Football Italia Live Blog
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21:51 That is all for the Liveblog
Check the main site for more post-match coverage and we’ll see you on FRIDAY.
21:40 Match report
Inter extended their lead at the top of the table to 12 points after sweeping Atalanta aside with Matteo Darmian, Lautaro Martinez, Federico Dimarco and Davide Frattesi goals https://t.co/6RT0UCdCh2 #InterAtalanta #FCIM #SerieA #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
21:39 FT: Inter 4-0 Atalanta
Darmian 26 (I), Lautaro Martinez 45 (I), Dimarco 54 (I), Frattesi 71 (I)
Saved penalty: Lautaro Martinez 54 (I)
21:38 Lookman booked
Lookman late on Barella and had completely lost his balance.
21:36 Close
Carlos Augusto whips a cross-shot across the face of goal, not far off at all. Then at the other end Bakker fires wide of the far post from close range.
21:34 Stoppages
Into 5 minutes of added time. Carlos Augusto strike deflected over for a corner.
21:33 Toure booked
Alexis Sanchez goes on a storming run from midfield, rides two tackles, but the third from Toure is a foul.
21:30 Frattesi update
It’s an adductor twinge.
21:27 Atalanta chance
Cross from the right, but just over the head of Lookman.
21:25 Frattesi goal
Free-kick taken quickly by Alexis Sanchez and Inter have their FOURTH-STRAIGHT Serie A match with at least four goals 😤 pic.twitter.com/6Scp7Nfgbi
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
21:20 Another Inter record
It means Inter scored at least four goals in four consecutive Serie A matches, something this club had only achieved once before in 1929-30.
21:19 Atalanta change
De Ketelaere makes way for Toure.
21:19 Yellow card
Bastoni booked and he will be suspended for the next match.
21:16 Frattesi hurt
Oh dear. Frattesi seemed to injure himself, either during the goal or the celebration, and is replaced by Klaassen.
21:14 Inter 4-0 Atalanta: Davide Frattesi!
That is a goal right off the training ground. Alexis Sanchez makes a little signal, free kick floated in for the Frattesi header at the near post!
21:14 Bakker booked
Dumfries got away from two players, so Bakker rugby tackled him.
21:11 Inter subs
Lautaro Martinez and Dimarco off, Alexis Sanchez and Carlos Augusto on
21:10 Ederson attempt
Ederson attempt charged down in the box. He’s been poor tonight.
21:09 Dimarco chance
Dimarco rolls a ball across the face of goal, Frattesi didn’t make the run to the back post.
21:08 Still a battle
Atalanta corner comes to nothing, then Hien foul on Lautaro, ref gives the advantage, Dumfries effort charged down and Hien booked.
21:05 Inter change
Frattesi on, some rare rest for Mkhitaryan.
21:04 Dimarco goal
Unlucky for Atalanta GK Marco Carnesecchi as Federico DiMarco cleans up Lautaro Martinez's PK miss 👀 pic.twitter.com/mNCNmPX81A
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
21:00 Atalanta subs
Lookman, Adopo, Bakker and Hien on, Koopmeiners, Miranchuk, Kolasinac and Scalvini off
20:58 Inter 3-0 Atalanta: Federico Dimarco!
Lautaro Martinez penalty was parried by Carnesecchi, but Dimarco was quickest to react on the rebound! VAR confirms no encroachment from Dimarco.
20:56 Another Inter penalty!
Hmm…. That is… desperately trying to find a penalty. The linesman had flagged it out. Hateboer from point-blank range. Hand barely raised. Lots of harshness there.
20:55 VAR
On-field review, and you can already see the flag is up. This is all kinds of harsh.
20:54 The linesman flagged goal kick
So in order to over-rule, the VAR needs CLEAR footage to show the ball did NOT entirely cross the line.
20:53 It’s Hateboer
This is a tricky one. The ball took a very odd bounce on the byline and turned back inwards, then Dumfries cross hit Hateboer on the arm. But it’s by no means clear if the ball went out and awfully harsh anyway as it was straight at Hateboer.
20:52 VAR is checking something
Evaluating a possible handball. Not entirely sure where…
20:51 Save on Dimarco!
That is a splendid Lautaro Martinez cross-field pass to send Dimarco running down the left, low drive parried by Carnesecchi’s foot at the near post.
