Como came back from a goal down to defeat 10-man Roma at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia this evening, with a 2-1 victory seeing the hosts leapfrog Juventus into fourth place in Serie A.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Como attacking midfielder Martin Baturina, for his impressive work rate, chance creation and brightness on the ball.

Como 2-1 Roma – Player Ratings

Como: Butez 6; Ramon 6.5, Diego Carlos 7, Kempf 6 (Douvikas 7); Smolcic 6.5, Sergi Roberto 5 (Diao 7), Da Cunha 7, Valle 6.5; Caqueret 5.5 (Perrone 6), Baturina 7.5; Nico Paz 5.5 (Rodriguez N/A)

Best Como player: Martin Baturina – Despite not finding the back of the net himself, the Croatian created six chances, more than anyone else on the pitch, and was a constant menace – especially when the visitors went down to 10 men.

Lowest Como rating: Sergi Roberto – Playing in midfield once again, the Spaniard had a rough day today before being replaced by Diao as Fabregas switched his strategy up at half-time. Really struggled to have any impact on the game in his 45 minutes on the pitch.

Coach: Cesc Fabregas 7.5 – Helped in part by Wesley’s red card, the coach masterminded an impressive comeback, with Douvikas being subbed on to score and Diao coming on to greatly improve the team’s danger going forward.

Roma: Svilar 6; Ghilardi 5.5, Mancini 6, Hermoso 5 (Ziolkowski 6); Celik 6 (Tsimikas 5.5), Cristante 5.5, Kone 5.5, Wesley 5.5; Pellegrini 6.5 (Pisilli 6), El Shaarawy 6.5 (Rensch 5.5); Malen 6.5 (Vaz 6)

Best Roma player: Stephan El Shaarawy – Impressive performance tonight from the 33-year-old, who continued to prove he is not getting lazier with age. A hard working performance from the Italian, who won the penalty early on to give Roma the lead.

Lowest Roma rating: Kostas Tsimikas/Wesley – Not entirely sure who was worse. Wesley was perhaps unlucky to pick up two yellow cards but ultimately it was his fault the team lost. Tsimikas, meanwhile, was brought on for an injured Zeki Celik with twenty minutes left and put in another disastrous cameo.

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini 5.5 – His substitutes offered very little when he needed them most. The coach was let down by Wesley’s sending off but his side were being outplayed, even in the first half with the teams at eleven apiece.

The 2026 Finalissima between Argentina and Spain has been cancelled, with the Argentine Football Association confirming that a proposed alternative venue in Italy was rejected by UEFA following the original host city of Doha becoming untenable due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

AFA president Claudio Tapia explained that Argentina had pushed for the match to be moved to Italy and played on 31 March, but UEFA deemed the rescheduling unfeasible.

“We could have played it in Italy, but UEFA did not accept the proposal to change the date,” Tapia said, via FCInterNews.

“We always maintained that the match should be played on neutral ground and the proposal of Madrid did not respect that principle. The Italy option was presented, but we had requested a postponement to 31 March. UEFA considered the move unworkable and the match was cancelled.”

The proposed alternate location was Milan’s San Siro, which would’ve marked a special homecoming for Inter Captain Lautaro Martinez.

Inter relief as no pressure for Lautaro to star in Finalissima after UEFA snub San Siro

The decision therefore has a notable knock-on effect for Inter, aside from San Siro being rejected as a possible location.

Captain Lautaro Martinez had been pushing to accelerate his recovery from injury with the Finalissima in mind, but with that incentive now removed, Inter can take a more measured approach to his rehabilitation without the pressure of an international fixture looming.

According to Sky Sport, the club are relieved to have more breathing room and are unwilling to take any risks with their captain ahead of the season’s crucial final weeks.

Whether Lautaro will be fit for Inter’s trip to Fiorentina remains to be seen, with further assessment expected in the coming days.

Ciro Immobile has revealed that AC Milan made a serious attempt to sign him during his peak years at Lazio, with the Italian striker admitting it was no easy decision to turn them down, even if his heart ultimately made the choice for him.

The former Lazio captain, who joined Paris FC on a free transfer in January after spending the first half of the season with Bologna, spoke exclusively to MilanNews.it ahead of tonight’s Lazio-Milan clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

“It is true, there was interest, even when Gattuso was the manager,” Immobile confirmed.

“But that was a strong Lazio side, at the same level as Milan at the time. It was a decision made with the heart, because it is difficult to say no to a club of that importance. Would I have liked it? Well, who wouldn’t?” he laughed. “But at that moment I was happy at Lazio.”

Lazio vs Milan – Immobile: ‘Lazio can cause problems for anyone’

On tonight’s fixture, Immobile was enthusiastic, predicting a lively atmosphere with supporters returning to the Olimpico in full voice.

“I know how much the fans love the club, I will watch it very willingly if I can,” he said. “Lazio can cause problems for anyone, especially with the crowd behind them. They are well organised and well coached.”

Asked about his fondest memories of facing Milan, Immobile singled out two figures who left a lasting impression. “Donnarumma and Ibrahimovic, in terms of personality and making themselves felt on the pitch, it was those two.”

