FOOTBALL
Serie A: Inter pip Lazio
Alessandro Bastoni emerged as Inter’s knight in shining armour in the Nerazzurri’s 2-1 win over Lazio.
The result extended the reigning champions’ winning run in Serie A to eight matches and helped them leapfrog Milan in the league table with a game in hand.
The match could have gone either way, however, as both teams wasted several good scoring opportunities.
Simone Inzaghi faced his old club Lazio for the second time after taking up the baton for Inter.
The 48-year-old was hoping for better luck this time around as their visit to Stadio Olimpico last year resulted in a 3-1 defeat, which happens to be their only loss in the current Serie A campaign.
Inter had to leave out Hakan Calhanoglu, who was serving a one match suspension, and Edin Dzeko, who is recovering from COVID, but they started the match strong regardless.
Inter dominate
Ivan Peresic sent a warning shot early in the match as the Croatian’s header sailed narrowly over the Biancocelesti crossbar.
In the 17th minute, Lautaro Martinez found the back of the net, but the Argentine timed his run a bit too early as he latched onto a beautifully weighted Alexis Sanchez pass.
The linesman duly lifted his flag for offside.
Martinez might have already started to feel like it was not his day since he was brilliantly denied by Thomas Strakosha only a few minutes ago.
Inter did manage to pick the lock of the Lazio defence through a corner later on, as the ball fell to a prowling Alessandro Bastoni after initial clearance.
Bastoni launched a 30-yard screamer that flew into the top corner of the Lazio net.
Defensive mistake helps Lazio
Inter have only themselves to blame for losing that lead as a defensive mix-up allowed the visitors a route back into the game.
Danilo Cataldi exhibited great foresight as he lobbed the ball over the Inter defence targeting an on-rushing Ciro Immobile. Immobile effortlessly shrugged off the resistance of De Vrij and Milan Skriniar to find Samir Handanovic alone at the Inter goal.
Handanovic had no other option but to leave his lines, but he helplessly saw Immobile drifting past him and sending the ball into an inviting, unguarded net.
It was Immobile’s 15th Serie A strike, which brought him alongside the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah.
Only these three forwards have scored at least 15 goals across the top five European leagues in each of the last six seasons.
Immobile’s goal was a massive boost for the visiting side, and they came close to scoring again when Pedro challenged Handanovic on a one-on-one encounter, but the Slovenian’s reliable hands kept the scoreline unchanged.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who said in his post-match interview that Lazio deserved more from this match, missed a glorious chance to put his team ahead seven minutes after the restart.
He failed to apply a fitting finishing to an excellent Felipe Anderson cross and missed an open net.
Relentless Inter press for second
Inter were also active in the search for a second goal.
Alexis Sanchez tested Strakosha with a superb free-kick.
Strakosha also denied Dumfries from close range before Luiz Felipe prevented Iven Perisic’s rebound attempt from crossing the goal line.
The decisive goal came in the 67th minute and Bastoni was involved again.
The defender floated a magnificent cross into the Lazio territory and Skriniar met it with an equally convincing header to restore Inter’s lead.
FOOTBALL
WATCH: Georgina Rodriguez makes huge claim on Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement in Football
Georgina Rodriguez made a huge claim on the future of her husband and star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Football. In a brief interaction with a host recently, Rodriguez was asked about the time left for Cristiano to make an impact at the highest level. Georgina looked honest in her approach to the question of the host and claimed something the fans would not love to hear.
Georgina claimed that the Portugal star has maybe one year more from him at the highest level. She felt that Ronaldo might play two more years before retiring and not more than that. She was however not sure if he would play for just one or two years and added that the Al Nassr star could also play more than that.
Watch the video of Georgina Rodriguez here –
🚨🎙️| Georgina Rodriguez on Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Paris Fashion Week yesterday:
“Cristiano one more year, then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know.”
(via @ArobaseGiovanny)pic.twitter.com/4dxw2j5DuC
— Pubity Sport (@pubitysport) March 3, 2024
“Cristiano one more year, then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know,” said Rodriguez in the little chat she had with the host. The video has gone viral on X and the fans have started sharing it on different platforms. Some of the fans feel that Georgina might be right, while others feel that she could be wrong, given the fitness and longevity of the star player.
Legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo
On the 5th of February, Ronaldo celebrated his 39th birthday. He is currently one of the oldest players in the world. In the past, players at this age would have retired way back. But the fitness and consistency of Ronaldo make him play the sport as long as he wishes. In his career so far, Ronaldo has won many major leagues for Portugal and league teams like Real Madrid, Al Nassr, and Manchester United.
With United, Portugal won some major leagues like the FA Cup and the Champions League. With Real Madrid, the 39-year-old won the leagues like the UCL, Copa Del Rey and La Liga. He won it three consecutive times for Real Madrid. For Portugal, Cristiano had a huge contribution to Portugal. He has the most number of appearances and goals for an international team and won the Euro 2016 with Portugal.
FOOTBALL
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham slapped with Red Card as he argued with referee
England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham was slapped with a Red Card during the La Liga game against Valencia. In the game, the home team, Valencia was leading by 2-0 after 30 minutes before Madrid scored in the injury time of the first half. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Madrid while Hugo Duro (27′) and Roman Yaremchuk (30′) scored a goal each.
In the 76th minute, Junior scored an equalizer to keep the team in the game. However, in the injury time of the second half, Bellingham was given a red card as he argued with the referee against calling it a full-time before he could score. In reply, the match official decided to slap the England international with a Red Card. The team coach Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t happy with the verdict as the Three Lions player was making a pass at the time.
Jude Bellingham verbally abusing officials and other footballers at the slightest provocation needs to be talked about more. It’s embarrassing he gets applauded by Real Madrid Fans.
Mason Greenwood should’ve allowed La Liga to deal with this simp. pic.twitter.com/ixYSw6YxaC
— Herman Facundo© (@hermanfacundo_7) March 3, 2024
“I think what’s just happened is unprecedented. It’s never happened to me,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“We had possession of the ball and the match should have been finished when Valencia had the ball.
“What bothers us is the red card for Bellingham because he didn’t say anything insulting. He was frustrated of course,” said Ancelotti, adding that Bellingham had used a common English swearword when telling the referee it was a goal.
We are annoyed with Jude Bellingham’s Red Card: Carlo Ancelotti
“We were annoyed with Bellingham’s red card. He didn’t say any insults. He said in English ‘it’s a f—ing goal,’ but he was just saying what we were all thinking … [The referee] allowed play to continue. I think he made a mistake.”
“[Bellingham] was clear in what he said,” Ancelotti added. “He was quite vehement [in his reaction] but that’s normal, after what happened. It wasn’t an insult, not at all.”
FOOTBALL
PL 2023-24: MCFC vs MUFC Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI, Fantasy League Today’s Captain, Vice-Captain, and more for Manchester derby
Super Sunday is set to witness the Manchester Derby in the Premier League 2023-24. The match between Manchester City (MCFC) and Manchester United (MUFC) is set to take place in Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City. The two teams have had a contrasting journey in the league till now. The fortunes of City changed ever since Pep Guardiola took over the club as the manager.
While the home side are placed in the second position in the points table currently, United are in the sixth place in the points table. In their previous encounter, City hammered Luton Town by 6-2 in the FA Cup. United have shown massive improvements in the last few weeks after not having a good start to their campaign. United were involved in a thrilling game where they beat Nottingham Forrest by 1-0 in their last game.
Both teams feature some of the best players in the world. The likes of Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford, Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and others would be taking part in the match. Manchester City will start the match as the favourites, given their record in the ongoing league so far and the match taking place in their home. United with their improved record can challenge the home side.
MCFC vs MUFC – Match Details
Match – Manchester City (MCFC) vs Manchester United (MUFC), Premier League 2023-24
Venue – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Date and Time – 3rd March 2024, 21:00 IST
Live Coverage – Star Sports Network and Disney plus Hot Star
MCFC vs MUFC – Head-to-Head
Both the teams from Manchester have a rich history in the sport. they have been up against each other in 191 instances. In as many games, Manchester United have been historically the better side with 78 wins to their name. City have managed to win 60 wins, as 53 games ended in a draw. In the last five games between the two sides in the Premier League, City have won four of the five games.
MCFC vs MUFC – Likely XI
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Akanji, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Alvarez, Haaland, Foden
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat, Casemiro, Manioo, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho
MCFC vs MUFC – Fantasy XI
Grand League Team
Goal Keeper – E Moraes
Defenders – M Akanji, K Walker, H Maguire
Mid Fielders – Kevin De Bruyne, B Fernandes, R Hernandez, Casemiro
Forwards – E Haaland (VC), J Alvarez, M Rashford (C)
Head-to-Head Team
Goal Keeper – S Ortega
Defenders – M Akanji, K Walker, R Varane
Mid Fielders – K De Bruyne (C), B Fernandes (VC), B Silva, Casemiro
Forwards – E Haaland, J Alvarez, M Rashford
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