20:50 Tense start
Inter give it away cheaply playing out from the back, but Asllani comes to the rescue. Then Dumfries probably offside and then goes over under minimal pressure.
20:49 2nd half kicks off: Inter 2-0 Atalanta
20:48 Inter change
Darmian booked, so of course he’s replaced by Dumfries. Classic Inzaghi.
20:41 Lautaro goal
WHAT A FINISH FROM LAUTARO MARTINEZ 🤯
That makes it 2⃣3⃣ Serie A goals this season for the Inter striker 👏 pic.twitter.com/rVM33q5vQs
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 28, 2024
20:39 The Thuram reaction
ALL LAUTARO MARTINEZ DOES IS SCORE GOALS 😤
His 23rd of the Serie A season 💪 pic.twitter.com/o7OYc48OMh
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
20:34 65 now
64 – Inter have scored the most goals in the Big-5 European leagues this season: 64 goals, overtaking Liverpool and Bayern München (both 63). Spatial.#InterAtalanta #SerieA pic.twitter.com/1dnFHEeo7z
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 28, 2024
20:33 Half-Time: Inter 2-0 Atalanta
20:31 Inter 2-0 Atalanta: Lautaro Martinez!
Carnesecchi came rushing to the edge of the area again and once more that was not a brilliant idea, Dimarco pulled it back for Pavard, roll across to find Lautaro on the edge of the area, first touch is poor, but the second, can’t argue with that, it bends around Hateboer into the far bottom corner!
20:29 Booking
Ederson booked for a high boot on Asllani.
20:28 Atalanta threaten too
But the volley was well, well wide…
20:24 Inter thump the crossbar!
Poor clearance, Dimarco perhaps with a foul on Pasalic, perhaps not, both went for it, then Lautaro smashed onto the crossbar from the edge of the box.
20:22 Atalanta still pushing
This is a very good game, both teams going for it.
20:18 Save on Dimarco
Dimarco tried to curl in directly from the corner flag – the Luis Alberto Special, as we like to call it – but Carnesecchi was alert.
20:15 Darmian goal
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮
After both sides had a goal ruled out, Inter take the lead through Matteo Darmian 💪 pic.twitter.com/cMU6b7NmyA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 28, 2024
20:13 Double Inter chance!
That was easier than the goal, Darmian was one-on-one, but Carnesecchi this time stayed on his feet and parried with his legs, then Dimarco follow-up charged down for a corner.
20:12 Almost another!
Bizarre Ederson pass intercepted by Arnautovic, Kolasinac has to come across and rescue his teammate.
20:10 Inter 1-0 Atalanta: Matteo Darmian!
Lautaro Martinez through ball for Mkhitaryan, Carnesecchi comes flying out to parry at his feet, but the ball then goes outside the area and he can’t do anything when Darmian pounces to fire into the empty net!
20:10 Lautaro miss!
Bastoni cross from the left, Lautaro Martinez is leaning back and volleys over the bar!
20:08 The disallowed CDK goal
VAR intervenes to give Benjamin Pavard a lifeline after Atalanta take the lead from his mistake 👀
Correct decision? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/S4W3mOU7MK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 28, 2024
20:08 The Miranchuk handball
Il tocco di braccio di #Miranchuk che “annulla” il gol di #DeKetelaere.#InterAtalanta pic.twitter.com/8II0uAug6E
— Giovanni Capuano (@capuanogio) February 28, 2024
20:07 Yellow card
Darmian booked for the foul on Djimsiti. He went into a lunge to win back the ball.
20:03 Inter goal disallowed
Barella really rather visibly offside on a long ball over the top.
20:01 Asllani wide
Asllani has power, but no accuracy from distance.
20:01 Atalanta chance!
Cross is just over the head of Koopmeiners, then Miranchuk fires the rebound over from the edge of the area!
19:58 DISALLOWED!
It was borderline, but yeah, that was his arm. It was a tight one, they probably got the drawing out from IFAB.
19:57 VAR!
On-field review.
19:56 VAR is checking this
Not for a Miranchuk foul, but potential Miranchuk handball. It’s right between shoulder and arm, absolutely borderline.
19:55 Inter 0-1 Atalanta: Charles De Ketelaere!
A very strange goal! Error in defence, Pasalic pounces on the misplaces pass, Miranchuk and Bastoni collide heavily, they are both down while De Ketelaere fires in the loose ball.