Tonight’s match kicks off at 19:45 GMT (20:45 local time) and you can follow all the action, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

Bologna claimed a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over Sassuolo in the Emilian derby, with Thijs Dallinga’s early goal securing all three points, but the celebrations were tempered significantly by a series of injury concerns that threaten to undermine their preparations for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Roma.

The most alarming moment came late in the match when goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski went down in clear distress after an aerial challenge outside his box.

With Vincenzo Italiano having already used all his substitutions, Skorupski was forced to play on despite what appeared to be a muscular problem, reportedly affecting his left hamstring, according to CalcioMercato.

Bologna keeper Skorupski injured in win over Sassuolo

He completed the match but was visibly emotional at the final whistle, breaking down in tears beneath the away end, scenes that did little to ease growing anxiety about his availability for Thursday’s decisive clash.

Should Skorupski be ruled out, Italiano will be forced to turn to either Ravaglia or young backup Pessina for one of the biggest matches in the club’s recent history.

Neither represents a straightforward replacement for a goalkeeper of Skorupski’s experience and quality at this level.

Moro and De Silvestri also picked up injuries during the contest, adding further selection headaches for a coaching staff already working with a depleted squad, although the latter is absent from the Europa League squad anyway.

Bologna head into the second leg level at 1-1 on aggregate, giving them every reason to believe they can progress, but the medical room will be every bit as important as the tactics board between now and Thursday evening.

Juventus ground out a crucial 1-0 victory at Udinese to move into fourth place in Serie A, with Jeremie Boga’s winning goal, his third in consecutive matches, proving the difference in a hard-fought contest that tested the Bianconeri’s resolve throughout.

Boga was the toast of the travelling support and spoke to Sky Sport afterwards with the relaxed confidence of a man in the form of his life.

Asked whether he had ever scored in three consecutive games before, the former Sassuolo and Nice winger laughed off the question.

“I don’t know, I don’t think so,” he said with a grin, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

Udinese 0-1 Juventus – Boga credits Spalletti & Yildiz for good form

He credited Luciano Spalletti’s hands-on approach in training for his recent run of form. “He always speaks to me and asks me to improve. I work hard and my teammates have welcomed me brilliantly, I want to give 100% every match.”

Boga also reflected on a career that has not always followed a smooth trajectory.

“I had problems with consistency, but at Atalanta and Nice I learned a lot and grew as a player. Now I am happy to be here at Juventus and I hope to continue like this.”

His admiration for strike partner Kenan Yildiz was equally heartfelt.

“For me it is wonderful to play with someone of his quality. He is a player I watch and learn from, people like him make me love football.”

Yildiz, meanwhile, was characteristically humble despite reaching the remarkable milestone of ten goals and ten assists for the season. “It is good, but everything is for the team,” the Turkish forward said.

“I have not set myself personal targets other than to keep doing more for the squad, the rest takes care of itself.” He did acknowledge, however, that his development this season has been significant.

“I think I have grown a lot mentally. I am happy with the path I am on, and I believe I can do even more.”

Three points that matter enormously, and two players who are finding their best form at exactly the right time for the Bianconeri’s Champions League aims.

Riccardo Calafiori and Gianluigi Donnarumma were the two Italians in action in today’s Premier League action, with both playing a vital role in the ongoing title race.

Sandro Tonali missed Newcastle United’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, after he was taken ill in the run-up to the game.

Calafiori shines for Arsenal as Gunners close in on Premier League

Calafiori started at left-back for Arsenal today as they hosted Everton at the Emirates Stadium, after Ecuadorian Piero Hincapie was given a rest by head coach Mikel Arteta.

In the 17th minute, Everton fashioned a good chance to break the deadlock but Calafiori made a fantastic block to deny the Toffees the lead in London.

Arsenal went on to win the game 2-0, opening up their gap at the head of the league table.

Later in the day, Manchester City travelled to the capital to face relegation battlers West Ham. Gianluigi Donnarumma started in goal for Pep Guardiola’s team, but conceded the Irons’ only shot in the entire match.

So as Calafiori works hard to keep Arsenal’s advantage, Donnarumma had a quiet night – with one painful sting in the tail.

Juventus battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Udinese on Saturday evening, with a first half goal from Jeremie Boga all that separated the two sides.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Boga, for his vital goal that continues his good start to life in Bianconeri.

Udinese 0-1 Juventus – Player Ratings

Udinese: Okoye 6.5; Ehizibue 6, Kabasele 5.5, Kristensen 6; Zarraga 5 (Mlacic N/A), Ekkelenkamp 5.5 (Miller 6), Karlstrom 5.5 (Piotrowski N/A), Atta 5.5, Kamara 6 (Arizala 6); Zaniolo 5, Davis 6

Best Udinese player: Maduka Okoye – Made six saves tonight to keep his team in the game and cannot be faulted too much for Boba’s goal. Looked very competent and prevented the scoreline from being a lot worse.

