Football Italia Live Blog
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21:39 That’s all for the Liveblog
Milan took a while to get going, but eventually crushed Cagliari 5-1 including a Christian Pulisic brace, Tijjani Reijnders rocket and Rafael Leao run from midfield https://t.co/WMsyuomJhn #MilanCagliari #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM #USMNT
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
21:37 FT: Milan 5-1 Cagliari
Bennacer 35 (M), Pulisic 59, 86 (M), Nandez 64 (C), Reijnders 74 (M), Leao 83 (M)
21:35 Leao goal
Rafael Leao almost walked this goal in 💪 pic.twitter.com/48stVN42DE
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 11, 2024
21:30 Milan 5-1 Cagliari: Christian Pulisic!
Okafor got down the left, cross found Pulisic totally isolated in the box, Yerry Mina goal-line clearance did not come in time, as the referee’s watch buzzed.
21:29 Leao lob
Leao really should’ve scored that one too, but the lob was the wrong choice and too weak.
21:28 Milan sub
Pobega on for Bennacer.
21:26 Milan 4-1 Cagliari: Rafael Leao!
Leao does it all himself! Runs onto the Bennacer slide-rule pass, shrugs off a defender, dribbles around the goalkeeper and deposits into the empty net.
21:26 Cagliari sub
Mutandwa replaces Shomurodov.
21:25 Leao on target
No power or conviction behind that finish, straight at Scuffet.
21:23 GENERAL CHAOS
Cagliari hit the frame of the goal twice in one move! First the corner directly thumps the near post, then Shomurodov follow-up deflected onto the crossbar, then Tomori makes a desperate block.
21:22 Reijnders goal
TIJJANI REIJNDERS ALL THE WAY FROM THE NETHERLANDS 😱 pic.twitter.com/Z92GVsSbAn
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 11, 2024
21:19 Cagliari subs
Azzi, Oristanio and Lapadula on, Dossena, Sulemana and Nandez off.
21:18 Milan 3-1 Cagliari: Tijjani Reijnders!
Goodness, that was a scorcher! Corner cleared to outside the area, where Reijnders decides to simply hit a right-foot rocket into the far bottom corner!
21:17 Milan move
Rapid Milan counter-attack, again Leao starts from inside his own half, slide-rule pass for Theo, who tries to roll across for Okafor, but it’s intercepted.
21:13 Tension
Nandez and Leao get into a bit of a row…
21:13 Yerry Mina booked
Mina booked for holding back Okafor, is furious with Zappa for not covering.
21:12 Milan sub
Theo Hernandez replaces Florenzi.
21:09 Pulisic goal
BRILLIANT counter-attack from Leao and Pulisic! ⚡️
The American forward has his 1⃣4⃣th goal of the season across all competitions.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HBiPgHLxAA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2024
21:07 Milan 2-1 Cagliari: Nahitan Nandez!
Milan defence caught napping! Zappa cross from the right, Nandez is allowed to run through a Grand Canyon in the Rossoneri defence – Musah lost his man – and not much Sportiello can do on that deft finish.
21:06 Double Sportiello save!
That got a response from the crowd, a round of applause for the goalkeeper who parries first the ferocious Deiola free kick, then the follow-up too.
21:03 Milan 2-0 Cagliari: Christian Pulisic!
Assist from Rafael Leao as he goes on the counter from inside his own half, shakes off a defender, slide-rule pass releases Pulisic, who gets around Scuffet to score!
21:02 Cagliari close
On the resulting corner, Shomurodov prods wide of the near post.
21:01 Sportiello save!
That one did count! Prati daisy-cutter from outside the box, Sportiello has to get down and fingertip it round the far post for a corner!
21:00 Pulisic shot
Pulisic cuts inside from the right, shot charged down.
20:58 Sportiello save
Offside flag up anyway for Nandez before the low cross for Shomurodov and astonishing Sportiello save, but still entertaining to watch.
20:55 Game opening up
And thank goodness, so says everyone watching. Cagliari set play, Prati shot charged down, Milan then waste the counter-attack.
20:53 Leao off the bar!
Pulisic cross from the right, Leao catches Nandez napping to come sliding in at the back post and thumps it onto the crossbar!
20:49 2nd half kicks off: Milan 1-0 Cagliari
20:44 Milan subs
Rafael Leao, Okafor and Tomori on, Chukwueze, Gabbia and Giroud off.
20:42 Appeals
Remember the timid Cagliari penalty appeals? Thiaw arm was flush to the body, so no spot-kick.
#MilanCagliari | chiesto timidamente dai rossoblù un calcio di rigore al minuto 21 per un tocco di mano in area di #Thiaw (📸 DAZN). I replay confermano la sensazione già avuta in diretta: il tocco c’è ma il braccio destro è congruo lungo al corpo.