19:53 Long periods of possession
These are very similar teams. They are taking turns to have long periods of possession while the other waits to counter with speed.
19:48 Some tactical notes
Atalanta seem to be in a 3-4-3. High press, Inter pass it around slowly for a very long time, then suddenly go vertical and Dimarco shot charged down.
19:45 Marotta on Inzaghi
Inter director Beppe Marotta assures there are no concerns over Simone Inzaghi and Lautaro Martinez interest. ‘We chose the right coach, we are happy with him and he is happy with us.’ https://t.co/Y5UO6Lg13L #FCIM #InterAtalanta #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
19:45 We have kick-off in Inter vs. Atalanta!
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Lautaro Martinez
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Ederson, Pasalic, Zappacosta; Miranchuk, Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere
19:41 Out come the teams
19:33 Lauti milestone
𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 👏👏👏 @Inter_en pic.twitter.com/6ZjcFz3O4j
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 28, 2024
19:32 Koop
Bday boy cam 🎉🇳🇱#Koopmeiners #InterAtalanta #SerieA #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/YsTewu2PCt
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 28, 2024
19:18 Injured Inter stars
Watching on from the sidelines for this one, Tikus and Hakan 👀#InterAtalanta pic.twitter.com/VNljLmGUVD
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 28, 2024
19:08 Benches too
📋 #InterAtalanta – La distinta con le formazioni ufficiali: Arnautovic con Lautaro, Inzaghi conferma in regia Asllani. Gasperini con de Ketelaere a guidare l’attacco 📲 @calciomercatoit pic.twitter.com/uYvkuZjI9L
— Giorgio Musso (@GiokerMusso) February 28, 2024
19:03 POLL
POLL: Who wins #Inter vs. #Atalanta ?
Liveblog https://t.co/oz8Njm9joJ#InterAtalanta #SerieA #FCIM #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
18:59 POLL
POLL: Who scores first in #Inter vs. #Atalanta ?
Liveblog https://t.co/oz8Njm9joJ#InterAtalanta #SerieA #FCIM #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
18:56 Table
Napoli have caught Lazio on 40 points in joint eighth place, which is still a long way off the Champions League spots, but not entirely impossible.
18:51 Sassuolo 1-6 Napoli
Napoli are back?
Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and a Kvicha Kvaratskhelia brace helped Napoli smash sorry Sassuolo 6-1, giving Francesco Calzona his first win and a nightmare Emiliano Bigica debut https://t.co/oO149x1JBL #SassuoloNapoli #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
18:50 FT: Sassuolo 1-6 Napoli
Racic 17 (S), Rrahmani 29 (N), Osimhen 31, 41, 47 (N), Kvaratskhelia 51, 75 (N)
18:45 Inter vs. Atalanta
#Inter vs. #Atalanta line-ups:
Inter start Marko Arnautovic and Kristjan Asllani with Lautaro Martinez, while Atalanta start Charles De Ketelaere and Teun Koopmeiners https://t.co/8xtIbfkeAU #InterAtalanta #FCIM #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
18:42 Inter vs. Atalanta line-ups
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Lautaro Martinez
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Ederson, Pasalic, Zappacosta; Miranchuk, Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere
18:41 Inter XI
I nostri 1️⃣1️⃣⚫🔵 per #InterAtalanta 🔝
Dai ragazzi 💪Powered by: @play_eFootball #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/TrwwOeXKhr
— Inter (@Inter) February 28, 2024
18:39 Simeone chance
Simeone scorcher stings Consigli’s gloves.
Dendoncker then replaces Lobotka.
18:38 Kvara goal
GOAL NUMBER 6⃣ FOR NAPOLI!
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bags his second goal of the evening 👏 pic.twitter.com/XJigrLsJJF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 28, 2024
18:36 Subs
Osimhen and Traore off, Simeone and Zielinski on
Defrel and Kumbulla on, Bajrami and Tressoldi off
18:35 Sassuolo 1-6 Napoli: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia!
Corner flicked on for Kvara volley, charged down, he tries again and blasts into the roof of the net!
18:33 Napoli keeping the ball
Sassuolo are trying, but ultimately just don’t want to concede any more goals.
18:27 Inter team bus arrives
Simone Inzaghi getting a lot of love from the fans. As well he should.
