14 Sports Monday, January 25, 2021 Arthur bags first Juve goal in Bologna win to put pressure on Milan teams AC Milan stay top despite Atalanta defeat as rivals Inter held MILAN: Brazilian midfielder Arthur scored his first react,” said Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “Now the goal for champions Juventus in a 2-0 win over difficult phase begins.” Bologna yesterday to pile the pressure on the Milan Milan were outplayed at home with Atalanta’s teams. Andrea Pirlo’s side bounced back from last Cristian Romero heading in the first goal after 26 weekend’s 2-0 league defeat by Inter Milan, and fol- minutes in the San Siro. Josip Ilicic added a second lowed on from their morale-boosting Italian Super from the penalty spot eight minutes after the break Cup triumph over Napoli midweek. after receiving a Franck Kessie elbow in the face. AC Milan held top spot in Serie A on Saturday Ibrahimovic missed a chance to equalize just despite falling 3-0 at home against Atalanta after before half time with the veteran Swede sending second-placed Inter were held to a goalless draw at side. Milan’s new signing Mario Mandzukic came off Udinese. Roma are third after a 4-3 win over Spezia the bench for the final 20 minutes but could not find on Saturday with Juventus moving fourth ahead of the net on his debut despite testing Atalanta keeper Atalanta into the Champions League berths, seven Pierluigi Gollini. points behind AC Milan with a game in hand. Colombian striker Duvan Zapata connected with Juventus dominated 13th-placed Bologna in Turin a Romero cross to seal the three points with quarter with Arthur breaking through after quarter of an of an hour to go in the San Siro. For the first time hour with a shot that took a big deflection off this season Milan failed to score a goal, falling to Bologna defender Jerdy Schouten. It was the first their second defeat this campaign after losing to goal for the ex-Barcelona player in 19 appearances Juventus earlier this month. since joining Juventus last summer from the Liga Atalanta move fourth into the Champions League side in a transfer worth up to 82 million euros ($99 places, seven points behind the leaders, and two million). US midfielder Weston McKennie got the points adrift of Roma who went third after a 4-3 win second on 71 minutes nodding in off a corner. over Spezia. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini hailed “one Bologna could have suffered more but for goalkeep- of our best performances in recent years”. “Tonight er ?ukasz Skorupski. The Pole kept out a quick-fire we were a bit superior on everything, a great satis- double in the first half from Cristiano Ronaldo and faction to play like this in the San Siro.” TURIN: Juventus’ American midfielder Weston McKennie (second right) celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A Federico Bernardeschi off the rebound. football match Juventus vs Bologna yesterday at the Juventus stadium in Turin. — AFP Juan Cuadrado sent over after half an hour with Conte sees red Skorupski getting a hand to a Weston McKennie Antonio Conte’s Inter failed to follow on from turmoil since their chaotic 4-2 extra-time loss to six-minute spell at the Stadio Olimpico. An error effort three minutes before the break. Dutch defend- their win over Juventus last weekend, and the chance Spezia on Tuesday. The official scoreline was from Chris Smalling allowed former Roma winger er Matthijs de Ligt returned from coronaivrus, com- to go top with a victory in Udine. Chances were few changed to 3-0 on Friday, as Roma made six substi- Verde to equalise in the 90th minute, firing home ing off the bench for the last quarter of an hour. for Inter with Lautaro Martinez having a goal ruled tutions, with just five allowed, during the last-16 left-footed after the England defender missed his As Juventus pushed for a third, Skorupski offside and Nicolo Barella volleying wide in the rain. clash which they finished with nine men. Captain attempted clearance. denied two more off Adrien Rabiot and Ronaldo in Frustrations boiled over with Conte banished Edin Dzeko was left out of the team on Saturday, Pellegrini had the final say, though, drilling the ball the final minutes. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from the sidelines at the end of the game for arguing officially because of a muscular injury, but amid into the roof of the net from close range after Bruno returns for the southerners for the first time since with the referee. “I think that more time could have reports of a fall-out with Fonseca. Peres’ unselfish cutback. It was a first league win in November 8 after recovering from a shoulder been added on. I made the point to the referee and Borja Mayoral scored a double for the hosts, net- three games for Roma, after last week’s defeat by injury and coronavirus. he sent me off,” he said. ting the first after quarter of an hour, only for Roberto Lazio in the Rome derby and a draw with title rivals In Rome, Lorenzo Pellegrini scored a last-gasp Piccoli to pull 14th-placed Spezia level seven minutes Inter Milan. “The team has come through a really Milan’s lead cut winner as Roma bounced back after their Italian later by pouncing on a mistake by home goalkeeper tough week where we lost two games that we Stefano Pioli’s Milan saw their lead on second- Cup defeat by Spezia with a 4-3 win over the pro- Pau Lopez. Real Madrid loanee Mayoral slotted home shouldn’t have,” Pellegrini said. “This should bring a placed Inter cut to two points but hold pole position moted side. Pellegrini blasted home in injury time, his second on 52 minutes, before Rick Karsdorp bit of calm.” Fiorentina, in 12th, eased their relega- at the half-way stage of the season for the first time minutes after Daniele Verde had pulled Spezia level, tapped in to make it 3-1 three minutes later. tion worries with a 2-1 win over rock bottom since they last won the title in 2011. “Being winter with relieved Roma coach Paulo Fonseca racing to Diego Farias again responded for the visitors just Crotone, thanks to first half goals from Giacomo champions means nothing to me, now we have to hug the midfielder. The capital side have been in before the hour, scoring the third goal of a dramatic Bonaventura and Dusan Vlahovica. — AFP Abraham’s hat-trick Hazard leads Real takes heat off Lampard as Chelsea Madrid to Alaves rout MADRID: Eden Hazard said Bettoni. “I think the best advance in FA Cup scored one goal and set up version of Hazard has been another as Real Madrid seen a little today and that LONDON: Tammy Abraham eased the pres- thrashed Alaves 4-1 on every game we’ll see it a bit sure on under-fire Frank Lampard as the Saturday to ease the pressure more.” Chelsea striker’s hat-trick sealed a 3-1 win on their coach Zinedine Benzema was the chief ben- against Luton in the FA Cup fourth round yes- Zidane, who was absent after eficiary as Madrid forgot their terday. In just his second season in charge at testing positive for COVID-19. recent woes in attack. There Chelsea, Lampard is fighting to avoid the sack Zidane’s position has come were strong performances too after a wretched run in the Premier League. under scrutiny again after from Toni Kroos, Casemiro An embarrassing FA Cup exit against Wednesday’s defeat by third- and Luka Modric in midfield, Championship opposition would have pushed tier side Alcoyano in the Copa the latter providing a handful Lampard closer to the axe, but Abraham’s clin- del Rey but Madrid responded of supreme passes, one of LONDON: Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham (center left) heads home their second goal during the ical display gave his manager some much- at Mendizorroza without their which led to Benzema’s second needed breathing space. Abraham scored English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in coach, or their captain Sergio and Madrid’s fourth. twice in the first half before Jordan Clark got London yesterday. — AFP Ramos, who was out with a Madrid’s first half was one back for Luton after yet another blunder knee injury. probably their best of the sea- from Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Abraham’s movement was too clever for Luton standing Ben Tozer’s long throw and Alfie May Goals from Casemiro, son, prompted by an early Luton gave Lampard some nervous and the striker netted again six minutes later. fired in from close range just before the hour Karim Benzema and Hazard goal from Casemiro to boost moments after that, before Abraham finally sent Reece James hooked a cross into the Luton mark. Guardiola threw on Ilkay Gundogan and put Madrid three up at half- confidence, the Brazilian head- Chelsea through to a last 16 tie at second tier area and Abraham got in front of his marker to Joao Cancelo in a desperate bid to find a way time and while Alaves briefly ing Kroos’ corner inside the Barnsley. Lampard will know that Chelsea, who power an unstoppable header over Sluga for back into the game and was rewarded in the threatened a fightback when post. Hazard scuffed a chance were FA Cup runners-up last season, are still a his 10th goal of the season.