro over the weekend, and was spotted drinking a few beers with his former Milan striker Ronaldo: ‘I’m sure he’s loving the experience’.
Brazil have already qualified for the World Cup and will next be in action against France and Croatia in a pair of international friendlies on March 26 and April 1 respectively.
epa12137464 Italian Carlo Ancelotti (L) and the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Samir Xaud, attend a press conference where Ancelotti was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANDRE COELHO
Before then, Ancelotti has been able to take in some of the local culture and traditions at a series of carnival celebrations across the country. He was most recently in Rio along with a number of former Brazil stars including Ronaldo and Denilson.
As per local outlet ge.globo, Ancelotti and Ronaldo were based in boxes next to each other, and at one stage, Ronaldo passed the former Milan and Real Madrid coach on a float during a parade. They were filmed sipping on beers and waving at each other amidst the vast crowds.
What Ronaldo said about Ancelotti during Rio carnival
epa12137404 Italian Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference where he was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. EPA-EFE/Antonio Lacerda
Ronaldo was later stopped for a brief interview with ge.globo, discussing his relationship with Ancelotti and the prospects for the Italy national team/
“We were trying to select the World Cup squad, I included myself in there,” Ronaldo joked.
“I know him well and from the conversations we’ve had, I’m sure he’s loving the experience of being here and getting to know our people, working in Brazilian football, the most successful winner of World Cups.
“I’m sure he’s enjoying this energy of the Brazilian people rooting for him, because he’ll need it during the World Cup.”
Genoa head coach Daniele De Rossi has had his say on the controversial decision to send off Pierre Kalulu during the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday evening, suggesting that the Frenchman fell victim to ‘the stupidest VAR rule’.
Inter claimed a 3-2 victory over their arch rivals Juventus on Saturday evening, but the game was not without its controversial talking points. In the 42nd minute, Juve defender Kalulu was sent off for his second bookable offence. Newspapers in Italy described Kalulu’s first booking as harsh, and claimed that the second was ‘absurd’ and ‘non-existent’.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Bastoni, who was on a yellow card himself at the time, was seen passionately celebrating the decision to send off Kalulu, which caused further anger among the Bianconeri management and fanbase.
De Rossi weighs in on Inter 3-2 Juventus and refereeing standards
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 30: Genoa CGC head coach Daniele De Rossi gestures during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on January 30, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
De Rossi has not hid his frustrations with referees in recent weeks. Last weekend, his Genoa side were beaten 3-2 by Napoli, largely due to a 95th-minute penalty being awarded in favour of the Partenopei after a VAR review.
“I already talked last week about penalties. None of us know what a clear and obvious error is anymore. We no longer know if we have to step on a foot or just glance over it,” De Rossi said after the Napoli game.
“The football that I played in no longer exists. I must tell my players to keep their arms behind their backs and not go into tackles. I don’t know what sport I am coaching.”
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli (left) scores a goal on a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
De Rossi has since had his chance to comment on the controversial refereeing from the Derby d’Italia.
He believes that it is a positive that this incident happened in such a high-profile game, given the attention it brings outside Italy, and claims that it would take ‘two days’ to amend the necessary VAR rules
“I was one of the first to celebrate the introduction of VAR and perhaps one of the first to realise that we will always be chasing each other on certain things,” De Rossi said (via Corriere dello Sport).
“The only positive thing about what happened is that it was a match between Juve and Inter, which makes the whole world talk about it. It’s a game that the whole world watches and is massively important in Italy.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“The stupidest VAR rule, and I have been saying it for three years, is that a second yellow is not as serious as a straight red. It would be easy to change that in two days. Every second yellow, from tomorrow, should be reviewed.
“I think it would be difficult to find anyone who disagrees that a second yellow is not as serious as a red card after Saturday night, nowadays it changes a game even more than a goal or a penalty.”
Roma can breathe a sigh of relief, as neither Wesley França nor Paulo Dybala are expected to be sidelined for significant periods after recent injury concerns.
When will Dybala and Wesley return for Roma?
