Juventus put in a competent second half performance to beat Pisa 4-0 this evening, with goals from Andrea Cambiaso, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz and Jeremie Boga sealing the win.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Yildiz, however, for his electric performance, assist for Cambiaso’s opener and scoring the Bianconeri’s third goal.

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

Juventus 4-0 Pisa – Player Ratings

Juventus: Perin 6.5; Kalulu 6.5, Bremer 6, Gatti 6 (Kelly 6), Cambiaso 7; Thuram 7 (Koopmeiners N/A), Locatelli 6.5, Conceicao 7 (Miretti N/A); McKennie 6, Yildiz 7.5 (Kostic N/A), David 5 (Boga 7)

Best Juventus player: Kenan Yildiz – Once again very good tonight and proving truly talismanic in Juventus’ attack. Led the charge more than once, picking up a goal and an assist on the way to victory.

Lowest Juventus rating: Jonathan David – Taken off at half-time after a poor half of football, the Canadian is still yet to hit his best levels at Juventus.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 7.5 – On his birthday, the coach picks up a confident victory and will be happy with the way his team reacted to a difficult first half. Bringing on Boga for David helped significantly as the coach unwraps three points to celebrate.

Pisa: Nicolas 6; Calabresi 5.5 (Iling Junior N/A), Caracciolo 6, Coppola 5; Leris 6 (Cuadrado 6), Aebischer 5.5, Marin 6 (Loyola 5.5), Hojholt 6 (Piccinini 6), Angori 5.5; Moreo 6, Durosinmi 5.5 (Stojilkovic N/A)

Best Pisa player: Stefano Moreo – To give credit to the Pisa forward, he gave it his best shot. Fashioned a couple of good chances and could have scored on another day. Was strong in the air, putting some of his teammates to shame.

Lowest Pisa rating: Francesco Coppola – Was poor today, beaten far too often by Juventus’ front line and completely ineffective in the build-up.

Coach: Oscar Hiljemark 5.5 – Was a game of two halves for the coach who is still fairly new to the club. He will be proud of his team’s display in the first half but perhaps let down by the second.

Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram scored the club’s second goal in their match against Pisa in Serie A this evening, as the Bianconeri look to stroll to a comfortable victory to keep their top four hopes very much alive.

The French midfielder scored Juventus’ second in the second half, not long after Andrea Cambiaso’s opener.

You can follow the rest of the match, or relive all the action as it happened, on our Live Blog.

Celebrating his goal, the Frenchman ran over to head coach Luciano Spalletti, who celebrates his 66th birthday today.

The rest of the team followed Thuram in involving the coach with the celebrations.

Video: Thuram celebrates Juventus goal with Spalletti

Thuram doubles the lead! #JuvePisa 2-0 pic.twitter.com/3TVFvD0ohp

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 7, 2026

Nico Gonzalez marked another impressive display in Spain with a match-winning brace for Atletico Madrid against Real Sociedad on Saturday, further underlining his growing importance to Diego Simeone’s side, and edging Juventus closer to triggering a crucial financial windfall.

The Argentine winger came off the bench in the 54th minute with Atletico trailing 2-1, and produced a decisive impact, netting twice to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory in LaLiga’s 27th matchday.

It was exactly the kind of performance that is making his permanent move to the Spanish capital look increasingly inevitable, as noted by CalcioMercato.

Nico Gonzalez edges closer to permanent Juventus departure

The details of his transfer structure make for interesting reading from a Juventus perspective. Nico Gonzalez joined Atletico on an initial loan of €1 million, rising by a further million subject to certain sporting objectives, with a purchase option of €32 million that converts into an obligation under specific conditions.

The key trigger is appearance-based: Atletico must sign him permanently if he reaches 60% of Liga matches played, featuring for at least 45 minutes per game, equivalent to 21 qualifying appearances across the season.

Saturday’s outing counts as his 13th qualifying appearance in the league, with 18 total Liga appearances to his name so far this season, and 26 across all competitions.

With eleven games left this season, he requires eight more qualifying matches to trigger the obligation, a target that looks very much within reach given his increasing involvement under Simeone.