Lowest Udinese rating: Nicolo Zaniolo – Uncharacteristically poor compared to his typical performances for Udinese this season, struggling to have much involvement at all beyond a yellow card.

Coach: Kosta Runjaic 6 – Would have preferred, obviously, to come away with a result but will not be too disheartened with his team’s performance against a side with much more financial pull than themselves.

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

Best Juventus player: Jeremie Boga – Once again finding the back of the net, bringing him two goals off Jonathan David’s Serie A tally for the season, the Ivorian is proving to be an excellent winter addition. Created a number of good chances for his teammates too.

Lowest Juventus rating: Khephren Thuram – Had a difficult first half before having to come off early in the second period due to a knock. Was not involved a whole lot when he was on the pitch but he wasn’t atrocious.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 6.5 – Will be happy with his team’s performance, and less so with the scoreline. Spalletti’s tactics overwhelmed the opposition but poor finishing of chances meant the match was a lot closer than the Italian coach may have liked.

Maurizio Sarri held his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Milan, and the Lazio head coach was in candid and thoughtful mood, touching on tactical concerns, injury news, and even offering a wry observation about what he might envy in his opposite number Massimiliano Allegri.

The return of supporters to the Stadio Olimpico after a period of reduced attendance was a clear source of motivation for Sarri, who rarely hides his affection for the Lazio faithful.

“Both myself and the players are all happy to play in front of our people and a full stadium,” he said, with quotes via LaLazioSiamoNoi.

“It is a strong motivation for us.”

He also revealed he intends to visit the Curva Nord before the match, something he typically avoids out of respect for his players, after supporters extended a personal invitation.

“The fact that they want to greet me means a lot. I think tomorrow I will go.”

Lazio coach Sarri anticipates Milan threat

On the tactical challenge posed by Milan, Sarri was typically precise in his assessment.

“Milan have well-defined characteristics, they hurt you even when they don’t seem in control of the game. Great technical and physical quality, devastating acceleration. We cannot give them open space.”

He then delivered a counterintuitive but sharp observation that will resonate with anyone who has watched Lazio struggle in transition.

“When you play Milan, the most dangerous moment is when we have the ball.”

Set pieces have become a structural problem for Lazio, and Sarri was honest about why. “Without Vecino and Guendouzi, dead balls are now a real issue,” he said. “Having to change formation also means changing the positioning of players at set pieces, none of that makes things easier.”

In terms of injured players, Alessio Romagnoli remains a doubt and will be assessed on Sunday morning, while Patric and Taylor have both been trialled in training as Sarri looks to finalise his options.

Asked what he might envy about Allegri, the Lazio coach allowed himself a smile. “Allegri manages the club with the highest revenue in Italy, they can afford important players. You envy some things, but that is part of the game. What does he envy about me? Ask him,” he laughed.

On his own future, Sarri was measured. He acknowledged that several players are out of contract at the end of the season and that another transitional summer may be coming. “I have a contract. If the club is not happy or if I am not happy, we will speak. But today there is no discussion.”

The sense, reading between the lines, is of a coach who remains committed but is watching closely to see how the club intends to rebuild.

Napoli dug deep to claim a hard-fought comeback victory over Lecce, and the mood in the dressing room afterwards was one of relief mixed with genuine satisfaction, particularly for Matteo Politano, who finally ended a long personal drought with a goal and an assist in the same game.

“I am so happy, I finally scored that blessed goal that had been escaping me for ages,” Politano told DAZN, via IlNapolista.

“A fantastic, perfect day. We won a difficult game and Conte told us at half-time to stay calm, that one goal would put things right. He knew our strength.”

The experienced winger was equally keen to credit the returning players for changing the game, pointing to the broader squad depth as a key factor in Napoli’s continued push for Champions League football.

Napoli 2-1 Lecce – Hojlund ‘happy’ to find shooting boots

Rasmus Højlund was another man in fine fettle after rediscovering his scoring touch.

“I am happy to have found my goal again and to help the team,” the Danish striker said.

“Players like McTominay, De Bruyne and Politano stimulate us a lot, the squad needs players like them.” He also singled out Politano specifically, noting that the winger has assists running through his veins.

Captain for the evening Alex Meret was more measured in his assessment, offering an honest appraisal of a first half that left plenty to be desired.

“We did not play well in the first half, too many misplaced passes and we gave away dangerous counter-attacks,” he said.

“In the second half we were more aggressive and the goal gave us the momentum we needed.”

Wearing the armband was a source of enormous pride for the goalkeeper, who also spoke of his ambitions to be part of Italy’s World Cup squad. He did flag one area of concern, however, aerial balls and set-pieces.

“The matches are decided there now. We need to be more focused and concede fewer goals.”

Brazilian forward Alisson Santos rounded off the reaction with a neat insight into his goalscoring philosophy.

“I always try to finish at the near post, I believe it puts the goalkeeper in more difficulty,” he said simply. “The most important thing is that Napoli won.”

Andriy Shevchenko paid a surprise visit to Milanello on Thursday morning, dropping in on Massimiliano Allegri’s squad as part of his trip to Milan for the World Legends Padel Tour 2026, and the Ukrainian icon left with his faith in the club firmly renewed.