Dybala was ruled out of Sunday evening’s 2-2 draw between Napoli and Roma at the Stadio Maradona, and with Matias Soule only fit enough for a spot on the bench, Gian Piero Gasperini named Lorenzo Pellegrini and January signing Bryan Zaragoza as the supporting attackers behind centre-forward Donyell Malen.
Dybala has been struggling with a recurring pain in his knee, and according to reports from Corriere dello Sport, the most recent issue was due to a small inflammation in his leg rather than a strain or a tear.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Paulo Dybala celebrates a goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
This means that he could be in contention to feature against Cremonese in Serie A next weekend, but there is a chance that the Giallorossi decide to rest him in order to have him at full fitness in time for an enormous clash against Juventus on March 1.
Wesley was named as a starter against Napoli on Sunday evening, but his evening was cut short after being brought down by Amir Rrahmani in the penalty area, the incident which led to Malen putting the Giallorosi 2-1 ahead from the spot.
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Amir Rrahmani causes a penalty for AS Roma committing a foul on Wesley during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
According to Corriere dello Sport, medical tests have shown that there is no fracture or break to the ankle in question. It was an impact injury and there is heavy bruising, but like Dybala, Wesley could be declared fit enough to play against Cremonese next weekend, if not against Juventus the following week if Roma decide to be extra cautious.
Alessandro Bastoni has found himself at the centre of controversy after the Derby d’Italia on Saturday evening, but the Nerazzurri centre-back is not expected to be retrospectively punished for his dive that led to the sending off of Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu. Here’s why.
What happened with Bastoni and Kalulu in Inter 3-2 Juventus?
Inter claimed all three points in the Derby d’Italia on Saturday evening after an own-goal from Andrea Cambiaso and individual efforts from Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski. Cambiaso and Manuel Locatelli came up with the goals for the Bianconeri.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Newspapers in Italy described Kalulu’s first yellow card as ‘excessive’ and the second as ‘non-existent’ and ‘absurd’. That is because Bastoni dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off, which convinced referee Federico La Penna.
As this was a second yellow card and not a direct red, VAR was not able to intervene on the matter. Reports on Sunday suggest that this is a rule the IFAB will seek to change at the earliest possibility.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
To add insult to injury for Juventus, Bastoni was also carrying a booking at the time of Kalulu’s sending off, and had he been punished for simulation, it would have been the Nerazzurri down to 10 men instead of the Bianconeri.
What didn’t help the situation was the passionate celebration that Bastoni let out when La Penna brandished the yellow and red cards at Kalulu.
Why will Bastoni not face retrospective punishment?
Despite calls from some supporters, Bastoni is not expected to face further punishment for his dive.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 09: Alessandro Bastoni of Internazionale acknowledges the fans following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
That is because of a similar rule to the one that prevented VAR from intervening at the time of the incident: Authorities would have been able to review the incident with the use of TV footage had Bastoni’s dive led to a direct red card, but not for a second yellow.
As is explained in article 61 of the Code of Sports Justice (Codice di Giustizia Sportiva), the sports judge is able to review TV footage for incidents of unsportsmanlike behaviour in four different circumstances. They are as follows:
Simulation leading to a penalty kick being awarded in favour of the team whose player dived.
Simulation resulting in the direct sending off of an opposition player
Scoring a goal by intentionally handling the ball
Preventing a goal by intentionally handling the ball
As Kalulu was sent off for a second bookable offence and not a direct card, Bastoni’s act of unsportsmanlike behaviour does not fall under any of the above categories and will therefore not be brought to the sports judge for review.
Reports in Italy claim that work is underway for Scott McTominay to be rewarded with a new and improved contract at Napoli after a fantastic first 18 months in Serie A.
Napoli hoping to tie McTominay down to new contract
McTominay joined Napoli from Manchester United in a €30.5m deal in the sur of 2024 and immediately established himself as one of the modern-day greats at the Stadio Maradona. In his first season in Naples, the Scotland international helped the Partenopei to their second Scudetto in three years and also claimed the division’s MVP award in the process.
McTominay signed a four-year contract at the time of his transfer from Manchester United, expiring in the summer of 2028.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Amir Rrahmani during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
According to reports from Corriere dello Sport, Napoli want to extend that agreement until the summer of 2030.
