Ibrahimovic, Lukaku Rematch As Milan Rivals Clash

By Daily sports on February 20, 2021

AC Milan and city rivals Inter renew their duel for top spot in Serie A on Sunday in a third clash this season between star strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku as champions Juventus play catch-up.

Antonio Conte’s Inter went top after Lukaku scored twice in a 3-1 win over Lazio, one point ahead of Milan who dropped to second after losing to Spezia last weekend.

Juventus will be looking for a boost against rock bottom Crotone after following their Napoli defeat with a Champions League last 16, first leg loss at Porto.

Inter have the advantage of being fresher having been eliminated early from European action.

AC Milan return to Italy after conceding a late goal in a 2-2 draw at Red Star Belgrade in the Europa league, a game in which midfielder Ismael Bennacer was injured.

“Against Spezia it was not the real AC Milan. The important thing is to turn the page,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli.

It will be the third derby this season with Milan winning the first 2-1 in the league.

Inter won a fiery Italian Cup quarter-final by the same scoreline, a game overshadowed by Ibrahimovic and Lukaku squaring off and trading insults, with the Swede later sent off.

Inter have won five of their last six meetings.

But AC Milan can win both league games against Inter for the first time since 2010-11, when they went on to lift their most recent Serie A title.

Roma, seven points adrift of Inter in third place, can benefit from the Milan duel to close the gap, with the capital side travelling to 15th-placed Benevento, after a 2-0 Europa League win at Sporting Braga.

Juventus, in fourth, one point behind Roma, should take all three points against Crotone on Monday, despite being held by the side from Calabria in their last two meetings.

However, the Turin giants have an injury crisis with Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Arthur, Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata all uncertain.

Champions League rivals Atalanta and Napoli go head-to-head on Sunday before the Bergamo side host Real Madrid in this year’s elite European tournament.

Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli lost their Europa League tie at Granada and also have a long injury list with Dries Mertens, Kostas Manolas, Hirving Lozano and Elseid Hysaj, while Kalidou Koulibaly and Faouzi Ghoulam have to receive the all-clear from coronavirus.

Lazio, seventh equal on points with Napoli and Atalanta, host Sampdoria, who they lost to 3-0 earlier this season.

But the Romans are the form side in 2021 with 19 points from eight games, more than any other team in Serie A.

On Friday, relegation rivals Cagliari and Torino clash with the Sardinians chasing a first win since November 7.

Crotone will be looking to new Algerian recruit Adam Ounas to score against Juventus. The 24-year-old got off the mark in his first game against Sassuolo last weekend after the Napoli loanee spent the first half of the season at Cagliari. Crotone have scored just 23 goals in 22 games this campaign, with 52 goals conceded. (AFP)

•PHOTO: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku squared up against each other in the last clash between Inter Milan and AC Milan

Source Daily sports

Posted February 20, 2021


 

You may also like...
FIFA Postpones Women’s Under-17 World Cup To 2021...

Footballer admits to assaulting girlfriend

Nigeria In An Impressive Performance In 2nd African...

Wenger reveals secret of Ozil’s success

Griezmann rescues Atletico Madrid from defeat

Top Seed Medvedev Follows Osaka Out Of Miami...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,386 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,393 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,544 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,214 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (41,999 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,877 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,760 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,218 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,267 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,179 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,627 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,205 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media