Tag Archives: Serie A (Italy)

Inter fights back to beat Udinese 5-3 in Serie A thriller

Inter produced another remarkable comeback in Serie A, recovering from a two-goal deficit to defeat Udinese 5-3 in a chaotic eight-goal contest at San Siro.

The Nerazzurri had already overturned a 2-0 scoreline against Napoli to win 3-2 earlier in the league campaign, but their Champions League opener ended in a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid after several costly individual errors.

Cristian Chivu made changes to his lineup, handing John Stones his first start while resting Lautaro Martinez, Yann Bisseck, and Hakan Calhanoglu. Federico Dimarco was not fully fit, Djed Spence was injured, and Udinese arrived with a lengthy list of absentees.

Inter fall two goals behind Udinese

Udinese stunned Inter by taking the lead from a corner routine. Unai Gomez delivered a cross from the right after the corner was played short, allowing James Abankwah to head into the top corner from seven yards for his first Serie A goal.

Inter almost responded through Marcus Thuram, who met a Nicolò Barella pass over the top, but Maduka Okoye stopped both his header and the follow-up from close range.

The hosts were slow to react when Udinese doubled their advantage. Keinan Davis broke down the left before rolling the ball across the area, where Jurgen Ekkelenkamp was left unmarked to score from close range.

Thuram appealed for a penalty after a tussle with Christian Kabasele, but the referee rejected the claims. Inter-assistant manager Aleksandar Kolarov was subsequently sent off from the touchline for dissent.

Inter completes another Serie A comeback

Inter finally reduced the deficit when Carlos Augusto unleashed a powerful left-footed effort from 20 yards into the far bottom corner. It came only days after he had scored against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The comeback was completed in less than 10 minutes. Hassane Kamara lost possession in midfield, and Barella initially stumbled after receiving Thuram’s lay-off, but he recovered to fire an angled shot into the net.

Barella almost put Inter ahead before the interval, only for Okoye to produce an acrobatic save and tip his effort over the crossbar. Henrikh Mkhitaryan then saw his shot blocked from the resulting corner.

After the restart, Okoye again denied Mkhitaryan, this time making an excellent stop at his near post from 10 yards. Udinese were soon punished when Andy Diouf ran onto another Barella pass over the top and pulled the ball back from the by-line for Thuram to finish first time from eight yards.

For the second consecutive Serie A match, Inter had transformed a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

Inter adds two more before Udinese responds

John Stones was chasing Davis when he suffered an injury and had to leave the field. Inter then extended their advantage through a flowing passing move involving Curtis Jones and Piotr Zielinski, who combined to set up Francesco Pio Esposito for a low finish from 12 yards.

Dimarco returned from the knee injury that had kept him out of the Madrid trip and played a part in Inter’s fifth goal. He combined with Esposito and Diouf in a team move that sent Ange-Yoan Bonny through. Okoye saved the first attempt, but Bonny converted the rebound.

Aleksandar Stankovic nearly made it six when his free-kick took a deflection through the wall and clipped the outside of the post.

Udinese managed to score once more in stoppage time. Sandi Lovric’s cross was brought down by Vakoun Bayo, allowing Idrissa Gueye to slide in at the far post and make it 5-3.

Roma beat Torino 2-0 to keep perfect Serie A start

Roma maintained their 100 percent Serie A record with a 2-0 victory away to Torino, as Donyell Malen opened the scoring before Niccolò Pisilli added a late second.

The Giallorossi arrived in Turin after recovering from a goal down to defeat Atalanta 2-1, while their Champions League opener against Fenerbahce ended 1-1 in Istanbul on Thursday. Evan Ndicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné picked up knocks in that match, leading to first starts for Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina.

Torino was also dealing with several absences, with Che Adams, Cesare Casadei, Pietro Pellegri, and Franco Israel unavailable. Giovanni Simeone and Saul Coco were also not fully fit.

Malen gives Roma the lead

Malen had previously made his debut at this stadium in January 2026 and scored on that occasion. He nearly found the net again after 10 minutes, but his diving header from six yards went over following Mario Hermoso’s cross.

The Dutch forward remained a constant threat, seeing another effort deflected wide after Matias Soulé’s heavy first touch. Coco then produced a desperate clearance inside the six-yard box to prevent Malen from reaching Emanuele Lulli’s pull-back after the Roma player had worked his way between two opponents.

Malen did eventually put the ball in the net in the 22nd minute, but the goal was ruled out because he had started his run from an offside position.

Torino created opportunities of their own, with Eray Comert shooting over and Rolando Mandragora testing Mile Svilar from a distance. Paulo Dybala also came close, heading wide from 12 yards.