Sunday’s report claims that McTominay’s agent has recently arrived in Naples for talks, and that he has already spoken with sporting director Giovanni Manna over the potential terms of a new contract extension.
Specific salary figures have not yet been mentioned, but it is expected that McTominay would be rewarded with an improved set of personal terms after establishing himself as a Ballon d’Or candidate over the last year and a half.
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli attends Gran Galà Del Calcio AlC 2025 on December 01, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Sara Cavallini/Getty Images)
McTominay came up with 12 goals and six assists during Napoli’s title-winning campaign last season, and has gone on to provide 10 goals and four assists between Serie A and the Champions League so far this season.
A first-half strike from Oumar Solet was not enough for Udinese to hold onto, as two goals within two minutes from Armand Lauriente and Andrea Pinamonti saw Sassuolo leapfrog their opponents into ninth place in the Serie A table on Sunday afternoon.
Kosta Runjaic opted for a change in shape and brought Nicolo Zaniolo back into his starting line-up, while Fabio Grosso made just one change: Replacing the suspended Nemanja Matic with Luca Lipani in midfield.
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Nicolò Zaniolo of Udinese and Luca Lipani of Sassuolo in action during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Friuli on February 15, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
The hosts broke the deadlock within the first 10 minutes when Josh Doig attempted to play an underhit pass out from left-back. Solet was aggressive in his pressing and did brilliantly to win the ball high up the pitch on the right flank before dribbling inside and firing low into the bottom corner off his toes from the edge of the area.
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Oumar Solet of Udinese celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Friuli on February 15, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
It took Sassuolo until the second half to properly dust themselves down.
10 minutes into the second period, the Neroverdi ran it all the way down the left flank from a goal-kick following an Udinese corner: Laurient, Ulisses Garcia and Pinamonti all combined in a fantastic team move, which ended with the Frenchman dispatching into the far corner from the centre of the area.
It was a dismal few minutes for Udinese, as Sassuolo went on to steal the lead with their next attack of the game after the re-start.
The ball was worked down the right flank on this occasion, before Lauriente, Garcia and Pinamonti combined for the second time in two minutes. This time it was Garcia’s cross that was met by the head of Pinamonti in the middle of the area for 2-1.
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Andrea Pinamonti of Sassuolo celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Kristian Thorstvedt during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Friuli on February 15, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
This was a big result for Sassuolo, who have managed to leapfrog their opponents into ninth place in the Serie A table: Not a bad achievement for a team fresh off promotion from Serie B. Udinese sit one place below them in 10th palace, level on points on 32 from 25 matches.
Alessandro Bastoni has been forced into silencing the fans on his social media platforms after receiving countless insults and threats in the aftermath of the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday night.
Bastoni blocks supporters after Derby d’Italia insults
The Nerazzurri were victorious in a dramatic 3-2 thriller against their arch rivals on Saturday evening thanks to an own goal from Andrea Cambiaso and individual efforts from Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski.
The game was not without its controversies, though, as Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was wrongly sent off in the 42nd minute for a second bookable offence.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Bastoni was right in the middle of the drama, as he dived under the apparent challenge of Kalulu in an attempt to get his opponent sent off. Referee Federico La Penna immediately reached for his cards and dismissed the Frenchman.
Bastoni was seen celebrating the decision, despite the fact that replays showed he had clearly dived in order to sell the referee. To make matters worse for Juventus, Bastoni himself had been on a yellow card at the time, which meant that he would have been sent off had he been booked for simulation.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale Milano controls the ball whilst under pressure from Santiago Pierotti of US Lecce during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Some have taken matters one step further and sent insults to Bastoni directly, which has led to his having to turn off the comments on all of the posts on his Instagram profile. The 26-year-old has not commented publicly since the end of the derby.
Some supporters feel that Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni should be dropped from the Italy national team squad as a result of his dive that resulted in the sending off of Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu during the Derby d’Italia in Serie A on Saturday night.
Angry fans want Bastoni dropped from Italy national team
Bastoni woke up as a divisive figure in Italy on Sunday morning after being at the centre of controversy during Inter’s 3-2 victory over Juventus in San Siro the night before.
