AC Milan
Derby della Madonnina Ends In A Stalemate And Napoli Lose Ground On Juventus – Serie A Week 26 Wrap Up
With another week of Serie A football in the books, it’s time to take stock of the action around the peninsula. With blizzards, a rash of red cards, dramatic victories, and one Derby della Madonnina all part of the mix, entertainment was at the prime level we all expect from the Italian top flight.
Palermo and Genoa drew 0-0 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera to kick off the weekend on Saturday, a result the Grifone are undoubtedly far more satisfied with as they currently sit five points clear of the drop zone, whilst the Rosanero are now six points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table after failing to snatch the spoils. The Sicilian club immediately prolonged its extended run of managerial madness following the stalemate, with axe-wielding owner Maurizio Zamparini deposing tactician Alberto Malesani after only his third match in charge in favor of Gian Piero Gasperini, the same man that was fired from the post three weeks prior. The sacking and subsequent appointment have seen Zamparini reach a rather dubious milestone, marking his 50th coaching hire since taking charge of Palermo in 2002.
Sunday’s lunchtime encounter witnessed Sampdoria claim a 2-0 victory over Chievo at a rainy Stadio Luigi Ferraris, with Andrea Poli and Eder each on target for the Blucerchiati. The young Italian is sure to see his transfer market stock rise after a dominant display of versatility and talent in midfield over the 90 minutes amidst sloppy weather conditions.
Juventus pull ahead of Napoli
Later in the afternoon, Juventus cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win against strugglers Siena courtesy of strikes from Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sebastian Giovinco, and Paul Pogba, whilst Catania’s miraculous season continued with a favorable 2-1 result at the notoriously hostile Stadio Ennio Tardini. Set-piece specialist Francesco Lodi snuck in a cunning free-kick early on to give the Elefanti the lead, with Keko adding the insurance strike on his debut before Amauri grabbed a late consolation for the Ducali. Rolando Maran’s men are now just two points shy of the final Europa League place in the Serie A table, and have signalled their intent to do battle with their rivals until the bitter end to secure a spot in continental competition.
Elsewhere, Roma earned their second straight victory, coming out on top 3-2 away to Atalanta. January signing Marko Livaja hit a brace for La Dea as a blizzard raged in Bergamo, but a quality strike from Marquinho, Miralem Pjanic’s sumptuous free-kick, and Vassilas Torosidis’ looping header on 71 minutes were enough for the Giallorossi to take full points. The Greek’s cranial effort was his first goal for the capital club after signing from Olympiakos in the winter transfer window, and clinched caretaker manager Aurelio Andreazzoli’s second win at the helm in his first three games. Roma have moved to within four points of the European places in downing the Orobici, a welcome sight for tifosi after the club seemed out of contention just two weeks ago.
Cagliari and Torino rounded out the afternoon schedule with a cracking match at the Is Arenas that finished 4-3 to the Isolani and included three penalties and two red cards. The Granata were ahead 2-1 until Daniele Conti equalised for the home side on 75 minutes, setting up a dramatic final quarter-hour in which Angelo Ogbonna and Abou Diop were each dismissed for Torino. After Mauricio Pinilla gave the Sardinians their first lead of the day with a well-taken spot-kick on 87 minutes, Rolando Bianchi restored parity with a penalty of his own in stoppages before Conti amazingly clinched victory for Cagliari with a last-gasp strike from distance. The thrilling encounter was unfortunately played behind closed doors to an empty stadium in connection to concerns over the Is Arenas’ safety and Rossoblu president Massimo Cellino’s alleged use of fraudulent means to construct the venue. Nevertheless, Cagliari have received a boost in going 10 points above the relegation zone, having gone undefeated in their last seven Serie A bouts.
The marquee matchup of the weekend pitted arch rivals AC Milan and Inter against each other in the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday evening, the famous fixture ending in a 1-1 draw. The Rossoneri came out swinging as the supreme aggressor in the opening period, taking the lead on a wonderful finish by young sensation Stephan El Shaarawy with the outside of his boot. The Nerazzurri struggled to contend defensively with the energy and pace of opposition fullbacks Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio, whilst Riccardo Montolivo bossed the midfield repeatedly panicked Inter’s back line with his incisive distribution.
The Diavolo would have gone into halftime with a far greater lead had it not been for the exploits of Samir Handanovic in goal, who twice denied Mario Balotelli in fantastic fashion, amongst other stops. Andrea Stramaccioni made use of a number of tactical adjustments and his available substitutions to pull the Beneamata back into the match after the break, shoring up defensive frailties whilst January capture Ezequiel Schelotto came off the bench to flick home a picturesque header on 71 minutes for the equaliser. Milan saw the majority of the ball as the clock neared full time, but were unable to penetrate their rejuvenated adversaries’ barricades, having expended so much energy in the first half for such little reward. The draw leaves the two San Siro clubs still just one point apart in the table, the Rossoneri one rung above the Nerazzurri in fourth place.