Speaking to Sky Sport after his visit, with quotes via MilanNews, Shevchenko made no attempt to hide the emotion of returning to a place so central to his career.

“It was beautiful, I felt something in my stomach,” he said. “I haven’t been here in four or five years. It was wonderful to see the team and Allegri, I also visited the youth academy and saw Tassotti. Seeing Milan win makes me feel good.”

Shevchenko: ‘Allegri makes me believe Milan can do it’

It was Allegri who left the strongest impression on the former striker.

“I found him energised, cheerful and positive, he genuinely makes me believe Milan can do it,” Shevchenko said. “The team is functioning well and they must keep putting pressure on Inter.”

Shevchenko also had warm words for Luka Modric, describing a brief exchange in which the Croatian veteran expressed his happiness at the club.

“He has always impressed me with his humility, he is a real leader,” he said. “I asked him how he had settled in Milan and he told me he was happy and that the Milan fans are special. And that is true.”

On Rafael Leao, Shevchenko was measured and honest.

The Portuguese forward has been deployed in a role that does not entirely suit his natural instincts, and Shevchenko acknowledged the challenge.

“He has been very willing to respond to the manager’s requests and has played some good matches,” he said. “But it will take time to know if the role truly fits him.”

Roberto D’Aversa’s Torino continued their encouraging revival under the new coach with a convincing home win over Parma, ending their opponents’ five-game unbeaten run and closing to within a point of them in the Serie A table in the process.

Torino made the perfect start when Giovanni Simeone pounced on a rebound inside the box to slot home in just the third minute, giving the hosts exactly the platform they needed at the Olimpico Grande Torino.

Parma responded well, however, and levelled matters on 20 minutes through Mateo Pellegrino, who met a delightful Gabriel Strefezza cross with a precise header inside the right post to restore parity.

Torino put Parma to the sword in exciting second half

The second half was where the match turned decisively in Torino’s favour, and in the most dramatic and unlikely fashion.

Within the space of two minutes, Parma gifted their hosts a two-goal cushion through a pair of own goals, although the first was later awarded to Emirhan Ilkhan.

First Enrico Delprato put through his own net on 55 minutes, after a deflected effort from Ilkhan.

Then Mandela Keita compounded Parma’s misery two minutes later to make it 3-1. It was a devastating spell for Carlos Cuesta’s side, undoing everything they had worked hard to build.

Parma pushed for a way back into the match in the closing stages but found Torino resolute, with goalkeeper Alberto Paleari working hard to prevent any comeback.

Then, in stoppage time, the hosts extended their lead to 4-1 thanks to a well-taken goal by experienced forward Duvan Zapata.

The result lifts Torino to 13th in the table, now just a single point behind Parma in 12th. D’Aversa’s side are building momentum at exactly the right time, with the two sides now inextricably linked in what promises to be a tense battle to pull clear of the relegation picture.

13-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 29

Olympic Grande Torino Stadium

Torino

Parma

4 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Giovanni Simeone		3'
		20'		Mateo Pellegrino (Assist: Gabriel Strefezza)

2nd half

Emirhan Ilkhan		54'
Mandela Keita		56'
		59'		Christian Ordoñez
		59'		Enrico Delprato
		77'		Gabriel Strefezza
Sandro Kulenovic		85'
Duván Zapata (Assist: Sandro Kulenovic)		90+1'

Match statistic

50

Possession %

50

15

Total shots

6

6

Shots on target

3

7

Shots off target

2

2

Blocked shots

1

2

Corners

7

4

Offsides

3

17

Fouls

13

Torino

Parma

Starting lineups

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

44

Ardian Ismajli

Defender

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

90'

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

76'

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

90'

19

Ché Adams

Attacker

61'

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

77'

31

Zion Suzuki

Goalkeeper

39

Alessandro Circati

Defender

14

Emanuele Valeri

Defender

15

Enrico Delprato

Defender

37

Mariano Troilo

Defender

62'

25

Benja Cremaschi

Midfielder

11'

24

Christian Ordoñez

Midfielder

63'

16

Mandela Keita

Midfielder

63'

22

Oliver Sörensen

Midfielder

7

Gabriel Strefezza

Attacker

9

Mateo Pellegrino

Attacker

Substitutes

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

25

Niels Nkounkou

Defender

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

91

Duván Zapata

Attacker

61'

98

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

76'

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

77'

14

Tino Anjorin

Midfielder

90'

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

90'

41

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia

Midfielder

66

Filippo Rinaldi

Goalkeeper

40

Edoardo Corvi

Goalkeeper

3

Abdoulaye Ndiaye

Defender

23

Nesta Elphege

Attacker

63

Marlon Mena Martinez

Defender

5

Lautaro Valenti

Defender

62'

8

Nahuel Estévez

Midfielder

63'

21

Gaetano Oristanio

Midfielder

63'

17

Jacob Ondrejka

Attacker

78'

27

Sascha Britschgi

Defender

Alessandro Bastoni is set to miss Inter’s Serie A clash with Atalanta after failing to fully recover from the knock he sustained during Sunday’s Milan derby, when the defender was forced off after a foul on Adrien Rabiot.