Bastoni went down under the challenge of Kalulu in the 42nd minute, but it was evident that the Nerazzurri centre-back had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off. Kalulu was already carrying a yellow card and as this incident was not a direct red card call, VAR could not intervene or overturn the decision.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
This has led to a series of accusations and apologies from Juventus and Serie A officials, while newspapers in Italy on Sunday claimed that the derby was ‘ruined’ as a result of the refereeing error.
Some reporters and supporters online have gone as far as suggesting that Bastoni does not deserve to be called up to the Italy national team squad as a result of his actions on Saturday evening.
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
TMW’s Luca Calamai questioned on Sunday whether ‘a player like that’ deserves to represent Italy on the global stage, and has urged Gennaro Gattuso and Gabriele Gravina to consider dropping him from the squad.
Milan pundit Alessandro Jacobone wrote on X: “Gattuso seriously needs to consider leaving him at home, the anti-sportsmanship shown by Bastoni does not align with Azzurri values.”
Another supporter wrote: “We’re watching the Olympics, which are bringing pride to the nation. Characters and attitudes like this ruin all the good we’re doing elsewhere. I’d gladly give up on the World Cup, I don’t want to go there feeling ashamed.”
-Una federazione seria interviene. -Una federazione seria impedisce a #Bastoni di andare in nazionale. -Una federazione seria chiede scusa e fa partire una indagine SERIA su questo club.
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has come out in criticism of Inter head coach Cristian Chivu and defender Alessandro Bastoni after the controversial incident and subsequent comments relating to the sending off of Pierre Kalulu during the Derby d’Italia in Serie A on Saturday night.
Inter picked up a 3-2 victory over Juventus and extended their lead at the top of the Serie A table to eight points in San Siro on Saturday evening, but the biggest talking point from the game was the controversial decision to send off Kalulu for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute.
Kalulu was shown an early yellow card for a foul on Nicolo Barella, which some have argued was slightly harsh in the first place, and was then shown a second for a supposed foul on Bastoni.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Replays confirmed that Bastoni had dived, but referee Federico La Penna had already shown Kalulu his second yellow card and was unable to reverse the punishment. VAR was not able to intervene as this was not a straight red card decision.
Del Piero has a go at Chivu and Bastoni after Inter 3-2 Juventus
Speaking after full-time on Saturday evening, Chivu insisted that there was a ‘light touch’ from Kalulu, that Bastoni felt it while running at full speed and as ‘an experienced player’, Kalulu ‘ought to know that in these situations, you keep your hands to yourself’.
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“I think it is a light touch, but it’s still a touch. When I dealt with similar situations in the Champions League, I told my players not to put themselves in a situation where they force the referee to make the call,” the Inter head coach told Sky Sport Italia on Saturday.
“Even if it’s light, and we have to admit it is a light touch, my player still felt the touch and was running at full speed. Kalulu is an experienced player and he ought to know that in these situations, you keep your hands to yourself.”
Del Piero, who was on punditry duty in the Sky Sport Italia studios, did not agree with the points that Chivu made and also criticised Bastoni for the way he went down under the challenge of Kalulu
“I think Chivu is doing a great job and has revived a strong, but perhaps slightly ageing Inter team. Tonight, from my point of view, he made a mistake in commenting on the sending off,” Del Piero said (via Corriere dello Sport).
“I expected something different from his interpretation of what happened. Inter also don’t need this.
Italy and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero on punditry duty during EURO 2024. (Del Piero: ‘I’m really happy for you, Kenan’ – Yildiz breaks 19-year-old record)
“When you’re a strong team, you want to win well and when an error happens that clearly goes in your favour, you shouldn’t be happy.
“I hope that in a couple of days, Chivu can say, or at least thing, what happened on the pitch wasn’t a touch for which a player should be sent off, and that Bastoni shouldn’t have gone down like that.”
Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi has had his say on the controversial decision to send off Pierre Kalulu during the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Saturday evening, and has apologised on behalf of the officiating team.