Napoli slip yet again
Napoli lost ground on leaders Juventus on Monday evening, drawing 0-0 with Udinese at the Stadio Friuli. Zebrette stalwart defender Mehdi Benatia was injured early on in the match, whilst Partenopei hitman Edinson Cavani’s goalless streak in domestic play was extended to four games on the bounce. Lazio were untroubled by Pescara as they defeated the Delfini 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico courtesy of a pair of wonder strikes by Stefan Radu and Senad Lulic in the second match of the evening. With the win, the Aquile have regained possession of third place on 47 points, two ahead of closest competitor AC Milan.
Bologna and Fiorentina closed out the round on Tuesday, their encounter scheduled for Sunday at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara having been snowed off. The Viola jumped out in front midway through the first half courtesy of the in-form Adem Ljajic, but a poor start to the second period saw Marco Motta draw the Rossoblu level not long after the restart. Bologna continued to look the more likely of the two sides as the match wore on, and eventually got their just rewards when Lazaros Christodoulopoulos grabbed the winner late on for the hosts just 15 minutes into his Serie A debut. Bologna move 8 points clear of the drop zone with the win, whilst Fiorentina squandered the opportunity to snatch a share of fourth place, instead remaining in sixth on 42 points.
You can follow Ian Capasso on Twitter: @capasso10
The number eight shirt is worn by box-to-box midfielders with a sharp eye for goal and here we learn about the top 10 best number 8 football players of all time.
The number 8 soccer shirt isn’t as well-known as the numbers 7 (wings or second strikers), 9 (centre striker), or 10 (goalkeeper) (playmaker). However, everybody who wears this shirt has a significant role to play in the game. These midfielders are eager to create scoring opportunities for the club. Other soccer players have worn the number 8 shirt in positions other than the midfield.
10. Marco Tardelli
During his tenure with Juventus, the former midfielder is one of the few players in history to have won every major European title as well as everything there is in Italy. In addition, Marco Tardelli led Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup. Tardelli, one of the most decorated players in football history, began his career with Pisa in Serie C and subsequently moved to Como in Serie B before joining Juventus in 1975.
Before joining Internazionale in 1985, he spent most of his career with the Turin club, collecting several titles. Tardelli is largely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in history. Tardelli was a versatile midfielder who could play in a variety of positions. He was a hard-tackling midfielder who was also technically skilled.
9. Juninho Pernambucano
Juninho was a fantastic playmaker who went on to become one of Olympique Lyon’s all-time greats, giving countless assists and scoring over 100 goals throughout his career. He was hailed as the most stylish player of his team.
Juninho’s arrival rejuvenated the Lyon team, which had never won a domestic title previously. Juninho would go on to lead his team to seven straight Ligue 1 victories. He was chosen to the Ligue 1 team of the year three times and earned the player of the year award once.
8. Ian Wright
Ian Wright is a television personality and former soccer player. Following his playing career, he became heavily involved in soccer-related media. He is presently a BBC Sports and ITV commentator.
During his career, he played for Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham, Celtic, Burnley, and Nottingham Forest. He was able to win the Premier League while at Arsenal.
His finishing ferocity, quickness, and agility have made him a household name. Wright is Arsenal’s second-highest goal scorer and Crystal Palace’s third.
Wright scored nine goals in 33 appearances for England at the international level.
7. Gennaro Gattuso
On the field, the no-nonsense, uncompromising former AC Milan midfielder was an utter menace. His all-action, tough-tackling approach made him a fan favourite at San Siro. Gattuso was clearly identifiable by his number eight. In the mid-2000s, he was a vital player of the Rossoneri squad, which was very successful.
6. Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo was a productive forward, earning him the nickname El Pistolero (The Gunslinger), but he was also a fiery player, earning him the moniker “The Dagger.” Hristo competed in the FIFA World Cup for Bulgaria in 1994. Despite his team’s fourth-place result, he was awarded the World Cup Golden Boot for scoring the most goals in the tournament and the World Cup Bronze Ball for being the tournament’s third-best player.
Hristo earned the European Golden Shoe in 1990 as the highest scorer in Europe while playing for CSKA Sofia. He became a member of the Barcelona club that won four straight La Liga titles after arriving later in 1990. He presently works as a football analyst for TUDN.
5. Steven Gerrard
For many years, the ex-England star was the soul of his childhood club, Liverpool. While wearing his legendary number 8 shirt, the great Reds bestrode the Anfield turf. During his tenure at Liverpool, Gerrard was an inspirational captain who scored many key goals. Despite the fact that he did not win any league titles, he was able to lead his side to a UEFA Champions League victory in 2005.
4. Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus is regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time, having participated in five FIFA World Cups with Mexico’s Rafael Marquez. In 1990, Matthaus guided West Germany to World Cup victory. In his club career, he has represented Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan.
In 1990, he was voted European Player of the Year, and in 1991, he won the inaugural FIFA Player of the Year title. At the age of 38, he even received the German Footballer of the Year award in 1999. That only goes to demonstrate how reliable a performer he was on stage.
Matthaus is known for his marauding runs from midfield when his exceptional control and acceleration leave opponents for dead. The German legend has exceptional positional awareness, vision, and the ability to smash the ball into the back of the net from any distance. He was also a fantastic tackler and an all-around midfielder.
3. Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos is a World Cup champion and one of the best midfielders of his generation. He has been Real Madrid’s number eight for over a decade. Before joining Real Madrid in 2014 and wearing the number 8, he won the World Cup with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
Toni Kroos is a deep-lying playmaker who has led Real Madrid’s attacking squads for the past seven or eight seasons. Kroos, unlike many of the other players on this list, does not wow football fans with his ability, but he is the team’s beating heart, connecting the defensive line to the attack and beginning build-up play.
2. Frank Lampard
The Chelsea icon is widely regarded as one of the best English midfielders of all time. When he played for the Blues and England, the all-action goal-scoring box-to-box midfielder was known for wearing the number 8 shirt. Lampard has exceptional skill and vision, which enabled him to assist and score several goals throughout his illustrious career.
1. Andres Iniesta
The former Barcelona midfielder was one of the finest number 8 players in contemporary history. For rival defenders and midfielders alike, the twinkle-toed ex-Spanish international was a nightmare to face. His dribbling skill and penchant for always finding a way out of tight circumstances made him one of football’s most dangerous opponents.
He established a deadly midfield triangle with Xavi Hernández and Sergio Busquets that helped Barcelona win several La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and UEFA Champions League trophies. Andres also demonstrated his knack for scoring crucial goals. Take, for example, a crucial goal that helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Not to mention his two goals in the 4-0 thrashing of fellow finalists in the 2012 Euro final in Italy. He has been one of the best footballers in history. Iniesta was the greatest player of Spain during his days.
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Who Is Carol Dias? Meet The Wife Of Kaka
Carol Dias is famous for being the wife of Brazilian legend Kaka. Read on to learn more about her nationality, net worth, facts and family.
Despite coming from a humble background, Carol Dias has already made millions in the modelling and acting industry. Later on, in this article, we will learn more about her profession. But our main focus will be the beautiful relationship between Romarey and Brazilian legend Kaka.
Kaka is considered one of the greatest attacking midfielders Brazil ever produced. Playing with AC Milan, Kaka has achieved major triumphs. However, his greatest display came for the national team, when he helped them to win the 2002 World Cup. Kaka became a family man in 2019 when he married Carol Dias. So, let’s find out more about the stunning wife of Kaka.
Carol Dias Childhood and Family
Carol Dias was born on August 11, 1995, in Goiania, Brazil, making her Brazilian nationality. Despite having a significant online presence, she never discussed her private life on any public media. That’s why we currently don’t know the name of her parents and their occupations.
Whether she has any siblings is also unknown. We believe she didn’t have an entirely comfortable childhood, but her parents did everything to make sure she got a good headstart in her life. We are still looking for the missing information and will update the article if we find something new. So stay tuned to learn more about the stunning girlfriend of Kaka.
Carol Dias Education
Carol went to a local high school in her hometown. She was a curious student who always looked for explanations. Once she found something interesting, she would spend hours reading and researching the topic. Even though we don’t know whether the Brazilian beauty went to college, we believe she must have skipped higher studies in order to pursue a career in modelling.
Carol Dias career
Carol is a professional model. She was passionate about modelling from childhood. After deciding to go forward with modelling in her career, she started shooting for local photographers, which earned her a reasonable amount. Due to her striking looks and photogenic body, she gained popularity among experienced photographers. The Ford Modeling Agency represents her.
Her work includes collaborating with brands like Eve Beauty and EasySim 4U. She acts as a brand ambassador for many famous brands, including Soller Assessoria and Choisir. After her modelling career took off, Carol decided to take a shot at acting. She has featured in several episodes of ‘Pânico na TV’.
Carol Dias Net Worth
Carol hasn’t shared any information about her earnings. We couldn’t calculate her net worth as we don’t have the exact number of her yearly wages. However, we believe she has accumulated a large sum from her modelling gigs and acting roles.
She enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, which comes at an attractive price. So she might have a significant net worth. We are looking for more information and will update the article if we find reliable data. Carol’s husband, Kaka, has accumulated a significant sum during his peak years.
Carol Dias and Kaka relationship
Kaka met his girlfriend in 2019 after getting separated from his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Celico. We are not pretty sure how they met. But we believe it was love at first sight as the duo was instantly attracted to each other’s charm, and it was only a matter of time before anyone made a move. The pair finally communicated each other’s feelings, and it was an accurate match.
After they started going out together more often, they realised that they had to spend the rest of their lives together. They finally tied the knot in 2019 at an extravagant marriage ceremony where all their friends and family members were invited.
Carol Dias and Kaka Children
The duo welcomed their first child, Esther Leite, on October 8, 2020. Kaka also has two children from his previous wife, Caroline Celico.
Carol Dias Social media
Kaka’s alluring looks became a hit on social media. She gained immense popularity on Instagram. She mostly shares images of herself in fashionable attires. She also adds snaps from her gym activities. Due to her large audience, she has a great potential of earning money if she starts monetising. She also has a couple of collaborations. Carolina Dias shares her activities on stories and posts.
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Asmir Begovic is a Bosnian professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Leicester City and for the Bosnian national team and in this article, we will see more about the player’s Net Worth, Salary, Sponsors, Wife, Tattoos, Cars, and more.
Asmir Begovic joined the Premier League club Everton from Italian club AC Milan in 2021. He is a talented and experienced goalkeeper who has established himself as one of the best in the Premier League and Europe. He is currently the backup goalkeeper for the English keeper Jordan Pickford at Everton.
Asmir represents Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national team and has been a great leader for the team with experience over 50 appearances for the national team. Let us get to know more about the player’s profile in the following paragraphs.
Asmir Begovic’s Net Worth and Salary
Asmir is a young player and footballing has contributed much to his earnings. The player’s net worth is estimated to be £22 m as of 2026. The market value of the player in 2026 is valued at €3.00m by Transfermarkt. He currently earns a salary of £676,000 per year playing for Leicester City.
Asmir Begovic Club Career
Asmir began his career at Portsmouth, before moving to Stoke City in 2010. He spent five seasons with the Potters, becoming their first-choice goalkeeper and earning a reputation as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League.
In 2015, Begovic joined Chelsea as a backup to Thibaut Courtois, but still managed to make over 50 appearances for the club across all competitions, including starting in the Premier League and Champions League. He then moved on to AFC Bournemouth in 2017, where he played for two seasons before joining AC Milan in 2019.
After a loan period with AC Milan for 6 months, he joined the Premier League club Everton on 20 July 2021 on a 12-month contract with an option to extend for a further year. He made his premier league for Everton debut against Aston Villa on 18 September 18 and the match resulted in a 3-0 loss. The footballer moved to Leicester City for the 2025 EFL Championship season.
Asmir Begovic International Career
Begovic has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2008, earning over 50 caps and serving as their captain. He played a crucial role in their qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, their first major tournament as an independent nation.
After the World Cup, Begovic continued to be a regular starter for the national team, helping them qualify for the 2016 European Championship and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was also appointed as the team’s captain, a role he held for several years. The goalkeeper was a part of the national team for 11 years.
Asmir Begovic Family
Asmir was born on 20 June 1987 in Trebinje, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. His parents are Amir and Ajnija Begovic. His father Amir, was also a goalkeeper who played for Leotar and Iskra Bugojno whilst his mother, Ajnija, hails from Stolac.
The Begović family fled the Bosnian War to Germany when Asmir was four years old, where he began to play organized football with the local youth club FC Kirchhausen in Heilbronn. When he was 10, his family moved to Edmonton in Canada. Throughout Asmirs football career, they have always supported him both mentally and financially.
Asmir Begovic’s Wife – Nicolle Begovic
Asmir Begovic is married to Nicolle Begovic. She is a dedicated equestrian athlete with a resolute approach and commitment to the much-loved sport of Dressage. With a strong commitment and high expectations of the sport to which she has dedicated herself full-time, Nicolle demands high expectations of herself and her approach to the discipline she loves with a passion. The couple also has two daughters. the name of the eldest daughter is Taylor. The youngest one’s name is not available.
Asmir Begovic Sponsors and Endorsements
The Goalkeeper has not been seen endorsing any company on his social media accounts. But Asmir is the founder of the Asmir Begovic Foundation. This is a non-profit organization that has been created to help needy children. It also helps to build and rebuild recreational facilities in England and Bosnia.
Asmir Begovic Cars and Tattoos
Asmir Begovic has been spotted driving a Jeep in the streets of Bournemouth. Unlike many footballers, the player seems not fond of tattooing his body.
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