Latest news with #EzioSimonelli
Morocco World
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Saudi Arabia Hosts the Italian Super Cup for Fourth Time
The 2025 Italian Super Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia next December, rather than January as initially expected It will mark the fourth time the tournament is hosted in the Kingdom. Serie A president Ezio Simonelli said the semi-finals will take place on December 18 and 19, with the final scheduled on the 22nd. The city where the matches will be hosted has not yet been determined, as the decision rests with the host country. The four teams taking part are Napoli who won the scudetto, Bologna who lifted the Coppa Italia, and runners-up Inter Milan and AC Milan. The tournament was expanded in 2023 to include four clubs. AC Milan won the most recent edition, beating Inter 3-2 to lift their first Super Cup since 2022. In another statement, the President of the Italian League, explained that the league contacted the Italian Football Federation, the European Union (UEFA), and the International Federation (FIFA) to submit an official request, to move next February's match between Milan and Como to Australia, as a result from the closure of the San Siro stadium during the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, as it will be used for the opening ceremony, scheduled for February 6-22. Simonelli said the aim is to draw attention to the league's interest in turning this edition into an opportunity to strengthen the International presence of the Italian League. Despite these ambitions, the decision to host the competition has not gone down well with many Italian fans. 'A country's Super Cup should never be played abroad,' one vented online. 'They sold their soul to the highest bidder,' said another. 'Football used to be about fans who turn up in stadiums' And a third was more blunt: 'Nice image of Italian football. All for two Arab pennies. And the fans have to watch it from home. But then the Super League is evil…'
Kuwait Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Saudi Arabia to host Italian Super Cup in December
RIYADH: AC Milan's Italian defender Davide Calabria lifts the trophy as he and his teammates celebrate winning the Italian Super Cup final football match against Inter Milan at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on January 6, 2025. - AFP ROME: Next season's Italian Super Cup will be played for the fourth time in Saudi Arabia but in December instead of January, the president of the Italian League announced on Tuesday. "The dates for the Super Cup are December 18 and 19 for the semi-finals, and the 22 for the final," said Lega Serie A boss Ezio Simonelli after the governing body's general meeting. "We don't yet know where these matches will be played, either in Riyadh or Jeddah. The choice will be made by the Saudis. I would be more in favour of Jeddah, but we don't have the option to choose." Since 2023, the 'Supercoppa Italiana' has pitted four teams against each other — the reigning Serie A champions, the runners-up, and the winners and runners-up of the Italian Cup. The 2025 edition will include Serie A holders Napoli, second-placed Inter Milan, Italian Cup winners Bologna and losing finalists AC Milan. AC Milan won last season's Italian Super Cup for their first trophy since 2022, defeating their arch-rivals Inter 3-2. Simonelli also discussed the possibility of relocating an Italian league match between AC Milan and Como to Australia next February. "We have submitted an official request to the Italian Federation, UEFA, and FIFA," he said. "It's a long and complex process, but we haven't received any negative feedback so far. "We came up with this idea because San Siro will be closed for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. "We have an obligation to find another stadium and we're trying to turn it into an opportunity by promoting our championship abroad," he added. — AFP
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Napoli hold edge in Serie A's grand finale
Napoli may be stumbling towards the finish line following back-to-back draws, but they remain in pole position ahead of Inter Milan going into their final Serie A matches on Friday. With 90 minutes left in the season, Napoli hold a one-point advantage over Inter after a campaign in which the two teams have regularly swapped places at the top of the standings. Napoli host a Cagliari side safe from relegation, while Inter face a tough test at in-form Como who are unbeaten in their last eight matches. The odds favour Napoli, with league president Ezio Simonelli due to be in Naples with the trophy ready for a potential coronation. Napoli coach Antonio Conte is almost certain to be without midfield anchor Stanislav Lobotka, leaving the engine room duties to Scotland's Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay. At the back, injuries have ruled out Juan Jesus and Alessandro Buongiorno. Inter boss Simone Inzaghi faces a raft of tough selection calls - and like Conte will be forced to watch the season finale from the stands due to a touch-line ban. With the Champions League final looming and key players Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi still short of full fitness, Inter may be forced to keep both on the bench or leave them out altogether. FOURTH PLACE The race for the final Champions League spot remains intense. Napoli, Inter and Atalanta have qualified and Juventus occupy fourth place, one point clear of AS Roma and two points ahead of Lazio. Juventus, who need a victory to be sure of Champions League qualification, should be good enough to overcome second-bottom Venezia when they meet on Sunday. Juve will likely be without injury-plagued midfielder Teun Koopmeiners while Nicolo Savona, Pierre Kalulu and Khephren Thuram all return from suspension. Roma will say farewell to coach Claudio Ranieri in his last match, having turned around their season with only seven losses in his 35 matches in charge in all competitions before Sunday's game at midtable Torino. Roma need Juve to drop points in order to have a chance to leapfrog them into the top four and with no new injury concerns, Ranieri is unlikely to make changes to his team. Lazio close out their season with a home match against Lecce and their faint hopes of earning a Champions League spot rest on Juve losing and Roma also dropping points, while they beat their relegation-threatened opponents. The mood at San Siro on Saturday will be anything but festive as AC Milan host already relegated Monza in what could be Milan manager Sergio Conceicao's final match - though he won't be in the dugout due to a suspension. Ninth-placed Milan will have no European football next season and while a win in their final game might lift them a place or two, overall it has been a campaign to forget for the 19-times champions. At the bottom of the table, the battle to avoid joining Monza in relegation is fierce. Venezia sit 19th with 29 points, while Empoli and Lecce share the final relegation spot on 31 points. Parma and Hellas Verona are also under pressure with 33 and 34 points respectively. Empoli host Verona in Sunday's final match, while Parma face a tough trip to Atalanta, who have little left to play for. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Fox Sports