✅ Vede bene Sozza: play on. pic.twitter.com/f6J7z92QEp
— Denis Errori Arbitrali (@erroriarbitrali) May 11, 2024
20:32 Half-Time: Milan 1-0 Cagliari
Bennacer with the goal, but Chukwueze is injured and went down the moment the half-time whistle was blown. He’s probably not coming back after the restart.
20:32 Cagliari attempt
Prati runs onto a through ball, manages to turn his defender, but also prods it straight at the goalkeeper.
20:26 Milan push
Pulisic accidentally gets in the way of a Bennacer strike, then Florenzi scuffs the rebound horribly wide.
20:25 Bennacer goal
The luck is on Ismaël Bennacer's side as deflection lands at his feet ⚽️
AC Milan take the lead just before half-time ⏰
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/mQ31jJDA6m
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2024
Ismaël Bennacer with his first Serie A goal of the season ⚽ pic.twitter.com/a4PIoz0ef2
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 11, 2024
20:21 Milan 1-0 Cagliari: Ismael Bennacer!
Pulisic down the left tries to cross, it is deflected into the air, Chukwueze tries to pounce and it is parried by Scuffet, but Bennacer is ready to fire in the rebound.
20:19 Gabbia booked
That was very risky for more than a yellow, Gabbia went lunging in…
20:17 Those shirts
To celebrate Mother's Day, AC Milan players are displaying their mothers' surnames on the back of their shirts against Cagliari 🫶
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0oyvQz9HQP
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2024
20:14 Bennacer booked
It was two-footed, but he largely got the ball.
20:13 Milan shirts
A tribute to mums everywhere 🫶#MilanCagliari #SempreMilan #MothersDay #FestaDellaMamma pic.twitter.com/pT7SVgmQeS
— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 11, 2024
20:12 Milan protest
Milan ultras have intensified their protest against the club with a series of banners criticising the lack of ambition and an eerie silence during their game with Cagliari https://t.co/ZdRZCEfqgE #ACMilan #SerieA #MilanCagliari #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
20:11 Mina vs. Giroud
After Giroud tore his shirt in two, Mina went down off the ball under a nudge in the back. Mina clutching the back of his head as if he’s been punched. He hasn’t.
20:09 Oh dear
Well the Milan fans are making some noise – they are jeering that Musah move. Musah got down the right, had several options, chose the worst one to spark a counter-attack, where Luvumbo just fired straight at Sportiello. Luvumbo has a slight muscular problem too.
20:05 Cagliari appeals
Appeals for handball after a free kick into the box pinballs around, but nothing comes from it. Musah then gets down the left and pulls across, but there is nobody ready to meet it.
20:01 Scuffet alert
Milan corner, series of headers in the box as it pinballs around and Scuffet manages to smother.
19:58 Florenzi over
Florenzi free kick over the bar from the edge of the area.
19:56 Save on Florenzi
What a goal that would’ve been, it came down from a big height, acrobatic volley kept low from distance and parried off the line.
19:54 Milan win a corner
Kalulu back-heel flick deflected out for a corner. Yerry Mina has to change his shirt, as it is completely torn down the centre. Giroud looking slightly guilty.
19:50 It’s eerie
So silent you can practically hear the thump of boot on ball. It’s like being back in the pandemic…
19:45 We have kick-off in Milan vs. Cagliari!
19:43 Minute’s silence
Before all games this weekend, a minute’s silence for the victims of a work accident in Palermo last week. Because nobody should go to work and not come back.
19:41 Out come the teams!
Milan: Sportiello; Kalulu, Thiaw, Gabbia, Florenzi; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic
Cagliari: Scuffet; Mina, Dossena, Obert; Zappa, Prati, Sulemana, Deiola, Nandez; Luvumbo, Shomurodov
(Although those aren’t the names on the shirts, in honour of Mother’s Day they have their maternal surnames instead)
19:27 Stefano Pioli
Stefano Pioli explains why he dropped big stars for Milan’s match against Cagliari this evening and urges the fans to remain ‘united’ behind the team https://t.co/6lqvXhHKd9 #ACMilan #SerieA #MilanCagliari #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
19:09 Napoli in silence
Nobody from Napoli will speak to the media.
19:08 Cagliari also with maternal names
Le maglie di oggi 👕#MilanCagliari pic.twitter.com/JXlDuTqBkQ
— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) May 11, 2024
19:05 Milan fans still on strike
Milan ultras are again going to sit in silence and, if last week is anything to go by, walk out 15 minutes before the end.
19:01 Milan vs. Cagliari line-ups
Remember, for Mother’s Day both teams are wearing special shirts with their maternal surnames on rather than paternal. This might lead to some confusion.
Milan: Sportiello; Kalulu, Thiaw, Gabbia, Florenzi; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic
Cagliari: Scuffet; Mina, Dossena, Obert; Zappa, Prati, Sulemana, Deiola, Nandez; Luvumbo, Shomurodov
18:56 Milan vs. Cagliari warm-ups
Watch the Milan vs. Cagliari warm-ups LIVE on the Lega Serie A YouTube Channel.
18:53 Match report
Napoli never recovered from a nightmare start to this match, trailing 2-0 after 12 minutes and seeing a Matteo Politano penalty parried, but Bologna are heading to the Champions League https://t.co/5hqXs8ihIH #NapoliBologna #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
18:52 FT: Napoli 0-2 Bologna
Bologna are practically in the Champions League! Napoli might not get into Europe at all…
18:51 Di Lorenzo over
Napoli free kick from Raspadori, Di Lorenzo flicks it over with his head.
18:48 Into stoppages
4 minutes at the Maradona.
18:45 Oh dear
A long and rather futile Napoli passing move ends with Mazzocchi scuffing wide.
18:41 Zirkzee update
Bologna are on edge after star striker Joshua Zirkzee limped off practically in tears following a muscular injury against Napoli https://t.co/mDwAPdtm6T #Bologna #Zirkzee #SerieA #NapoliBologna #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
18:40 Bologna sub
El Azzouzi on, Freuler off.
18:38 Napoli subs
Traore, Simeone and Mazzocchi on, Anguissa, Kvaratskhelia and Olivera off.
18:33 Zirkzee in a bad way
He was practically weeping.
18:32 Team News
#ACMilan vs. #Cagliari line-ups:
Milan drop Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez and Fikayo Tomori to start Samuel Chukwueze against relegation-threatened Cagliari https://t.co/7trjQ6mv7E #MilanCagliari #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
18:31 Zirkzee was limping
Zirkzee looked to be hobbling quite badly as he went off.
18:30 Milan vs. Cagliari line-ups
Milan: Sportiello; Kalulu, Thiaw, Gabbia, Florenzi; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic
Cagliari: Scuffet; Mina, Dossena, Obert; Zappa, Prati, Sulemana, Deiola, Nandez; Luvumbo, Shomurodov
18:29 Subs
Raspadori replaces Cajuste, Bologna introduce Castro and Fabbian for Zirkzee and Urbanski.
18:28 Lucumi booked
Cajuste had turned Lucumi, so the Bologna defender had to use his arms.
18:26 Osimhen chance!
Oh what a chance. Ngonge gets away from Kristiansen, through ball for Osimhen, the shot from a tight angle grazes Ravaglia’s fingertips and goes inches wide!
18:24 Mother’s Day XI
Your #MothersDay special Rossoneri XI 📋#MilanCagliari #SempreMilan #FestaDellaMamma
Brought to you by 𝗞𝘂𝗺𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗲 pic.twitter.com/U7KmrZjDFV— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 11, 2024
18:23 Zirkzee chance
That was a test! Zirkzee angled drive after taking on Juan Jesus, Meret sticks out a boot to parry and Orsolini can’t make the most of the rebound.
18:22 Kvara attempt
Again, on target, but no real test for Ravaglia.
18:20 Anguissa header
Weak Anguissa header from a corner, straight at Ravaglia.
18:18 Napoli sub
Politano off, Ngonge on.
18:18 Bologna effort
Saelemaekers strike from distance bounces in front of Meret, but he smothers.
18:16 Oh dear
Politano stands up a cross to the back post, where Kvaratskhelia shins it into the sky.
18:13 Napoli chance
Aebischer glancing header on a Napoli free kick, risks an own goal and it skims the upright.
18:12 Bologna subs
Orsolini and Saelemaekers on, Odgaard and Ndoye off.
18:10 Double Ravaglia save
First gets down to parry the Politano strike at the near bottom corner, then denies the Di Lorenzo follow-up too.
18:09 Milan arrive at San Siro
🔴⚫️#MilanCagliari – L’arrivo della squadra di Pioli a San Siro @calciomercatoit pic.twitter.com/OhJr9T449o
— Martin Sartorio (@MartinSa1988) May 11, 2024
18:07 Napoli wide
Cajuste booked for taking out both Aebischer and Odgaard, then Di Lorenzo fires wide.
18:03 2nd half kicks off: Napoli 0-2 Bologna
17:48 Half-Time: Napoli 0-2 Bologna
Those are some LOUD jeers. Ndoye and Posch scored in the opening 12 minutes, then Politano saw a penalty saved by Ravaglia.
17:47 Osimhen appeals
Osimhen goes down under an even lighter Aebischer touch than the penalty, makes zero attempt to stay on his feet.
17:45 Bologna threaten
Posch down the right, should’ve crossed, instead went for goal.
17:42 Napoli close
Lobotka surges forward, lets loose from outside the box and SKIMS the crossbar.
17:39 Hmm
Keep an eye on that, as it was the world’s least friendly handshake the referee made them perform. Zirkzee and Juan Jesus still glaring daggers at each other.
17:39 Tension
Juan Jesus and Zirkzee having a row. Zirkzee was furious with the defender over his shove on Odgaard.
17:38 Politano penalty
Matteo Politano MISSES the penalty! 😬
The first 20 minutes of this game has been pure entertainment… 🍿
📺 Watch live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Hwux30xdbC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2024
17:38 Ouch
2 – Napoli conceded two goals in the first 15 minutes of play of the first half in #SerieA for the first time since 7 March 2010, also against Bologna (goal by Zalayeta in the 7th minute and by Adailton in the 12th min) . Shock.#NapoliBologna
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 11, 2024
17:33 Kvaratskhelia booked
A bit of a tussle with Posch, ref waves play on, but Kvara is booked for his furious reaction.
17:27 Napoli close
Napoli corner, Olivera header over the bar!
17:23 It’s all good
Ravaglia kept a foot on the line!
17:22 Politano penalty is SAVED
Matteo Politano inside of the left foot going to the near bottom corner, but Federico Ravaglia made the save! He was very far forward, was he on the line?
17:20 Penalty for Napoli!
Di Lorenzo pulls back from the by-line for Osimhen, who tries to turn in the box and goes down amid a crowd. If there was contact, it was pretty minimal…
17:19 Posch goal
BOLOGNA STUN NAPOLI IN NAPLES WITH TWO GOALS IN 3 MINUTES 💫 pic.twitter.com/sN2A8nTp3v
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 11, 2024
17:19 Ndoye goal
Dan Ndoye get his first Serie A goal against the reigning champs 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/UhYztTOWHx
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 11, 2024
17:13 Napoli 0-2 Bologna: Stefan Posch!
The atmosphere in the stadium is getting tense… Zirkzee wins a corner, Urbanski corner flicked on by Calafiori and Posch is allowed really a free header from four yards. Anguissa just standing there…
17:10 Napoli 0-1 Bologna: Dan Ndoye!
He hadn’t managed to score all season! Zirkzee shot deflected, loops up, Odgaard stops it going out for a corner, his cross is deflected off Olivera too and it turns into an accidental assist for Ndoye to nod in from point-blank range, despite being behind Di Lorenzo!
17:06 Calafiori wide
Calafiori comes forward and drills wide from the edge of the box for Bologna.
17:04 Risky Ravaglia
Pass over-hit for Osimhen, Ravaglia had to come right to the edge of his box to gather.
17:01 We have kick-off in Napoli vs. Bologna!
16:59 A minute’s silence
A minute’s silence before all Serie A games this weekend for the four workers who died on the job near Palermo.
16:56 Out come the teams
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Bologna: Ravaglia; Posch, Lucumi, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Urbanski, Aebischer; Ndoye, Zirkzee, Odgaard
16:40 Orsonaldo benched
Skills in his feet and a smile on his face: 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙤 𝙊𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞 😁#NapoliBologna pic.twitter.com/XhskG3cTIf
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 11, 2024
16:35 Napoli leaking goals
Napoli are without a clean sheet since the 0-0 with Lazio on January 28, conceding in their next 14 Serie A games.
16:23 Welcome to Naples
Late afternoon calcio vibes ✨#NapoliBologna 🔜 pic.twitter.com/3dyd1GavUa
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 11, 2024
16:10 POLL
POLL: Who wins #Napoli vs. #Bologna ?
Liveblog https://t.co/3l31NGJcup#NapoliBologna #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
16:09 Team News
#Napoli vs. #Bologna line-ups:
Napoli start Victor Osimhen and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia in a bid to at least qualify for the Europa League as they face Joshua Zirkzee’s high-flying Bologna https://t.co/MaHmu2S9qL #NapoliBologna #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 11, 2024
16:08 Bologna XI
Bologna: Ravaglia; Posch, Lucumi, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Urbanski, Aebischer; Ndoye, Zirkzee, Odgaard
16:05 Napoli XI
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Join us for the build-up and action as it happens from today’s two Serie A games, as Napoli-Bologna could decide European ambitions and Milan host Cagliari.
We begin at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona with Napoli hosting fourth-placed Bologna, who have not yet guaranteed their place in the Champions League.
At 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), Milan make changes against a Cagliari side who are trying to escape relegation.
Week 36 kicked off last night with Frosinone 0-5 Inter.