Rocchi responds to La Penna mistake in Inter 3-2 Juventus
Outlets in Italy claim that the first yellow card shown to Kalulu was slightly on the harsh side, and that the second was ‘absurd’ and ‘non-existent’. Replays confirmed that Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, on a yellow card himself at the time, had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Despite La Penna’s error, VAR could not intervene as this was a second yellow card offence and not a straight red decision. There have already been reports that the IFAB will seek to change this rule at their next annual assembly at the end of February.
Refereeing chief Rocchi has since had an opportunity to have his say on the matter.
“We are very sorry about the incident: For La Penna’s decision, which was clearly wrong, and for the fact that we could not use VAR to remedy it,” Rocchi said (via ANSA).
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Rocchi also told ANSA that La Penna is ‘distraught’ by his mistake, and also criticised Bastoni, claiming that the referee was “not the only one who made a mistake, because there was clear simulation yesterday.”
Nicolo Zaniolo is called back into the Udinese starting line-up to face an almost unchanged Sassuolo side in Serie A, as both teams look to bounce back after disappointing defeats in the league last weekend.
Both sides are hoping to bounce back after defeats in the league last weekend. Udinese were defeated 2-1 away against Lecce, while Sassuolo were on the receiving end of a 5-0 thrashing by runaway league leaders, Inter.
Those results leave Udinese sitting in ninth place on 32 points ahead of kick-off, while Sassuolo with two positions below them in the table on 29 points.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Oumar Solet of Udinese Calcio scores his team’s equalizing goal with penalty during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare on February 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Pre-match reports claim that Kosta Runjaic has gone with a change of shape on Sunday, swapping to a 4-4-2 in stead of the 3-4-2-1 system he used last weekend. Zaniolo is back in the starting XI and is selected to lead the attack alongside Vakoun Bayo.
Despite the 5-0 hammering by Inter last weekend, Fabio Grosso has opted to make just one change his Neroverdi starting line-up. That is an enforced change as well, as Nemanja Matic is suspended and is replaced by Luca Lipani in midfield.
Kick-off is due at 11.30 GMT.
Udinese vs. Sassuolo: Confirmed line-ups
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Fabio Grosso, Head Coach of Sassuolo, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Sassuolo Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Reports in Italy suggest that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will move to change a major VAR rule in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America following the controversial scenes during Saturday evening’s Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus.
Could VAR rules change after Inter 3-2 Juventus controversy?
Inter claimed a 3-2 victory in the derby thanks to an own goal from Andrea Cambiaso and individual efforts from Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski, but their victory has been somewhat overshadowed by the refereeing controversy that led to the first-half sending off of Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu.
Kalulu was sent off in the 42nd minute for two bookable offences. There have been suggestions that his original yellow, for a foul on Nicolo Barella, was slightly harsh, but the second has been deemed ‘non-existent’ and ‘absurd’ by newspapers in Italy on Sunday.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
That is because Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni was deemed to have dived in an attempt to get Kalulu sent off. Referee Federico La Penna did not hesitate in his decision to show Kalulu his second yellow, and as this was not a straight red card incident, VAR could not intervene.
According to reports fromLa Gazzetta dello Sport, the IFAB, the body responsible for managing and updating the laws of the game, will review whether or not VAR should be allowed to intervene on second yellow card offences at its next annual assembly.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Federico La Penna referee reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
This is a topic that was already raised during a recent IFAB meeting on January 20, and will be reviewed at the annual assembly in Cardiff, Wales on February 28.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the signals indicate towards IFAB voting in favour of allowing VAR to intervene on second yellow card offences, and that this new change in rules could come into effect in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Newspapers in Italy have not looked too kindly on referee Federico La Penna, who was at the centre of controversy after sending off Pierre Kalulu for a questionable second bookable offence during the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Sunday night.
An own goal from Andrea Cambiaso plus individual efforts from Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski gave the Nerazzurri all three points in an eventual 3-2 victory in San Siro on Saturday evening, despite Bianconeri goals from Cambiaso and Manuel Locatelli.
The biggest talking point of the game, however, was La Penna’s decision to show a second yellow card to Kalulu for a supposed foul on Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Kalulu had already been shown a soft yellow card in the first half, and was then sent off in controversial circumstances after it became clear that Bastoni had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off. Juventus were then made to play the entirety of the second half with 10 men.