According to Sky Sport, via FCInter1908, Bastoni has remained in the squad’s training retreat and will be assessed on Friday, but the expectation is that he will not start, and may not even make the bench.

Carlos Augusto is set to deputise on the left of Inter’s back three in his absence.

The situation also has a knock-on effect on Cristian Chivu’s other defensive decisions.

Inter vs Atalanta – Chivu weighs defensive dilemma with Bastoni struggling

Should Francesco Acerbi be passed fit to start, Chivu would likely shift Manuel Akanji to the right centre-back role, with Yann Bisseck dropping to the bench as a result.

Elsewhere, there are two other selection battles to resolve.

In midfield, Petar Sucic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are competing for a starting berth, while on the right flank Denzel Dumfries faces competition from Luis Henrique.

Despite Dumfries being fit again following his lengthy injury absence, Chivu may opt to ease him back gradually rather than throwing him straight into a fixture of this magnitude, a cautious but understandable approach given the Dutchman has been sidelined for months.

Milan are pushing ahead with plans to extend Fikayo Tomori’s contract, with transfer expert Matteo Moretto reporting that talks between the club and the England international’s camp are well advanced, though a formal agreement has not yet been reached.

Discussions first opened as far back as August or September, with reports via MilanNews24, and despite Tomori’s current deal not expiring until 2027, Milan are eager to reward one of their defensive cornerstones and ward off interest from the Premier League.

The defender himself is said to be fully committed to remaining in Milan, a city he has settled into comfortably since joining from Chelsea.

Milan director Tare driving Tomori renewal talks

Sporting director Igli Tare has been driving the negotiations, identifying Tomori as a central pillar around whom the club’s defensive future should be built.

Massimiliano Allegri is equally keen to retain him, with the former Chelsea man considered the ideal fit for the head coach’s system, intelligent, rapid in recovery and a reliable presence at the back.

Further meetings are required to finalise bonus structures and contractual clauses before any deal can be formally signed. The broad optimism from both sides, however, suggests this is a matter of when rather than if.

For a Milan side still challenging on multiple fronts, tying down one of their most consistent performers would represent an important piece of business completed well ahead of schedule.

Fiorentina could be without key striker Moise Kean for a crucial Serie A clash against Cremonese on Monday evening.

The Viola are preparing for a high-stakes relegation battle at the Stadio Zini, pitting the third-bottom side against the team just above them. A victory would allow Fiorentina to open a four-point cushion above the drop zone, making the fixture potentially decisive for the closing stretch of their turbulent season.

The Tuscan side approach the match after their comeback victory over Rakow Czestochowa in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, but domestic concerns now take priority as they look to secure vital league points.

Fiorentina hoping for Kean return in Cremonese clash

Head coach Paolo Vanoli is hoping to welcome Kean back into the squad, although the striker’s availability remains uncertain. The former Juventus forward has not played since March 2, when he was forced off in the 71st minute during Fiorentina’s defeat to Udinese.

Since then, Kean has missed the following Serie A match against Parma Calcio 1913 as well as the European fixture with Rakow due to a tibia issue.

Reports from Goal indicate the striker has still not returned to full group training and has continued to work individually in recent days. Fiorentina’s medical staff will monitor his progress closely over the coming days in the hope he can recover in time for the trip to Cremona.

Given the importance of the match, there is also the possibility Kean could be included even if he is not at full fitness, though a final decision will likely come closer to kick-off.

Roberto D’Aversa confirmed Che Adams will start tonight’s Serie A clash with Parma, explaining that the Scottish forward’s technical qualities make him the ideal choice against a side renowned for their defensive organisation.

“Parma concede very little, against a team that defends so well, we need to exploit Adams’ technical qualities,” D’Aversa told Sky Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb, ahead of the 20:45 (local time) kick-off at the Olimpico Grande Torino.

In a colourful pre-match address, D’Aversa drew an unlikely but compelling parallel between his side’s required mentality and that of Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner.

“Sinner is an example of mental strength and hard work,” he said.

“Tonight we must also take to the pitch with the will to get a result, but also to be patient and stay lucid for 95 minutes.”

Torino vs Parma – D’Aversa identifies Pellegrino threat

It is the kind of motivational thinking that has characterised D’Aversa’s management style since taking charge, and his players have responded well, losing just once so far.

When asked about the threat posed by Parma striker Mateo Pellegrino, one of the most dangerous aerial threats in the division from set-pieces, D’Aversa acknowledged that corners represent Torino’s most vulnerable area.

“In terms of goals conceded from dead balls overall, we are around the average,” he said. “But the data on corners is more concerning. In every match we work on the details to limit the qualities of our opponents.”

With safety still not mathematically secured, every point matters, and D’Aversa will be hoping Adams and the Sinner mentality deliver the goods on Friday night.

Torino host Parma at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino this evening, as both sides look for valuable point in their race to guarantee Serie A survival.