For Juventus, the €32 million fee would represent a welcome injection of cash ahead of what promises to be a busy and expensive summer transfer window.

Alexis Saelemaekers has offered a warm and revealing insight into life under Massimiliano Allegri ahead of Sunday’s Milan derby, describing his manager as “special” and “unique”, and letting slip the nickname the coach has given him in recognition of his relentless work rate.

Speaking to DAZN, via MilanNews, the Belgian winger explained that Allegri calls him “scheggia”, literally translating to splinter or shrapnel but figuratively a nod to the explosive pace he brings every time he takes to the pitch.

“He calls me ‘scheggia’ because I always give one hundred percent,” Saelemaekers said.

“He is special to me, he is unique. The way he sees football, his attitude, he is one of the best I have had as a human being. The way he treats us, the way he jokes, the way he is serious when he needs to be. He manages that balance perfectly.”

Saelemaekers looks forward to Milan derby against Inter

Saelemaekers also captured the unique atmosphere that descends on the Milan squad in derby week, a mixture of intense focus and barely contained anticipation.

“The Milan-Inter rivalry will always be there,” he said. “As soon as the derby week begins, you are always thinking about it. Before a game like this, there is so much concentration that nobody speaks. What you eat, how much you sleep, it can all make a difference. You try to do everything at one hundred percent to arrive ready.”

With the title race finely poised and both clubs desperate for the points, Sunday’s clash at San Siro carries enormous weight. If Saelemaekers brings even a fraction of that relentless energy to the occasion, Milan will have a valuable weapon at their disposal.

Fabio Capello has offered a ringing endorsement of both head coaches ahead of Sunday’s Milan derby, backing Cristian Chivu and Massimiliano Allegri as two of the finest coaching minds currently operating in Italian football.

Speaking on Milan Vibes, via MilanNews24, the former Roma, Milan and Real Madrid coach drew on his own experience as a young coach to defend Chivu against any criticism of his relative inexperience.

“Chivu was placed there without much experience, but neither did I have much, with only five matches as a coach at the time,” Capello said.

“I know Christian well, I signed him as a player at Roma. He is an intelligent, sharp and successful person. He came in quietly and made the squad understand that they were still strong and capable of winning.”

Capello: ‘Allegri is still one of the best around’

Capello was also keen to credit the Inter hierarchy for the boldness of the appointment. “Betting on a young coach like Chivu means that whoever chose him knew what they were doing, that is a credit to the president and the directors,” he said, adding with a wry smile that critics once dismissed him as a yes-man early in his own managerial career.

On Allegri, Capello was equally effusive, pushing back firmly against any suggestion that the Milan coach’s best days are behind him.

“What Allegri is doing demonstrates that he is still one of the best around, an excellent coach, not a spent force,” he said. “He understands the material he has at his disposal. He knows the value of his players, which many young coaches simply cannot do, they cannot bring out the best in the human material available to them and just copy others.”

Capello also dismissed the tired debate between so-called ‘results men’ and ‘football philosophers’ with characteristic bluntness. “The story of pragmatists versus purists simply does not exist,” he said.

Vincenzo Italiano has delivered a glowing assessment of January arrival Joao Mario ahead of Bologna’s Serie A clash with Verona, with the Juventus loanee continuing to impress since his move to the Emilia-Romagna club.

The Portuguese midfielder, who joined on loan from Juventus in the winter window, has settled quickly into Italiano’s system.

“He is recovering well from the knock he picked up against Pisa,” the Bologna head coach confirmed, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“He is loosening up more and more, he is smiling, and he has made himself available to play on the left as well, which was not straightforward for him. He has played two great matches and I am very happy.”

Bologna coach Italiano positive ahead of Verona test

Italiano was in a broadly positive mood at his pre-match press conference, pleased with the direction his squad is heading after a period in which their league position had given cause for concern.

Riccardo Orsolini was another player singled out for encouragement, despite a recent dip in form.

“He needs to rediscover his sharpness, but I am convinced that at the first good opportunity he will find his rhythm again,” Italiano said. “He is already in double figures this season despite the difficult spell, and in training today he was scoring some great goals.”

On the subject of the upcoming Europa League quarter-final against Roma, Italiano was emphatic that full focus remains on Verona. “We are thinking only about tomorrow,” he said. “We have put right a league position that we were not happy with, and we want to keep collecting points. Roma can wait until Monday.”

Dallinga returned to training on the eve of the match after managing a tendon issue, while Lykogiannis also appears to have shaken off his own tendon complaint.

Dominguez is another option in reserve, with Italiano praising the midfielder’s impact whenever called upon from the bench.

Lazio have confirmed that goalkeeper Ivan Provedel will undergo surgery on his shoulder in the coming days, with Sky Sport Italia reporting the injury is likely to bring his season to a premature end, a significant blow for a club already navigating a turbulent campaign.

The club’s official statement revealed that persistent shoulder pain, linked to a previous match injury, prompted further investigation.

An MRI scan carried out at the Villa Mafalda clinic identified a lesion of the glenohumeral ligament alongside involvement of the glenoid labrum. Provedel will undergo arthroscopic stabilisation surgery in the coming days.

Provedel surgery a major blow for Lazio in end-of-season run-in

The timing could hardly be worse for Maurizio Sarri, whose side still have a Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Atalanta to navigate, as well as a demanding run of Serie A fixtures in the closing weeks of the season.

What makes the situation particularly concerning is the state of Lazio’s goalkeeping options.

The club sold Christos Mandas to Bournemouth on loan with an obligation to buy in January, leaving them with limited cover behind Provedel.

His likely replacement is 21-year-old Edoardo Motta, signed from Reggiana for €1.2 million earlier this year, a promising youngster, but one who arrives with considerably more development ahead of him than behind him.

The only other option available is 24-year-old Alessio Furlanetto, who has come through Lazio’s own academy but is yet to make a single first-team appearance for the club.

It is a precarious situation, and one that Lazio’s hierarchy will be acutely aware of as they attempt to salvage something meaningful from what has already been a deeply frustrating season.

Napoli moved a step closer to securing Champions League football with a commanding home victory over Torino at the Maradona, with goals from Alisson Santos and Eljif Elmas doing the damage against a Torino side that threatened briefly but were ultimately well beaten.

Antonio Conte’s men were in the ascendancy from the off, and it took only seven minutes for the opener to arrive.

Alisson Santos, the Brazilian who has quickly become a fan favourite at the Maradona, collected a pass on the edge of the box and without hesitation rifled an unstoppable effort into the bottom left corner.

It was a goal of genuine quality, the kind that silences any doubts about whether a player belongs at this level.

Torino were not without their moments in the first half.

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

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic was called into action on a couple of occasions, producing a sensational stop to deny Nikola Vlasic from close range after a rebound fell invitingly on the edge of the box, while Duvan Zapata tested the defence with a powerful effort that cannoned to safety.

But Napoli’s control was evident, their passing crisp and purposeful as they managed the game comfortably until the break.

Napoli 2-1 Torino – Zambo Anguissa & De Bruyne return from injury

Zambo Anguissa made his comeback from injury at half-time, replacing Vergara in a moment that drew warm applause from a sell-out crowd, the Cameroonian’s return another welcome boost for a squad stretched thin by a lengthy injury list.

Kevin De Bruyne followed him off the bench in the 79th minute, the Belgian’s first involvement since October greeted with enormous excitement from the stands.

The points were sealed on 68 minutes when Elmas, having been played in smartly by Matteo Politano, jinked inside his marker and buried an unstoppable low drive into the bottom left corner. It was a goal of composure and conviction, and one that gave the result its definitive shape.

Torino did manage to deny Napoli a clean sheet, when Cesare Casadei scored with just two minutes left of normal time. However, the Partenopei managed to hold on to their lead and secure the three points.

Napoli’s fortress remains intact.

The Maradona is still an unbeaten turf in Serie A this season, and with De Bruyne and Anguissa edging closer to full fitness, Conte’s side are gathering momentum at exactly the right time.

06-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 28

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Torino

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Alisson Santos (Assist: Leonardo Spinazzola)

7'

2nd half

		63'		Gvidas Gineitis
		64'		Ardian Ismajli
Eljif Elmas (Assist: Matteo Politano)		68'
		73'		Valentino Lazaro
		87'		Cesare Casadei (Assist: Ché Adams)

Match statistic

64

Possession %

36

14

Total shots

7

9

Shots on target

4

3

Shots off target

0

2

Blocked shots

3

11

Corners

2

1

Offsides

1

9

Fouls

11

Napoli

Torino

Starting lineups

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

5

Juan Jesus

Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola

Defender

69'

17

Mathías Olivera

Defender

26

Antonio Vergara

Midfielder

46'

6

Billy Gilmour

Midfielder

20

Eljif Elmas

Midfielder

27

Alisson Santos

Attacker

79'

21

Matteo Politano

Attacker

84'

19

Rasmus Højlund

Attacker

84'

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

44

Ardian Ismajli

Defender

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

57'

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

67'

98

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

78'

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

91

Duván Zapata

Attacker

57'

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

67'

Substitutes

1

Alex Meret

Goalkeeper

14

Nikita Contini

Goalkeeper

31

Sam Beukema

Defender

23

Giovane

Attacker

23

Giovane Nascimento

Attacker

99

Frank Anguissa

Midfielder

46'

3

Miguel Gutiérrez

Defender

69'

11

Kevin De Bruyne

Midfielder

79'

30

Pasquale Mazzocchi

Defender

84'

9

Romelu Lukaku

Attacker

84'

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

25

Niels Nkounkou

Defender

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

19

Ché Adams

Attacker

57'

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

57'

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

67'

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

67'

14

Tino Anjorin

Midfielder

78'

Antonio Conte spoke to DAZN in the moments before kick-off between Napoli and Torino at the Maradona, addressing the most pressing questions surrounding his team selection, and offering the most detailed update yet on when supporters might see Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa making a meaningful contribution.

The Belgian and the Cameroonian are both named on the bench this evening, their first involvement in a matchday squad since their respective injuries in the autumn.

But Conte was measured in managing expectations, explaining that the timing of the fixture had complicated their preparation.

“This is the first week they have worked with us,” he said, with quotes via IlNapolista.

“Making assessments about how much they can play is difficult, especially because in previous weeks we organised friendlies to help with the integration of new arrivals like Lukaku. This week that was not possible, a practice match would have been useful. If I have brought them to the bench, it means they are available. We will see how the game goes, whether we need them and how much.”

Napoli vs Torino – Conte defends selection choices

The selection of three left-footed central defenders raised eyebrows, with Sam Beukema notably absent from the starting lineup.

Conte was typically brief when pressed on the matter.

“These are technical choices, I pick those in the best condition. It is not the first time this has happened,” he said, declining to elaborate further.

With 11 matches remaining, Conte was equally direct about the stakes involved.

Asked about the difficulty of facing a Torino side who have returned to a two-striker system under Roberto D’Aversa, he refused to single out any individual opponent.

“For us every match is important,” he said.

“In these eleven games we will determine what kind of European competition we play next season. Tonight matters, just as Lecce and Cagliari will matter. We must take it game by game and draw conclusions at the end.”

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

Roma forward Paulo Dybala underwent knee surgery today at the Villa Stuart medical facility in Rome, as surgeons seek to correct a repeating issue in his meniscus.

According to reports from TuttoMercatoWeb, via FirenzeViola, the Argentine was subject to a diagnostic arthroscopy on his left knee, which revealed a small tear in his external meniscus.

During the procedure, surgeons fixed the tear, led by Professor Mariani at Villa Stuart.

Dybala is now expected to sit out for around six weeks, due to return around mid-April.

This means that the Argentine will miss most of the remainder of the season and with his Roma future hanging in the balance, he will want to return before the campaign is over in case it is his last chance to play in Giallorossi colours.

Watch: Dybala leaves Villa Stuart after knee surgery

.@OfficialASRoma, Paulo Dybala ha lasciato Villa Stuart dopo l’intervento al ginocchio pic.twitter.com/CEDsXMNUJP

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) March 6, 2026

Napoli host Torino at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this evening, as Antonio Conte’s side look to bounce back from recent wobbles to ensure they do not lose further ground in the race for the top four.