🎥 🚌 #InterAtalanta – L’arrivo a San Siro tra gli applausi dell’#Inter e i cori per #Inzaghi: "Grande Simone" 📲 @calciomercatoit pic.twitter.com/IJJc7Xivos
— Giorgio Musso (@GiokerMusso) February 28, 2024
18:26 Raspadori chance!
Mario Rui and Kvara combine down the left, pulled back from the by-line for a Raspadori cushioned volley, but straight at Consigli.
18:24 Coming up
Ecco il nostro spogliatoio ⚫🔵#ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/EUq2WQp46s
— Inter (@Inter) February 28, 2024
18:24 Kvaratskhelia goal
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gets in on the goalfest!
Napoli are flying against Sassuolo 😱 pic.twitter.com/Ey6ggdQYZ9
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
18:22 Napoli changes
Raspadori and Natan on, Politano and Rrahmani off
18:17 Ruan masterclass
Victor Osimhen won't have an easier way to cap off a hat trick 😅 pic.twitter.com/UVbKgX13Uq
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
18:16 Sassuolo subs
Volpato and Missori on, Racic and Doig off. Very confusing scenes on the touchline there, bit of a debate with the fourth official and the Sassuolo bench.
18:11 Sassuolo 1-5 Napoli: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia!
Hadn’t seen one of those for a while from the Georgian. Racic error in midfield sparks the counter, Kvaratskhelia cuts inside from the left and curls right-footed into the far corner from just inside the area!
18:07 Sassuolo 1-4 Napoli: Victor Osimhen hat-trick!
Well that was some suicidal defending from Sassuolo. Ruan Tressoldi – don’t say we never warned you – literally passes the ball to Kvaratskhelia inside his penalty area when trying to play out from the back and it is naturally rolled across for the Osimhen tap-in.
18:05 2nd half kicks off: Sassuolo 1-3 Napoli
17:57 Tonight
Vi portiamo nel tunnel ⚫🔵#ForzaInter #InterAtalanta pic.twitter.com/OkejLO3TPk
— Inter (@Inter) February 28, 2024
17:57 Osimhen helps out
Is there anything Victor Osimhen can't do 💪 pic.twitter.com/cIkSv7QCDc
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
17:51 Net fixing
Teamwork makes the dream work 😅
Osimhen 🤝 Consigli pic.twitter.com/GJ3oc0iA2X
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 28, 2024
17:50 Osimhen’s second goal
Victor Osimhen unleashed!
Last season's Capocannoniere winner is back into double figures in Serie A 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/qVkWkmOTsA
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
17:48 Half-Time: Sassuolo 1-3 Napoli
Neroverdi frustrated, they took a corner, had earned another one and the referee blew for half-time.
17:45 Save on Kvaratskhelia!
Kvara sent down the left by Traore, Consigli makes a desperate save with his legs at the near post!
17:40 Sassuolo 1-3 Napoli: Victor Osimhen!
Matheus Henrique gets it wrong playing out from the back. Politano slide-rule pass allows Osimhen to spring the offside trap and beat the on-rushing Consigli from seven yards!
17:39 Play resumes
And immediately Napoli almost score again with Osimhen turning just wide, but it wouldn’t have counted, as Mario Rui was offside.
17:39 Osimhen goal
Who else but Victor Osimhen?
Napoli's talismanic striker is at it again ⚽ pic.twitter.com/TLmc6JedV7
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
17:38 Rrahmani goal
The flick from Zambo Anguissa 😮
The finish from Amir Rrahmani ✅ pic.twitter.com/kd6oio38hI— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
17:36 Oops
In his desperate bid to get back there and prevent the lob, Consigli ended up accidentally pulling the net off the crossbar. Osimhen and Consigli are now helping the staff to tape it back up again. That’s honestly quite sweet.
17:35 Kvara!
Kvaratskhelia spots Consigli off his line and from literally on the central line attempts a lob that is INCHES over the bar.
17:31 Sassuolo 1-2 Napoli: Victor Osimhen!
That escalated quickly! Again Napoli move it down the right with Di Lorenzo, this time he sends Politano running, who pulls it back for Osimhen to turn in first time from seven yards!
17:29 Sassuolo 1-1 Napoli: Amir Rrahmani!
A splendid team goal! Di Lorenzo sends Anguissa down the right, the midfielder with a cheeky back-heel flick to set up Rrahmani, who completed the run to sweep in from 10 yards!