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Everything about Serie A is uncertain heading into the final two rounds
Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Almost everything in Serie A is still uncertain heading into the penultimate round this weekend. Two teams are fighting for the title, six sides are trying to avoid relegation, and four clubs are vying for the final Champions League spot — with another two still in with a slim chance of snatching fourth spot. That is why all but one of the 10 matches on Sunday are kicking off simultaneously, at 9:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT). Only Atalanta's match against Genoa has nothing at stake, with Atalanta having already secured third spot and Genoa Serie A safety. 'The Italian league is the most exciting and uncertain in the world and this year an unprecedented season finale awaits us, with almost all the teams still fighting for different objectives,' said Ezio Simonelli, the president of the league's governing body. So uncertain is the title race that when some matches in the final round will be played is anyone's guess. It is a race between defending champion Inter Milan and league leader Napoli, which is trying to reclaim the crown it won two years ago followed by one of the worst title defenses in history last season, when it went through three coaches and finished 10th. Antonio Conte has brought stability and discipline to Napoli and is looking to steer a third team to the Serie A title, having won it at Inter and three times at Juventus. Napoli visits relegation-threatened Parma on Sunday with a one-point advantage over Inter. The Nerazzurri host fifth-placed Lazio. That raises the very real possibility that, for the first time in more than 60 years, a playoff will decide the destination of the championship. Playoff decides title? In 2022, Lega Serie A reintroduced a rule that if two teams competing for the title or to avoid relegation finish level on points, the matter must be settled with a playoff. Those playoffs (which in the past also included teams tied for a European qualification spot) were scrapped in 2005. Coincidentally, Inter was involved on the only previous occasion that a Serie A title was decided by a playoff. It lost to Bologna 2-0 in 1964. The final round is set for May 24-25. But if it is needed, a playoff match would be difficult to schedule with the Nerazzurri also involved in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain a week later. One idea that has been mooted is to move Napoli's and Inter's final matches — against Cagliari and Como respectively — to next Thursday, freeing up the Sunday for a potential playoff. At a meeting on Monday, with nearly every club represented, the Lega Serie A decided to keep the final round as is — for the moment. 'We had a board meeting and decided not to change anything, so at the moment the matches will be played on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25,' Simonelli said this week. 'We are waiting for the results of the penultimate round and if needed there will be another meeting, which could confirm this decision or change it. 'I'll leave it up to the board. If it changes its mind, then we'll change things.' This could all be moot on Sunday night if Napoli wins and Inter loses, then the Serie A trophy will be returning south. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Everything about Serie A is uncertain heading into the final two rounds
MILAN (AP) — Almost everything in Serie A is still uncertain heading into the penultimate round this weekend. Two teams are fighting for the title, six sides are trying to avoid relegation, and four clubs are vying for the final Champions League spot — with another two still in with a slim chance of snatching fourth spot. That is why all but one of the 10 matches on Sunday are kicking off simultaneously, at 9:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT). Only Atalanta's match against Genoa has nothing at stake, with Atalanta having already secured third spot and Genoa Serie A safety. 'The Italian league is the most exciting and uncertain in the world and this year an unprecedented season finale awaits us, with almost all the teams still fighting for different objectives,' said Ezio Simonelli, the president of the league's governing body. So uncertain is the title race that when some matches in the final round will be played is anyone's guess. It is a race between defending champion Inter Milan and league leader Napoli, which is trying to reclaim the crown it won two years ago followed by one of the worst title defenses in history last season, when it went through three coaches and finished 10th. Antonio Conte has brought stability and discipline to Napoli and is looking to steer a third team to the Serie A title, having won it at Inter and three times at Juventus. Napoli visits relegation-threatened Parma on Sunday with a one-point advantage over Inter. The Nerazzurri host fifth-placed Lazio. That raises the very real possibility that, for the first time in more than 60 years, a playoff will decide the destination of the championship. Playoff decides title? In 2022, Lega Serie A reintroduced a rule that if two teams competing for the title or to avoid relegation finish level on points, the matter must be settled with a playoff. Those playoffs (which in the past also included teams tied for a European qualification spot) were scrapped in 2005. Coincidentally, Inter was involved on the only previous occasion that a Serie A title was decided by a playoff. It lost to Bologna 2-0 in 1964. The final round is set for May 24-25. But if it is needed, a playoff match would be difficult to schedule with the Nerazzurri also involved in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain a week later. One idea that has been mooted is to move Napoli's and Inter's final matches — against Cagliari and Como respectively — to next Thursday, freeing up the Sunday for a potential playoff. At a meeting on Monday, with nearly every club represented, the Lega Serie A decided to keep the final round as is — for the moment. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'We had a board meeting and decided not to change anything, so at the moment the matches will be played on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25,' Simonelli said this week. 'We are waiting for the results of the penultimate round and if needed there will be another meeting, which could confirm this decision or change it. 'I'll leave it up to the board. If it changes its mind, then we'll change things.' This could all be moot on Sunday night if Napoli wins and Inter loses, then the Serie A trophy will be returning south. ___ AP soccer:
