In Naples, Giacomo Raspadori scored the decisive goal in the last minute of a tedious match at the Maradona Stadium, putting Napoli ahead of Atalanta in the Italian League by one point. In the absence of leading striker Victor Osimhen, who was declared out until at least until the international break, the 22-year-old spearheaded their assault. If Raspadori satisfies specific sports targets, Napoli will make his contract permanent next summer. After an excellent start to the domestic season and a hammering of Liverpool in the Champions League opening midweek, Luciano Spalletti’s squad is riding high. Spezia is 14th with five points after suffering their third defeat in the first six games of the season.
Rangers’ Champions League group stage encounter against Napoli has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 14, with no away fans expected at Ibrox; all UEFA fixtures this week are likely to go ahead. Rangers began their Champions League Group A campaign with a 4-0 loss at Ajax Amsterdam, while Napoli defeated Liverpool 4-1 at home. According to a UEFA statement, “This is owing to significant limits on police resources and organisational challenges relating to the ongoing events surrounding Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s national mourning.” As a gesture of respect, all Premier League and English Football League fixtures were postponed this weekend. All Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship, and Women’s FA Cup games have also been delayed.
AC Milan won 2-1 against Sampdoria in Italy Serie A on Saturday thanks to a penalty from striker Olivier Giroud. It was the club’s first away win of the season. Milan climbed into the second position in the Serie a table, level with leaders Napoli, with 14 points after six games. After drawing at Atalanta and Sassuolo, Stefano Pioli’s Milan concluded their season without an away win. Rafael Leao wonderfully set up forward Junior Messias in the area, and the Brazilian put the champions ahead with a low drive in the sixth minute. Leao has helped 20 Serie A goals this season with his third assist (ten goals, ten assists).
Marcel Brozovic’s late goal earned Inter Milan a hard-fought 1-0 win over Torino, providing some respite from recent blues. After a derby humiliation to AC Milan in the Italian soccer league last weekend and a midweek lesson from Bayern Munich, Simone Inzaghi’s team were looking at another dismal result at the San Siro until Brozovic elegantly dinked home the winner. The Croatia playmaker controlled Nicolo Barella’s inswinging cross with a brilliant finish over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, moving Inter to fourth place, two points behind Napoli and Milan, with games on Sunday remaining.