17:27 Sassuolo goal
Check out the bend from distance! ⤴️
Sassuolo's Uroš Račić with the inch-perfect finish 👌 pic.twitter.com/jJ7OsuNaBY
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2024
17:26 Osimhen chance!
Osimhen flies down the right on the counter past Ferrari, tries to shoot from a tight angle and it flashes over the bar!
17:23 Chaotic Napoli
Kvaratskhelia down the left, pulls it back, Anguissa and Osimhen both go for the ball and get in each others’ way.
17:21 The bend on that finish
Račić and the 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 🚀 #SassuoloNapoli pic.twitter.com/bQwLcpPzq3
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 28, 2024
17:16 Sassuolo 1-0 Napoli: Uros Racic!
Totally against the run of play, but Sassuolo have the lead. Throw-in, Racic floats a ball to the back post where it is volleyed back into the centre for an acrobatic Pinamonti attempt, cleared as far as Racic on the edge of the box and that is a remarkable finish, a real snooker shot that is slow, but bends around Meret into the far bottom corner!
17:14 What a block!
Huge Napoli opportunity, rolled across from the left by Mario Rui for Osimhen’s tap-in, but Ferrari makes a crucial block at the back post! On the resulting corner, Ostigard header off target.
17:12 Traore chance
Again a ball over the top, this time for Di Lorenzo to pull it back, cleared as far as Traore, who drills just wide!
17:10 Consigli alert
Ball over the top for Osimhen, who runs onto it, but Consigli is off his line to smother.
17:07 Kvara runs into trouble
Tries to squirm between two, there simply isn’t a gap there.
17:05 Pitch is horrible
Somewhat inevitable with days of rain. Pinamonti tried to turn between two defenders, but is blocked off by Rrahmani.
17:02 Aggressive Napoli start
Very aggressive, Kvaratskhelia shot charged down already.
17:00 We have kick-off in Sassuolo vs. Napoli!
16:58 Here are the teams
Sassuolo: Consigli; Pedersen, Ruan Tressoldi, Ferrari, Doig; Racic, Matheus Henrique; Bajrami, Thorstvedt, Laurienté; Pinamonti
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traore; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
16:56 Raaaaaaaaain
It has been raining heavily in northern Italy for over 48 hours now and shows no signs of slowing down.
16:43 Back on familiar turf
🔙 at the Mapei and starting for @en_sscnapoli: 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐞́#SassuoloNapoli pic.twitter.com/7azJhfplYF
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 28, 2024
16:27 Berardi on the bench
L’1⃣1⃣ iniziale di #SassuoloNapoli👇
Powered by @StarCasinoSportForza ragazziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!! 🖤💚🖤💚#ForzaSasol#IlNuovoModoDiVivereIlSassuolo #VinciPremiConStarCasinòSport pic.twitter.com/mVoXEcbFHv
— U.S. Sassuolo (@SassuoloUS) February 28, 2024
16:18 Napoli in white
🔌 Loading…
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/iDGwfwzu9n
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) February 28, 2024
16:09 Sassuolo vs. Napoli
#Sassuolo vs. #Napoli line-ups:
Francesco Calzona is looking for his first Napoli win with Victor Osimhen and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Sassuolo debut under interim coach Emiliano Bigica https://t.co/WmlepbCJSj #SassuoloNapoli #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) February 28, 2024
16:07 Sassuolo vs. Napoli line-ups
Sassuolo: Consigli; Pedersen, Ruan Tressoldi, Ferrari, Doig; Racic, Matheus Henrique; Bajrami, Thorstvedt, Laurienté; Pinamonti
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traore; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the rescheduled Serie A Week 21 games, as Napoli visit Sassuolo under new management and Inter host Atalanta eager to recapture fourth place.
We begin at 17.00 GMT at the Mapei Stadium, where Sassuolo sacked Alessio Dionisi and temporarily gave the job to youth team coach Emiliano Bigica, as Napoli’s third coach of the campaign Francesco Calzona oversaw draws with Barcelona and Cagliari.
At 19.45 GMT, Inter can extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points, but on-form Atalanta are unbeaten in eight and want to recapture fourth place from Bologna.
These Week 21 ties were postponed from January for the Supercoppa Italiana.
I keep trying to tell these fools, don’t mess with Inter. We are always the best.