Torino struggles to contain Roma

Roma finally broke the deadlock after Dybala intercepted a poor Lucas Perri pass from defence and created the opening for Malen. His initial effort was blocked by Pietro Comuzzo and Perri, but Malen reacted quickly to prod the loose ball into the net from six yards.

Alessio Cacciamani entered the game after the break, having been a player Roma had attempted to sign during the summer. Lulli then threatened with an impressive volley that narrowly cleared the crossbar after combining acrobatically with Malen.

Torino came close to an equaliser when Simeone beat the offside trap onto Daniel Braganca’s pass. However, Svilar raced off his line and blocked the attempted dink with his chest.

Molina later tested Perri with a low effort after Marten de Roon won possession with a strong tackle, forcing the Torino goalkeeper to palm the shot around the post. Balerdi also made an important intervention to stop Braganca with a well-timed challenge.

Pisilli seals Roma’s victory

Roma eventually secured the points in stoppage time. Gianluca Mancini kept the ball in play near the by-line, while Dybala was blocked off during the move.

Pisilli took advantage of the opportunity and fired an angled effort into the net to make it 2-0. The midfielder immediately went down with cramp, meaning his celebration was cut short as Roma completed another Serie A victory.

Nico Paz to Arsenal: Missing piece or a luxury signing?

Arsenal are monitoring Como attacking midfielder Nico Paz ahead of a potential January 2027 move, according to reports, as Mikel Arteta’s side continue to assess ways to improve an already strong squad. The 22-year-old has emerged as one of Serie A’s most exciting young creators since leaving Real Madrid for Como.

The transfer, however, is complicated by Real Madrid. Como completed a €60 million deal for Paz this summer, but Madrid retained an €80 million buyback option that becomes active in summer 2027. That gives the Spanish club significant control over his future.

Paz’s decision to remain at Como rather than return to Madrid has already paid dividends. He has become central to Cesc Fàbregas’ project and helped Como reach the Champions League. He also produced 12 goals and six assists in Serie A last season and has started this season brightly.

Is Nico Paz actually necessary for Arsenal?

The short answer is not immediately. Arsenal already has Martin Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze competing for the advanced midfield role, while Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi, and Bruno Guimarães give Arteta considerable depth behind them. 

Ødegaard, who is also the team’s captain, has also started the season strongly, scoring several goals, including the winner against Napoli in their opening Champions League match. That makes Paz more of a strategic signing than an emergency one, in that Arsenal would be buying another elite creative profile rather than simply filling an obvious hole.

Who would Nico Paz replace?

The most logical comparison is Ødegaard, but Paz should not be viewed as his immediate replacement. Instead, he could become the long-term alternative to the Arsenal captain while also operating alongside him. Paz is naturally left-footed, comfortable between the lines, and capable of carrying the ball through pressure.

His dribbling is one of his standout qualities, and his previous Como numbers demonstrate that he can contribute goals as well as chances. That could give Arteta something Arsenal occasionally lack: a midfielder who can break a defensive structure individually rather than relying entirely on combinations.

How would Paz improve Arsenal?

Ball carrying is probably the biggest attraction of a Nico Paz presence in Arsenal’s midfield. Paz can receive in crowded areas and turn and attack space. That matters for Arsenal because opponents increasingly defend deep against them, reducing the space available for traditional transitions. His creativity could also make Arsenal less dependent on Ødegaard to connect midfield and attack.

There is another advantage: age and upside. Paz is young enough to develop inside Arteta’s system while already possessing considerable Serie A experience. His price tag, however, may be a stumbling block. Paz is exciting, but Arsenal do not need to spend €80 million simply because an outstanding young player is available.

Real Madrid’s buyback clause also means Arsenal could find themselves negotiating around Madrid rather than simply with Como. Paz is good enough. The bug question is whether he offers something sufficiently different from Ødegaard and Eze to justify a major investment.

Lazio 2-2 Milan: Moreira inspires stunning comeback draw

Diego Moreira came off the bench to score twice in two minutes as Milan fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Lazio. The Rossoneri had struggled through the first half, when Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin put the hosts in control.

Lazio had started the Serie A campaign with three consecutive victories over Bologna, Genoa, and Udinese despite their Coppa Italia elimination by Mantova. Milan, meanwhile, were still without Matteo Gabbia, while Adrien Rabiot moved into midfield in place of Yunus Musah after featuring as a trequartista in the 1-1 draw with Juventus.

