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Serie A

Roma, Inter Eye Key Stars Return Ahead Of Sunday’s Big Showdown

BET ODDS: 8 Teams With Over 1.5 Prediction This weekend

Ahead of this weekend’s top clash at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma and Inter could each regain a pivotal player, as Paulo Dybala and Nicolò Barella are both nearing their return to action.

Both sides had a bumpy start to the season, so it will be interesting to see who will prevail on Sunday.

As is often the case, Dybala has been dealing with a muscular problem that saw him remain on the bench during the 2-1 victory over Venezia before skipping the trip to Monza just before the international break.

But according to Sky Sport Italia via La Voce Giallorossa, the 30-year-old will rejoin his teammates in group training starting Tuesday morning. Therefore, the Argentine should be available for selection by Sunday, which will be a major boost for the already-under-fire Ivan Juric.

Coincidentally, Sky Sport (via FcInterNews) also reports Barella’s return to full training on Tuesday. The Italian skipped Inter’s last two Serie A victories over Udinese and Torino, but he should be ready and raring to go for Sunday’s showdown in Rome.

The source believes the 27-year-old will be pushing for a starting spot, even if Simone Inzaghi is spoiled for choices in the middle of the park.

While the impact of the two stars’ expected returns could cancel one another since each side will recover the services of a main protagonist, the true winner in the whole equation would be the neutral fan, as we’re talking about two of the most technically gifted players in Serie A. Their presence would certainly add a different flavor to what should be a captivating encounter in the Eternal City.

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Serie A

How Samuel Chukwueze Became AC Milan ‘New god’

How Samuel Chukwueze Became AC Milan 'New god'

Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze scored a dramatic late winner as AC Milan defeated Parma 3-2 at the San Siro, etching their name in Serie A history, according to Soccernet.ng.

Milan endured a challenging evening, falling behind twice to a resilient Parma side. However, the hosts displayed immense character to secure all three points in an enthralling encounter.

Christian Pulisic ended his nine-game Serie A goal drought by converting from the penalty spot to cancel out Parma’s opener.

But with the visitors leading 2-1 heading into the second minute of injury time, Tijjani Reijnders produced a composed close-range finish to restore parity.

Then, in the fourth minute of added time, Chukwueze was in the right place at the back post to bundle home the decisive goal, sparking wild celebrations at the San Siro.

According to Opta via Milan News, the Samuel Chukwueze-inspired victory is the first time in Serie A history that Milan won a match by scoring two goals after the 90th minute.

For Chukwueze, the moment could prove pivotal in earning a bigger role under new manager Sérgio Conceição.

The Super Eagles winger, who only recently recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in December, was making his first appearance under the Portuguese tactician.

Chukwueze’s last outing for Milan was on December 29 in a 1-1 draw with AS Roma, during Paulo Fonseca’s final game in charge before being replaced by Conceição.

Since then, Milan have defeated Juventus, Inter Milan in the Super Cup, and featured in clashes against Cagliari, Como, Juventus (again) and Girona in the Champions League — all without Chukwueze.

The Nigerian international now boasts two goals in 18 Serie A appearances this season, surpassing the single goal he managed in 24 league games last term.

Samuel Chukwueze opened his account on October 19, netting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Udinese. He also starred in the Coppa Italia, scoring twice in Milan’s 6-1 demolition of Sassuolo in December.

Milan will next face city rivals Inter on February 2, with Chukwueze hoping to build on his impactful return and help secure another memorable result.

 

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Serie A

“Nobody can stop you” – Ex-Atalanta midfielder reveals Lookman’s biggest strength

FULL LIST: Lookman, Troost-Ekong Join Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland, Vinicius On 2024 FIFA Best Player Nominees Roster

Former Atalanta midfielder Massimo Donati believes Ademola Lookman’s remarkable transformation lies in the forward’s newfound understanding of his abilities, Soccernet.ng reports.

After different underwhelming spells in England and Germany, Lookman arrived in Italy in 2022 to join Atalanta from RB Leipzig in a deal slightly less than €10 million.

The Nigerian international has been nothing short of sensational for Atalanta, helping himself to back-to-back Player of the Season awards at the club.

Atalanta are the current Europa League champions, with Lookman playing a key part in that triumph by netting a sensational hat-trick in the final match against Bayer Leverkusen.

The former Everton and Fulham star has carried his excellent form into the 2024/25 season to inspire Atalanta to the top of the Italian Serie A table.

Following Lookman’s contributions to Atalanta, the Super Eagles forward was on Monday named the new Africa Footballer of the Year.

And former Celtic Glasgow midfielder Donati has hailed Lookman’s transformation, insisting the winger’s strength is in his awareness of his abilities.

“Lookman is an incredible player,” Donati told Gazzetta as per Football-Italia.

“The biggest improvement he’s made is to gain awareness of his strengths. Once you realise that, nobody can stop you.”

Lookman is expected to be benched as the Atalanta Serie A table leaders face Cesena in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 today.

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Serie A

Who Is Michael Kayode? The New Italian Golden Boy

Who Is Michael Kayode? The New Italian Golden Boy

Fiorentina fullback Michael Kayode has been named the Best Italian Talent at the 2024 Golden Boy Awards, a recognition of his stellar season with the Serie A club.

The 20-year-old, born in Bergamo to Nigerian parents, has had a remarkable journey in football. Starting his youth career at Juventus, Kayode spent seven years at the academy before moving on in 2018.

In 2021, he joined Fiorentina after a stint in Serie D and quickly made his mark in their youth setup. His contributions helped the team win the Coppa Italia Primavera and the Supercoppa Italiana Primavera.

Kayode’s big break came in August 2023 when he made his Serie A debut in Fiorentina’s 4–1 victory over Genoa. By the season’s end, he had established himself as a vital part of the first team, featuring prominently in Serie A and during Fiorentina’s run to the UEFA Conference League final.

Internationally, Kayode has been equally impressive. A key figure in Italy’s youth squads, he played a vital role in the UEFA European U-19 Championship final in July 2023, leading Italy to victory over Portugal. He further solidified his rising profile with his U-21 debut on 17 October 2023, helping Italy secure a 2–0 win against Norway in Bolzano.

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Michael Olabode Kayode is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Serie A club Fiorentina. He was born in Italy, Kayode is of Nigerian descent.

The son of Yoruba parents started his youth career at Juventus, where he remained for seven years until 2018. He played the 2020–21 season with Serie D club Gozzano, with which he scored two goals and two assists in 34 matches, and gained promotion to Serie C.

 

 

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