Torino head into the game with one win and one defeat so far under Roberto D’Aversa, with an impressive 2-0 win over Lazio followed last weekend by a 2-1 defeat to champions Napoli.

The Turin side sit in 15th place, six points above 18th placed Cremonese, who have been in diabolical form as of late and slipped into the relegation zone following Fiorentina’s upturn in form.

Parma, meanwhile, are in a really good spot of form under Carlos Cuesta, who has earned plaudits for recent results that sees the Gialloblu five games unbeaten – including impressive wins against division heavyweights Milan and Bologna.

As a result, Cuesta’s side have climbed the table and sit in 12th place – yet just four points above tonight’s opposition – making it a really vital game to not lose for the visitors.

Torino vs Parma – Official Lineups

Torino: Paleari; Coco, Ismajili, Ebosse; Pedersen, Ilkhan, Gineitis, Obrador; Adams, Vlasic; Simeone

Parma: Suzuki; Delprato, Troilo, Circati; Cremaschi, Ordonez, Keita, Sorensen, Valeri; Strefezza; Pellegrino

13-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 29

Olympic Grande Torino Stadium

Torino

Parma

4 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Giovanni Simeone		3'
		20'		Mateo Pellegrino (Assist: Gabriel Strefezza)

2nd half

Emirhan Ilkhan		54'
Mandela Keita		56'
		59'		Christian Ordoñez
		59'		Enrico Delprato
		77'		Gabriel Strefezza
Sandro Kulenovic		85'
Duván Zapata (Assist: Sandro Kulenovic)		90+1'

Match statistic

50

Possession %

50

15

Total shots

6

6

Shots on target

3

7

Shots off target

2

2

Blocked shots

1

2

Corners

7

4

Offsides

3

17

Fouls

13

Torino

Parma

Starting lineups

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

44

Ardian Ismajli

Defender

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

90'

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

76'

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

90'

19

Ché Adams

Attacker

61'

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

77'

31

Zion Suzuki

Goalkeeper

39

Alessandro Circati

Defender

14

Emanuele Valeri

Defender

15

Enrico Delprato

Defender

37

Mariano Troilo

Defender

62'

25

Benja Cremaschi

Midfielder

11'

24

Christian Ordoñez

Midfielder

63'

16

Mandela Keita

Midfielder

63'

22

Oliver Sörensen

Midfielder

7

Gabriel Strefezza

Attacker

9

Mateo Pellegrino

Attacker

Substitutes

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

25

Niels Nkounkou

Defender

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

91

Duván Zapata

Attacker

61'

98

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

76'

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

77'

14

Tino Anjorin

Midfielder

90'

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

90'

41

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia

Midfielder

66

Filippo Rinaldi

Goalkeeper

40

Edoardo Corvi

Goalkeeper

3

Abdoulaye Ndiaye

Defender

23

Nesta Elphege

Attacker

63

Marlon Mena Martinez

Defender

5

Lautaro Valenti

Defender

62'

8

Nahuel Estévez

Midfielder

63'

21

Gaetano Oristanio

Midfielder

63'

17

Jacob Ondrejka

Attacker

78'

27

Sascha Britschgi

Defender

Cesc Fabregas held his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s crucial Serie A clash with Roma, and the Como head coach was in characteristically thoughtful and candid mood, touching on tactical philosophy, squad selection and the remarkable position his side find themselves in with ten games remaining.

Como head into the weekend sitting fourth in Serie A, and the significance of that is not lost on anyone, except, apparently, Fabregas himself.

When asked whether he thinks about his side’s Champions League position, his response was characteristically grounded, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“If we get there, great, if we don’t, we continue to build. I would get angry if my players talked about Champions League right now. Not because of the subject itself, but because it’s not the moment. If it doesn’t happen, what are we, failures?”

Fabregas: ‘Roma improved more than anyone in January’

On Roma, Fabregas was respectful but confident.

“They had an extraordinary transfer window, they have raised their level more than anyone. We need the perfect game,” he said.

“Like when we won at Napoli or against Juventus. We must play our way, and then the pitch will speak.”

He dismissed the suggestion that the match was a must-win, describing it simply as “one more important game” rather than a defining moment.

Tactically, Fabregas offered an interesting insight into how he views Nico Paz‘s development.

Asked about potentially deploying the Argentine in a deeper midfield role, the Como coach was firm.

“Not yet. He is a trequartista, instinctive. In a deep role you need a specific way of reading the game, of analysing situations. That is not Nico yet. He is not Perrone or Baturina.”

He was equally direct when asked about Sergi Roberto potentially replacing the injured Perrone, using an unexpected reference point to make his point.

“You think Guardiola’s Manchester City always build from the back? They don’t. Sometimes the opponent presses you, sometimes you don’t have a Busquets or a Piqué. When a coach doesn’t trust his first phase, you must work hard and build that trust instead.”

Perrone himself trained individually and is expected to rejoin the group on Saturday, with his availability for Sunday still to be confirmed.

Italian football’s hopes of securing a fifth Champions League place next season remain alive, just, but the path to achieving it is narrow and dependent on a sequence of results that is far from straightforward.