Lazio and Milan set the tone early

Lazio made the stronger start at the Stadio Olimpico, where the continuing boycott of home matches meant Milan fans outnumbered the home supporters in the stands. Christos Mandas was forced to palm Samuel Chukwueze’s header off the line following a Luka Modric corner, while Matteo Cancellieri went down under pressure from Pervis Estupinan in the penalty area.

Mattia Zaccagni then escaped Chukwueze and tested Mike Maignan with a difficult one-handed save from an angle. Noslin also came close when he met a Romano Floriani Mussolini cross, but his effort went straight at the Milan goalkeeper.

The pressure eventually produced the opening goal. Nuno Tavares drove through the centre before finding Zaccagni on the left, and his low ball across the area allowed Cancellieri to slide in at the far post as Estupinan was caught out.

Lazio extends the lead before Milan responds

Zaccagni was again involved when a clever passing move and Davide Frattesi’s first-time lay-off sent him through. Maignan came quickly off his line and made a brave point-blank save with his face to deny him.

Frattesi nearly found the net himself after benefiting from a fortunate ricochet off Modric, but his effort skimmed the post. Pavlovic also headed a Chukwueze cross over the bar as Milan struggled to contain Lazio’s attacking pressure.

The hosts doubled their advantage in chaotic fashion. Kenneth Taylor sent the ball across from the left, and it struck the underside of the crossbar before a combination of Koni De Winter’s attempted clearance and Noslin’s head sent it over the line from close range.

Milan had little to celebrate before the interval, despite a deflected Ruben Loftus-Cheek effort going wide and Mario Gila directing the resulting corner straight at Mandas. Three changes were made at half-time, including the introduction of Christian Pulisic for his season debut.

Diego Moreira completes Milan’s comeback

Milan returned for the second half with greater aggression. Pavlovic headed straight at Mandas after an impressive run from Diego Moreira, while the Lazio goalkeeper then produced another strong save to keep out Pulisic’s low effort at the near post.

The changes soon paid off. Pulisic lifted a cross from the right towards Moreira, who kept his volley on target from a difficult angle at the far post to register his first Serie A goal.

Only 120 seconds later, Moreira struck again. Yunus Musah recovered possession in midfield and delivered the ball forward, with Rabiot laying it off for Moreira to fire a first-time shot from the edge of the area and bring Milan level at 2-2.

Lazio still had opportunities to reclaim the lead, with Zaccagni testing Maignan from long range. Cisse curled a solo effort wide of the far post, while Goncalo Ramos narrowly failed to connect with an Omari Hutchinson cross as the points were ultimately shared.

Lazio beat Udinese 2-1 with Frattesi and Gudmundsson goals

Lazio came from behind to beat Udinese 2-1 at the Bluenergy Stadium on Monday evening, maintaining their perfect start to the Serie A season. Summer signings Davide Frattesi and Albert Gudmundsson scored in the final 15 minutes to complete the comeback.

Udinese had looked set for victory after Jesper Karlstrom opened the scoring shortly after half-time, but Lazio responded strongly and turned the match around late on.

The first half was evenly contested, with opportunities at both ends. Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye made an excellent save to keep out Mattia Zaccagni’s free-kick, while Christos Mandas denied Keinan Davis and Hassane Kamara.

Udinese 1-2 Lazio comeback begins

Both teams were affected by injuries during the match. Udinese lost Jakub Piotrowski and Oumar Solet, while Lazio were forced to replace summer signing Andrea Pinamonti in the 53rd minute, with Tijjani Noslin coming on.

Four minutes after the restart, Karlstrom broke the deadlock. Davis found him inside the box, and the Udinese midfielder finished to put the hosts ahead.

Lazio continued to push for a response and eventually found their equaliser in the 75th minute. Zaccagni played the ball into Frattesi, who had created space inside the area before sending a first-time finish into the roof of the net.

Frattesi and Gudmundsson inspire Lazio

Frattesi was replaced by Gudmundsson five minutes after scoring, and the substitute wasted little time making an impact.

With only a minute remaining, Gudmundsson fired Lazio into the lead to complete the turnaround. His late goal secured all three points for Gennaro Gattuso’s side and preserved their 100% record at the start of the Serie A season.

The summer arrivals therefore proved decisive, with Frattesi and Gudmundsson both finding the net after Lazio had fallen behind.

Lazio maintains a perfect Serie A start

The victory completed a dramatic comeback for Lazio after Udinese had taken control following Karlstrom’s goal. Gattuso’s side showed enough attacking pressure in the closing stages to overturn the deficit.

Udinese were unable to protect their lead despite Karlstrom’s second-half opener, with Frattesi equalising before Gudmundsson struck the decisive goal in the final minute.