Conte’s Partenopei currently sit in third place but have lost much ground on league leaders Inter over the past couple of months.

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

An injury crisis in Naples has left Conte fairly short-staffed and they now sit 14 points off of the Nerazzurri. Therefore, the Scudetto dream is quickly fading away but it is still all to play for in the exciting race for Champions League football.

Napoli have a five point lead over 5th placed Como, with Juventus one point behind Fabregas’ side and Atalanta two points behind the Bianconeri.

Torino, meanwhile, come into this game off the back of a first win under Roberto D’Aversa, winning 2-0 at home to Lazio after three consecutive games without a win that saw Marco Baroni sacked.

Napoli vs Torino – Official Lineups

Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic; Juan Jesus, Buongiorno, Olivera; Politano, Gilmour, Elmas, Spinazzola; Vergara, Hojlund, Alisson

Torino: Paleari; Coco, Ismajli, Ebosse; Lazaro, Prati, Gineitis, Obrador; Vlasic, Simeone; Zapata

06-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 28

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Torino

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Alisson Santos (Assist: Leonardo Spinazzola)

7'

2nd half

		63'		Gvidas Gineitis
		64'		Ardian Ismajli
Eljif Elmas (Assist: Matteo Politano)		68'
		73'		Valentino Lazaro
		87'		Cesare Casadei (Assist: Ché Adams)

Match statistic

64

Possession %

36

14

Total shots

7

9

Shots on target

4

3

Shots off target

0

2

Blocked shots

3

11

Corners

2

1

Offsides

1

9

Fouls

11

Napoli

Torino

Starting lineups

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

5

Juan Jesus

Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola

Defender

69'

17

Mathías Olivera

Defender

26

Antonio Vergara

Midfielder

46'

6

Billy Gilmour

Midfielder

20

Eljif Elmas

Midfielder

27

Alisson Santos

Attacker

79'

21

Matteo Politano

Attacker

84'

19

Rasmus Højlund

Attacker

84'

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

44

Ardian Ismajli

Defender

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

57'

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

67'

98

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

78'

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

91

Duván Zapata

Attacker

57'

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

67'

Substitutes

1

Alex Meret

Goalkeeper

14

Nikita Contini

Goalkeeper

31

Sam Beukema

Defender

23

Giovane

Attacker

23

Giovane Nascimento

Attacker

99

Frank Anguissa

Midfielder

46'

3

Miguel Gutiérrez

Defender

69'

11

Kevin De Bruyne

Midfielder

79'

30

Pasquale Mazzocchi

Defender

84'

9

Romelu Lukaku

Attacker

84'

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

25

Niels Nkounkou

Defender

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

19

Ché Adams

Attacker

57'

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

57'

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

67'

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

67'

14

Tino Anjorin

Midfielder

78'

{rsn-live-v2}

Lois Openda’s difficult debut season at Juventus has taken another unusual turn, with the Belgian striker sharing images on social media of himself undergoing an extensive cupping therapy session, covered from head to toe in the traditional Chinese medicine cups in a photo that, as Tuttosport put it, looked more like a torture scene than a recovery treatment.

While athletes occasionally use cupping to aid muscle recovery, the sheer extent of Openda’s session left supporters and observers genuinely taken aback.

It is a striking image of a player trying everything to turn his fortunes around, and the numbers make clear just how badly that turnaround is needed.

Openda struggles as Juventus could seek to cash in early

Juventus signed Openda for €40.6 million on a compulsory purchase obligation after an initial €3.3 million loan, with gross annual wages of €7.4 million running until 2030.

The total outlay makes for uncomfortable reading when set against his output.

Across all competitions, 23 Serie A appearances totalling 684 minutes, plus two Coppa Italia and eight Champions League outings, the former RB Leipzig striker has scored just one goal, against Roma in a 2-1 win on 20 December.

The arithmetic, as Tuttosport calculates, is brutal.

His total cost works out at approximately €51,661 per minute played across all competitions. Restricting the calculation to Serie A alone, the figure rises to a staggering €75,000 per minute when factoring in both transfer fee and wages.