The basis for qualification is UEFA’s in-season coefficient ranking, which determines whether a fifth club from a given nation earns an additional Champions League spot, as noted by the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Italy currently sit fourth in that table, behind England, Spain and Germany, with Portugal close behind.

The encouraging news is that this week’s European results, despite Atalanta’s heavy defeat to Bayern Munich, actually allowed Italy to close the gap slightly on those above them and extend their lead over Portugal.

The updated standings make for slightly more optimistic reading than they did 24 hours ago.

Serie A clubs face uphill battle for 5th Champions League spot

The bad news, however, is more structural.

Of the four Serie A clubs still active in European competition, realistically only two are likely to progress to the next round.

Atalanta face a near-impossible task overturning a 6-1 deficit against Bayern, while the Bologna-Roma Europa League tie guarantees that one Italian club will be eliminated regardless of the result. Fiorentina’s Conference League progression looks the most straightforward following their 2-1 win over Rakow.

The real battle is with Spain, whose clubs, including Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, are in strong positions across the Champions League and Europa League.

Germany’s picture is more complicated, offering Italy a slightly more realistic target to chase.

The true picture will become clear in seven days’ time, when the round of sixteen concludes. For now, the fifth spot remains a long shot, but not yet an impossibility.

Roberto Mancini has been forced to temporarily stand down as Al-Sadd head coach after being unable to return to Qatar due to the ongoing regional conflict that has resulted in a flight ban over the country.

The former Italy and Manchester City manager had been given permission to leave Qatar last week for a family medical matter, with his departure pre-arranged in coordination with the club’s management ahead of their AFC Champions League Elite first leg.

However, the deteriorating situation in the Gulf region has since grounded flights into the country, leaving Mancini stranded and unable to fulfil his coaching duties.

Al-Sadd confirm temporary Mancini change due to airspace restrictions

Al-Sadd confirmed the news in an official statement on social media, announcing that assistant coach Sergio Alegre will take charge of the team for tomorrow’s match against Umm Salal.

The club added that they are working to facilitate Mancini’s return at the earliest available opportunity.

The Italian has been in charge of Al-Sadd since November, having previously managed the Saudi Arabia national team following his controversial departure from the Italy job in 2023. The situation remains fluid and entirely dependent on developments in the wider regional conflict.

Vincenzo Italiano was in upbeat mood after Bologna held Roma to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League round of 16 first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, insisting the tie remains very much alive and praising his side’s attitude throughout a performance that reminded him of their best football earlier in the season.

Federico Bernardeschi was the standout figure for the hosts, opening the scoring with a fine goal and causing Roma problems throughout. “He played a great match, you could see it from the very first minute when he made that burst down the right,” Italiano said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“He scored a beautiful goal and could have hurt them on other occasions too, but Svilar pulled off a miracle save.”

Bologna 1-1 Roma – Italiano: ‘We had more chances than them’

Lorenzo Pellegrini’s equaliser threatened to knock the wind from Bologna’s sails, but Italiano insisted his side remained composed and continued to create.

A Vitik effort that struck the crossbar was the closest they came to a second, and the Italian felt his team deserved more from the evening.

“We had more chances than them but were unlucky,” he said. “I was pleased with the attitude and application, I congratulated the players afterwards.”

On the tie’s prospects, Italiano was honest about the challenge awaiting at the Olimpico, though he refused to concede any ground. “I would say 51% Roma and 49% us, only because of the atmosphere they will have at home,” he said. “We wanted a more open result and a win would have given us a slight edge, but a draw is fine. We will go there and give everything.”

Italiano also took aim at the referee’s handling of N’Dicka, claiming the Roma defender consistently held and shirt-pulled Santiago Castro without punishment. “Had he been booked, Castro could have found more solutions for us,” he said pointedly.

His admiration for opposite number Gasperini, however, was genuine. “I respect him enormously for the identity he gives his teams,” he said. “It will be a pleasure to face him again.”

Gian Piero Gasperini insisted a 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of the contest after Roma were held by Bologna in the Europa League round of 16 first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, leaving the tie perfectly poised ahead of next week’s return at the Olimpico.

It was a physical, demanding evening for the visitors, with Bologna’s intensity and the atmospheric backdrop of a packed Dall’Ara making life uncomfortable for a youthful Roma side.

Gasperini acknowledged as much after the final whistle, though he was broadly satisfied with what his team produced in difficult circumstances.

“It was a match where they put a lot into the physical side, a bit like at Genoa,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“We adapted well, created dangerous situations in the first half, though we were slightly under them at times and the stadium played its part too.”

Federico Bernardeschi’s role caused Roma some problems, though Gasperini was reluctant to single it out as the defining factor.

“Bernardeschi always plays in that zone, he did excellent things and Bologna have strong players,” he said. “The result is probably fair because we also had plenty of dangerous chances.”

Roma coach Gasperini looks forward to second leg against Bologna

On Roma’s equaliser, Gasperini dismissed any suggestion of elaborate planning.

