MILAN, Italy: Dusan Vlahovic shot Juventus temporarily top of Serie A on Saturday as the Serbia striker scored twice in a convincing 3-1 win over Lazio.
Goals in each half from Vlahovic and another in the 26th minute from strike partner Federico Chiesa at the Allianz Stadium pushed Juve a point ahead of both Milan clubs before the derby which kicks off later.
Inter Milan and AC Milan are both on a perfect nine points heading into their clash for local bragging rights, one behind Juve.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve will concede top spot regardless of the result at the San Siro but the coach will be encouraged by what he saw in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Turin.
“Last season was very difficult but despite all that we did OK,” said Vlahovic of the previous campaign in which Juve were docked 10 points for illicit transfer activity.
“Now we are more fired up and have a point to prove... our aim is to be in the top four and we will do everything we can to make it happen.”
Allegri has paired Vlahovic and Italy star Chiesa up front this season and the attacking duo have hit it off, combining for seven goals in unbeaten Juve’s opening four matches.
Vlahovic has scored four times after a tumultuous summer dominated by rumors that he might be sold and replaced by Romelu Lukaku, now on loan from Chelsea at Roma.
Chiesa, who missed Italy’s two recent Euro 2024 qualifiers with a muscle problem, has started the domestic season in great form after struggling with injuries in recent years.
“We’re really good friends, we’ve known each other a long time,” added Vlahovic of Chiesa, with whom he also played at Fiorentina.
“We’re really happy to have him fit and healthy.”
Lazio, who scored through a beautiful 64th-minute Luis Alberto curler, just before Vlahovic netted his second, are 15th following their third defeat of the season.
Juve’s win was a positive end to a difficult week in which star midfielder Paul Pogba was suspended for a doping violation and Leonardo Bonucci announced legal action against his former club.
Italian anti-doping authority NADO said Monday that Pogba showed elevated levels of testosterone in tests after Juve’s season opener at Udinese.
World Cup winner Pogba, who risks a four-year ban, was questioned in a Paris court on Friday alongside five acquaintances and childhood friends suspected of trying to extort 13 million euros from him.
Bonucci claimed on Wednesday that Juve violated professional football’s collective bargaining agreement by sidelining him over the summer before he moved to Union Berlin in Germany at the end of the transfer window.
Champions Napoli are at Genoa in Saturday’s late match, trying to get back on track after falling to home defeat at the hands of Lazio last time out.
Vlahovic double fires Juve top ahead of Milan derby
https://arab.news/9gst6
Vlahovic double fires Juve top ahead of Milan derby
- Inter Milan and AC Milan are both on a perfect nine points heading into their clash for local bragging rights, one behind Juve
- Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve will concede top spot regardless of the result at the San Siro
Man City beats Newcastle 3-1 to advance to English League Cup final
- Both City and Arsenal are still in contention for a clean sweep of trophies this season
MANCHESTER, England: It’s Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the English League Cup final.
The current top two in the Premier League will go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium next month after City beat Newcastle 3-1 on Wednesday to complete a 5-1 win on aggregate in the semifinals.
Both City and Arsenal are still in contention for a clean sweep of trophies this season. The League Cup is the chance to lift the first piece of major silverware this term and to potentially inflict a psychological blow in the race for the title.
“We’re here to win trophies and we give our best every day to reach these finals and win the silverware,” City forward Omar Marmoush — who scored two goals on the night — told Sky Sports.
Arsenal currently leads the standings by six points ahead of second-place City. Both teams are through to the round of 16 in the Champions League and and fourth round of the FA Cup.
The League Cup final is on March 22.
“It’s a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe, maybe the world,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “As much (as) we (can) play against them, it will make us a better, better team.”
Two first-half goals from Marmoush at the Etihad effectively finished off Newcastle in a semifinal where City led 2-0 from the first leg. Tijjani Reijnders added another before the break.
Newcastle scored a consolation through substitute Anthony Elanga and prevented what looked like being a rout after the first 45 minutes.
Arsenal booked its place in the final with a 1-0 win against Chelsea on Tuesday to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.
A growing rivalry
The final will continue the recent rivalry between the clubs, which has seen City beat Arsenal to the title in 2023 and ‘24. On both occasions Arsenal had led the way before being overhauled.
Mikel Arteta’s team is ahead again this season and aiming to win the title for the first time since 2004.
The League Cup would be Arteta’s first major trophy since his debut season as Arsenal manager when he won the FA Cup in 2020.
He was formerly Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City and victory in the final would see him finally beat his former colleague to a major trophy.
Guardiola, meanwhile, will get the chance to win a 16th major trophy since taking over at City in 2016 and his fifth League Cup.
City is looking to win it for the ninth time and move within one of Liverpool’s record haul of 10 in the competition.
Arsenal has won the trophy twice — most recently in 1993.
This year’s final will be a repeat of 2018, when Arteta was part of Guardiola’s coaching team as City triumphed.
Marmoush double
Marmoush bundled in City’s opener in the seventh minute when Dan Burn’s tackle rebounded off the Egypt international and into the net.
His second came from another defensive error in the 29th when Kieran Trippier’s attempted clearance looped up for Marmoush to head in from close range.
Reijnders drove home the third from inside the box three minutes later.
Elanga’s goal came in the 62nd and Newcastle had chances to score more.