Juventus will face enormous difficulty recouping anything close to their investment should they choose to move him on this summer, and with the club already planning significant attacking reinforcements, Openda’s time in Turin looks increasingly limited.

Lautaro Martinez has opened up on his ambitions, his love for Inter’s supporters, and the personal difficulties he has overcome during a wide-ranging virtual Q&A with fans organised by theresidency.io.

The Argentine striker was characteristically direct when asked about his ultimate footballing dream, and it is one that has so far eluded him despite an already decorated career.

“Winning the World Cup is the most important thing in football,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb. “But the dream I still want to achieve is winning the Champions League.”

Inter captain Lautaro Martínez reflects on career so far

Lautaro also reflected on his remarkable goalscoring record for the club, having recently climbed to third in Inter’s all-time scoring charts.

“I never imagined reaching this,” he admitted.

“But with work and sacrifice, everything is achievable. Inter is passion. Wearing the captain’s armband for the first time was an indescribable emotion, just like every goal I score at San Siro.”

The Argentine was particularly warm when discussing the Nerazzurri faithful, who have embraced him unconditionally since his arrival from Racing Club.

“From the very first day I felt loved by the people here,” he said. “I feel proud of that.” He also acknowledged that his journey has not always been straightforward, citing personal difficulties alongside physical setbacks, including a metatarsal injury during his time at Racing and an ankle problem sustained during the World Cup triumph with Argentina, as moments that have shaped his character.

Currently sidelined with a muscular injury, Lautaro will be eager to return to full fitness and continue writing his name into Inter’s history books.

Napoli welcome back two long-absent midfielders for Friday evening’s home clash with Torino, with both Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Zambo Anguissa named in Antonio Conte’s squad after months on the sidelines, although neither will start.

The Belgian and the Cameroonian, out since 25 October and 11 November respectively, are included purely as bench options, with Conte managing their returns carefully, as per La Repubblica.

A shortened preparation week due to the Friday fixture meant the training match he typically uses to sharpen recovering players could not take place.

Lobotka injured as De Bruyne & Zambo Anguissa return for Napoli

The positive news is tempered considerably by fresh midfield casualties.

Stanislav Lobotka has joined Scott McTominay on the treatment table with a muscular complaint sustained after the Verona win, meaning all four of Conte’s preferred central midfielders are simultaneously unavailable for the first time this season.

Rrahmani, Di Lorenzo and David Neres remain longer-term absentees.

Billy Gilmour and Eljif Elmas will start in midfield, with Romelu Lukaku among the substitutes alongside De Bruyne and Anguissa. Up front, a youthful attacking trio of Antonio Vergara, Rasmus Højlund and Alisson Santos will lead the line.

Napoli remain unbeaten at home in Serie A this season, and with 50,000 fans expected, plus the added subplot of Giovanni Simeone returning as opposition, the atmosphere should be suitably charged. Three points are essential for Napoli’s Champions League ambitions, and Conte will be determined to make home advantage count.

Cesc Fabregas has dismissed any suggestion that Como’s 0-0 draw with Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg represented a missed opportunity, insisting his side performed well enough to have won the tie, and that the second leg in seven weeks’ time remains very much alive.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Serie A clash with Cagliari, the Como head coach was characteristically detailed and passionate in his defence of his side’s display against the league leaders.

“Was it a missed opportunity? Sincerely, no,” he said, with quotes via CalcioMercato.

“We had three great chances to score, including Nico Paz, and they barely threatened our goal. I would like to know how many times in recent years Inter have managed just 0.07 expected goals.”

Fabregas proud of Como performance against Inter

Fabregas was equally pointed in pushing back against any criticism of his tactical approach in the closing stages, when Como sat deep rather than chasing a winner.

“If we had gone all-out and conceded a late goal, I would not have slept,” he said.

“We controlled Inter very well. For anyone used to watching teams do that against Inter, well, good for you.”

His only genuine regret was a lack of quality in the final third, with Valle and Vojvoda both failing to convert when well-placed.

“It was not attitude or tactics, it was quality in the last moment,” he conceded. “But after 40 years, we go to Milan in seven weeks to play for a final. Is it impossible? Nothing is impossible.”