“It was not a set piece we had specifically worked on,” he said, before offering a broader observation about the nature of modern football.

“Second balls have become decisive, the pressing forces you to play long, and you end up playing this rugby-football. I think it is partly a seasonal thing, as temperatures change and games open up, you tend to see more technical football.”

With the second leg to come at the Olimpico, Gasperini is confident the dynamic will shift in Roma’s favour.

“At our stadium it will be decisive, and both teams can play a different game,” he said.

“The home crowd will not allow this kind of approach, we will need to build something more on the technical side.”

He was also quick to defend his players’ attitude, pushing back on any criticism. “The courage and desire were not lacking, we created four or five chances. There was a quality opponent in front of us and Roma’s performance was absolutely not negative.”

Bologna drew 1-1 with Roma this evening in their Europa League Round of 16 first leg, with goals in the second half from Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Rossoblu goalscorer Bernardeschi, for his well-taken strike, chance creation and work tracking back defensively.

Bologna 1-1 Roma – Player Ratings

Bologna: Skorupski 6; Mario 6 (Zortea N/A), Casale 6 (Vitik N/A), Lucumi 7, Miranda 6.5 (Lykogiannis N/A); Ferguson 6.5, Freuler 6, Pobega 6.5; Bernardeschi 7.5, Castro 5.5 (Dallinga N/A), Rowe 7 (Cambiaghi 6)

Best Bologna player: Federico Bernardeschi – Was both a threat offensively, shown with his goal and plenty of chances created, and defensively, tracking back and working hard to support his defence. Showed a lot of leadership today.

Lowest Bologna rating: Santiago Castro – Never really found his groove, didn’t manage a single shot and was much less effective than his supporting forwards.

Coach: Vincenzo Italiano 7 – Can’t really be faulted in what was a very close game – and one where his Bologna side were probably the better of the two teams on the night. His substitutions added little, however.

Roma: Svilar 6.5; Celik 6 (Hermoso 6), N’Dicka 6.5, Ghilardi 7; Rensch 6.5 (Tsimikas 5.5), El Aynaoui 6 (Pellegrini 7.5), Pisilli 6, Wesley 6; Cristante 6.5; Malen 6.5, Zaragoza 6 (Vaz 6)

Best Roma player: Lorenzo Pellegrini – Came off the bench to score the equaliser, helping to secure a vital draw on the road in this first leg, putting the team in a good position for the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lowest Roma rating: Kostas Tsimikas – Unlike Pellegrini, Tsimikas came off the bench to once again disappoint. He has never really found momentum with the Roman side, and hardly had any involvement in his 35 minutes on the pitch.

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini 6.5 – Made some good adjustments after Bologna scored and was rewarded with Pellegrini’s goal. However, Roma were arguably the worse of the two sides tonight and Gasperini will not be entirely pleased with his squad.

Riccardo Calafiori’s future at Arsenal is in doubt, with Chelsea reportedly monitoring the Italy international’s situation as the defender grows increasingly frustrated with his lack of regular first-team football at the Emirates.

The former Bologna man has found himself marginalised since returning from a muscle injury in late January, with Piero Hincapie having established himself as Mikel Arteta’s preferred left-sided centre-back.

Hincapie’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen is set to become permanent for around £40 million this summer, effectively pushing Calafiori further down the pecking order, and when Arteta has deployed the Italian, it has largely been at left-back rather than his preferred central defensive role.

Chelsea keen on Calafiori after limited Arsenal role

According to journalist Si Phillips, who specialises in Chelsea coverage, via TeamTalk, Liam Rosenior’s side are ready to move if any opportunity presents itself, describing the potential transfer as “not as impossible as you might expect.”

Calafiori, it is claimed, is eager for both regular football and a return to playing in his natural position.

Any deal would be far from straightforward. Arsenal paid €44 million to sign Calafiori from Bologna and would demand considerably more from a direct London rival, particularly given his age, his contract running until 2029, and his established Premier League pedigree.

For Italy fans, however, ensuring one of the Azzurri’s most promising defenders is playing regularly ahead of the World Cup will feel like the most pressing concern of all.

Milan are set to open contract talks with Francesco Camarda this summer, with the striker’s 18th birthday earlier this month unlocking the possibility of a long-term deal that could secure one of Italian football’s most coveted young talents for the foreseeable future.

The Rossoneri are keen to extend Camarda’s current deal, according to MilanNews24, which runs until 2028, into a five-year contract, a move that would send a clear message about his place in the club’s plans while fending off the foreign clubs that have taken a keen interest in his progress.

Camarda at Milan crossroads as young forward focuses on recovery

Whether he is ready to challenge for a place in Allegri’s first-team plans, however, remains another question entirely.

His loan spell at Lecce has been a sobering introduction to senior football, physically demanding and occasionally difficult, with just one goal in 17 appearances before a shoulder operation in January ended his season prematurely.

He is expected to return to fitness before the campaign ends.

The most likely outcome this summer is another loan, with Milan content to follow the blueprint successfully applied to Pio Esposito, gradual, pressure-free development in the Serie A environment before the inevitable step up to San Siro.