As Kalulu was dismissed for two yellow card offences, VAR was not able to intervene despite La Penna’s error.
How Italian media reacted to Kalulu sending off in Inter 3-2 Juventus
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport gave referee La Penna a rating of 4/10 immediately after full-time. The Pink Paper also highlighted the pressing need to review VAR protocols and allow the video assistants to step in for second yellow card offences, not just for incidents surrounding straight reds.
Corriere dello Sport rated La Penna at 4.5/10, noting that had VAR been able to intervene on the Kalulu-Bastoni incident, the referee would have been ‘saved’. They also pointed to the fact that Bastoni was also on a yellow card at the time of the incident, which could have led to his own dismissal.
Unsurprisingly, Turin-based outlet Tuttosport have taken an even harsher stance on the matter, rating La Penna’s performance at 3/10. They write that the Kalulu sending off should not have required assistance from VAR had an ‘attentive’ referee been on the pitch.
Luciano Spalletti and Juventus CEO Damien Comolli were seen furiously arguing with referee Federico La Penna in the tunnel after the controversial sending off of Pierre Kalulu during Saturday night’s Derby d’Italia.
The table-topping Inter claimed all three points in a controversial derby in San Siro thanks to an own goal from Andrea Cambiaso and individual efforts from Pio Esposito and Piotr Zielinski, the latter in the 90th minute. Cambiaso and Manuel Locatelli provided the goals for the Bianconeri.
However, some newspapers in Italy have claimed that the derby was ‘ruined’ after referee La Penna took the decision to send off Kalulu for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Juventus felt that the first yellow card shown to the Frenchman was soft, and that the second was ‘absurd’, after replays showed that Alessandro Bastoni had dived in an attempt to get his opponent sent off. As this incident was ‘only’ a yellow card offence, VAR could not intervene.
Bianconeri chiefs have already come out with a strong condemnation of the decision to send off Kalulu, claiming the decision was “unacceptable and embarrassing.”
Spalletti and Comolli go crazy at referee after Inter 3-2 Juventus
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Video footage has since emerged online of the Juventus delegation’s immediate post-match reaction. Juve head coach Spalletti and CEO Comolli were seen furiously arguing with referee La Penna as he tried to make his way down the San Siro tunnel.
At one point, Spalletti can be seen shoving Comolli away from the incident, and goalkeeper Mattia Perin attempting to hold back his head coach.
Spalletti, Comolli e Chiellini infuriati (a fine primo tempo) all’ingresso del tunnel contro La Penna
Napoli are without Scott McTominay, while Roma will have to do without Paulo Dybala for Sunday’s Serie A clash between the sides, which could have major implications on the race for the Champions League positions.
Napoli sit in third place in the Serie A table ahead of kick-off, three points in front of the fifth-placed Roma.
Napoli, hosting this evening at the Stadio Maradona, have won their last two matches in Serie A, but have more recently been eliminated from the Coppa Italia after a 1-1 draw against Como in the quarter-finals, resulting in a 7-6 defeat on penalties.
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Antonio Vergara of SSC Napoli celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
McTominay misses out on Sunday with a tendon issue. Antonio Conte is also without Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour in midfield, so Eljif Elmas is expected to keep his place alongside Stanislav Lobotka.
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Eljif Elmas of Napoli (right) sprays his teammate Scott McTominay’s right ankle during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Juan Jesus is suspended, which means that Sam Beukema is expected to return to the back three alongside Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno.
David Neres and Giovanni Di Lorenzo are also unavailable through injury.
Roma, meanwhile, are likely to be without Dybala and Matias Soule remains a doubt as well. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Donyell Malen are expected to keep their places in the Giallorossi attack.
Gian Piero Gasperini is also without key players in Manu Kone, Mario Hermoso, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, Robinio Vaz and Stephan El Shaarawy.
Kick-off is due at 19.45 GMT.
Napoli vs. Roma: Probable line-ups
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: Donyell Malen of Roma during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AS Roma at Stadio Friuli on February 02, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and online through DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. The game will be shown on DAZN in Italy.
Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.
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