The broader context is equally remarkable. Fabregas also reflected on an extraordinary run of fixtures, nine wins, four draws and two defeats across a gruelling 63-day stretch in which Como played every four days. Only the defeat to Fiorentina, he argued, was deserved.

Saturday’s visit of Cagliari offers a chance to maintain the momentum, and Fabregas is expecting another tight affair against a well-organised side.

“I know Pisacane very well, he is doing a tremendous job,” he said. “We want to play our game and bring home three points.”

Radja Nainggolan has never been short of an opinion, and the former Roma midfielder was in characteristically outspoken form in a wide-ranging interview with Sportium.fun, taking aim at Juventus, the VAR system, and even Paul Pogba along the way.

The Belgian, who resisted several opportunities to join Juventus during his career, explained his reluctance in the most Nainggolan way imaginable.

“I used to play Football Manager and I never picked the strongest team,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“When a club like Roma wins the title, it is a celebration for twenty years. At Juventus you have to win it every year, it is a completely different feeling.”

Nainggolan on Juventus referee bias and VAR

He then ventured into more controversial territory, citing what he described as personal experience of referee bias at the Allianz Stadium.

“When they inaugurated the Juventus Stadium, I played there with Cagliari and we drew 1-1 thanks to a non-existent penalty given to Juventus,” he said.

“Then I arrived at Roma, first game at the same stadium, we lost 3-2 with two penalties that were given outside the box. Everyone saw it. It is the truth, only not everyone can bring themselves to say it.”

On VAR, Nainggolan’s verdict was equally blunt.

“Football should be like it used to be,” he said. “If mistakes are still being made with VAR, then it is right to remove it and just let referees make errors naturally. Real football is something else.”

Perhaps most eyebrow-raising was his assessment of his midfield contemporaries. “In my era in Serie A, only Vidal and De Rossi were as strong as me,” he claimed. “Pogba? I was better than him, he only had three good years in his entire career.”

Now contemplating his next move, Nainggolan revealed he is considering taking his coaching badges. “Looking at what is out there,” he said with typical modesty, “I think I could do it.”

Juan Cuadrado faces one of the most emotionally charged fixtures of his season on Saturday, when Pisa travel to the Allianz Stadium to face Juventus, the club where the Colombian winger spent eight defining seasons of his career.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, via IlBianconero, Cuadrado was warm and reflective about his time in Turin, while making clear that sentiment will not get in the way of his desire to help Pisa take something from the game.

“It will be a beautiful match, full of emotions, against a club like Juventus who helped me grow as a professional and as a man,” he said.

“It will be a special evening. But it is a difficult match and we want to play well and take points.”

Cuadrado ‘feeling much better now’ ahead of Juventus return

Cuadrado also addressed the injury that has kept him away from the club in recent weeks, revealing he had travelled abroad to receive specialist treatment, a decision made jointly with Pisa’s medical staff.

“I am much better now and trying to give my best for the team,” he said, adding that he had remained close to his teammates throughout the difficult period. “I have always had the team in my head.”

On the match itself, the 37-year-old was candid about Pisa’s approach, urging his side to go to Turin with freedom and confidence. “Many of our players have never played in that stadium,” he said.

“We must go there with responsibility but also without fear, and try to shoot, like Aebischer did against Sassuolo.”

As for his future beyond this season, Cuadrado was deliberately vague, though his affection for Pisa was evident.

“I feel good here, I love the passion of the supporters,” he said. “But it is not yet the moment to make decisions.”

Sunday’s Milan derby carries enormous weight at both ends of the table, but Inter will be without their captain as Lautaro Martinez continues his recovery from the muscular injury sustained during the Champions League playoff first leg against Bodo/Glimt on 18 February.

Inter’s official medical bulletin confirmed the Argentine suffered a soleus muscle problem in his left leg, and he has not featured since.

The most optimistic scenario points to a return for the Serie A trip to Fiorentina on 22 March, meaning he would also miss next week’s Inter-Atalanta fixture.

Should his recovery take longer, the earliest he could feature is the Inter-Roma clash on 4 April, according to Goal.

His availability for Argentina’s Finalissima against Spain on 27 March also remains uncertain and will depend entirely on his progress in the coming weeks.

Dumfries returns to Inter XI for Milan derby

There is, however, a significant positive for Cristian Chivu ahead of the derby, via IlMilanista.

Denzel Dumfries is back in contention for a starting role after four months on the sidelines, and the Inter head coach is seriously considering handing the Dutchman his first start since returning from injury.

Luis Henrique’s performances on the right flank have been inconsistent, and with no reinforcements arriving in January, Chivu had been managing the situation carefully while waiting for Dumfries to regain full fitness.

That patience now appears ready to be rewarded, with the former PSV man set to reclaim his place as the undisputed first choice on Inter’s right side for one of the season’s most important fixtures.

Adrien Rabiot has established himself as one of Milan’s most important players this season, and in a wide-ranging interview with Rivista Undici, the French midfielder opened up on life at San Siro, his admiration for Luka Modric, and his personal ambitions in the red and black half of Milan.

The former Juventus and PSG man arrived at Milan following a difficult end to his time at Marseille, but has wasted little time in making his mark.

His mental resilience, he says, has always been his greatest asset, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“Not everything can go the right way, sometimes negative things happen, but it is precisely in those moments that you learn and grow stronger,” he said. “Self-belief has always been part of my character, and with time and experience it has grown. That is something I want to transmit here at Milan.”

Rabiot: ‘Modric’s stamina surprised me!’

It is Modric, though, who has perhaps impressed Rabiot most since his arrival.

The Croatian legend, now 40, continues to defy the laws of time, and his new teammate have noticed.

“His quality we already knew,” Rabiot said. “What surprised me was his ability to run for ninety minutes, up and down, at forty years old. That is not something you take for granted, he has an extraordinary physique.”

He also highlighted the importance of leadership figures in the dressing room, naming Maignan and recent arrival Fullkrug alongside Modric as players who set the tone for the group.

On Allegri’s influence, Rabiot was equally warm. “With him there is the ambition to do well, to give everything, to train at one hundred percent and to play every match as if it were the last.”

He also credited the manager for creating a calm, focused environment, one in which younger players are thriving.

“He gives tranquillity to the group, he lets us do things properly, without rush, without nerves. The attitude of the younger players is impeccable, and that is also down to the manager.”

Rabiot’s personal goals are characteristically ambitious. He wants to leave his mark on every club he represents, something he achieved at PSG and Juventus, and Milan is next on that list.

“I want to write my name in the history of this club,” he said plainly, before adding that the World Cup remains the ultimate prize. “Winning it is the most beautiful objective in a footballer’s career.”

Lazio president Claudio Lotito’s latest phone call with a supporter went viral on social media on the eve of Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Atalanta, and his comments will have done little to ease tensions at a club already under considerable strain.

The tie ended 2-2, leaving everything to play for in the second leg.

Lotito spent ten minutes in a heated conversation that touched on everything from his coach’s squad management to a pointed swipe at former manager Marco Baroni.

On Sarri, the president was barely concealed in his frustration, with quotes courtesy of Tuttosport.

“The club has a name and a surname: Claudio Lotito. It doesn’t belong to Sarri. If he wants it, he can buy it,” he said.

“A manager must take the players available and make them play, if he’s a good coach.”

Lazio president Lotito: ‘Sarri must use his players’

He then rattled off a list of grievances.

Taty Castellanos, sold for €30 million, was barely used. Guendouzi, played out of position in a back three, grew so frustrated he forced his way out.

Noslin and Belahyane were blocked from leaving, yet neither features regularly.

“If you can’t create the right chemistry in the dressing room,” Lotito warned, “people end up telling you where to go.”

Baroni, Sarri’s predecessor, also came in for criticism, with Lotito describing him as “that idiot” and blaming him for last season’s Europa League elimination by Bodo/Glimt, claiming he had instructed the injured Castellanos to take a decisive penalty.

With the second leg still to come and Sarri’s position at the club increasingly precarious, the fallout from Lotito’s latest outburst looks set to rumble on for some time yet.