AC Milan Stalemate Piles on Misery for Juventus

Early strike: Juventus forward Alvaro Morata celebrates his fourth-minute opener. Isabella BONOTTO AFP
Early strike: Juventus forward Alvaro Morata celebrates his fourth-minute opener. Isabella BONOTTO AFP
TT

AC Milan Stalemate Piles on Misery for Juventus

Early strike: Juventus forward Alvaro Morata celebrates his fourth-minute opener. Isabella BONOTTO AFP
Early strike: Juventus forward Alvaro Morata celebrates his fourth-minute opener. Isabella BONOTTO AFP

Juventus were left struggling in the unlikely surroundings of Serie A's bottom three on Sunday after a 1-1 draw with AC Milan kept them searching for a first league win this season.

Alvaro Morata's fourth-minute goal gave Juve the lead but Ante Rebic headed in a 76th-minute equalizer as Milan ended the weekend in second place on goal difference behind city rivals Inter who crushed Bologna 6-1 on Saturday, Agence France-Presse reported.

Milan could have won the match in the dying moments but Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny pulled off a brilliant point-blank save to deny Pierre Kalulu.

Juventus, still reeling from the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, are 18th with just two points from four games with only Cagliari and Salernitana propping them up.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri had harsh words for some of his stars.

"You have to be determined, to bring home the tackle, keep focused. This is part of the general growth process of some players," he said.

"I will admit that I made mistakes on the substitutions, I got it wrong. I should've put more defensive players on and put the 1-0 lead under lock and key, so I take responsibility for that."

Milan, missing both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud, dropped their first league points of the season.

However, they will be relieved not to have lost back-to-back games having gone down to Liverpool in the Champions League in midweek.

Spanish international Morata temporarily allowed Juventus fans to forget about Ronaldo when he sped away from Theo Hernandez before coolly slotting the ball past Mike Maignan in goal.

Milan only threatened through three long distance attempts from Sandro Tonali in the fitst half.

But Croatian winger Rebic preserved Milan's unbeaten league start by heading in a Tonali corner with 14 minutes left.

"We came here to win the game," said Milan coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN.

"Juventus did better in the first 20 minutes, were more determined and focused, but we continued playing and did much better towards the end with chances to win, so it was overall a positive performance."

Roma dropped their first points in Serie A under Jose Mourinho as Verona came from behind to earn new coach Igor Tudor a 3-2 victory on his debut.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's clever backheel flick gave visitors Roma a half-time lead in the pouring rain as they sought a fourth successive win to start the season.

- Mourinho beaten -Antonin Barak equalized for Verona shortly after the interval and Gianluca Caprari put the hosts ahead with a precise finish five minutes later.

Ivan Ilic turned a Pellegrini cross into his own goal to bring Roma level before the hour, but Davide Faraoni's brilliant volley secured the win for Verona to halt a run of three straight losses.

"I knew their qualities, even before the change in coach," Mourinho told DAZN.

"They'd already posed big problems to their opponents. And when there's a coaching change there's often a reaction mentally, it can happen."

Roma's city rivals Lazio needed a late goal from Danilo Cataldi to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Cagliari.

Ciro Immobile struck for the fifth time in four games as Lazio went ahead just before the break.

Joao Pedro's looping header pegged Lazio back right at the start of the second half, with Keita Balde then firing home against his former club to put Cagliari on top.

But the Sardinian club couldn't hold on for victory in Walter Mazzarri's first game in charge as Cataldi fired into the top corner seven minutes from time to rescue Lazio.

Venezia's first Serie A home match since the 2001-02 season ended in a crushing 2-1 loss to Spezia.

Simone Bastoni curled in a sensational effort as Spezia grabbed an early lead at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, an intriguing ground set on the south-eastern tip of Venice's main archipelago.

Pietro Ceccaroni headed Venezia level on the hour but Mehdi Bourabia's brilliant injury-time strike from distance claimed Thiago Motta's Spezia a first win.



Emery Has Arsenal Score to Settle with Surging Aston Villa

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
TT

Emery Has Arsenal Score to Settle with Surging Aston Villa

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts to his team's equalizer during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa, in London, Britain, 27 December 2025. (EPA)

Unai Emery returns to the scene of one of his few managerial failures on Tuesday, aiming to land a huge blow to former club Arsenal's ambitions of a first Premier League title for 22 years.

Dismissed by the Gunners in 2019 just over a year after succeeding Arsene Wenger, Emery's second spell in English football has been a very different story.

The Spaniard has awoken a sleeping giant in Villa, transforming the Birmingham-based club from battling relegation to contending for their first league title since 1981.

An impressive 2-1 win at Chelsea on Saturday extended Villa's winning run in all competitions to 11 -- their longest streak of victories since 1914.

That form has taken Emery's men to within three points of Arsenal at the top of the table despite failing to win any of their opening six matches of the season.

"We are competing very well. We are third in the league behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Wow," said Emery after he masterminded a second half turnaround at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Villa were outclassed by the Blues and trailing 1-0 until a triple substitution on the hour mark changed the game.

Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score twice and hailed his manager's change of system as "tactical genius" afterwards.

Few believe Villa will still be able to last the course against the far greater riches and squad depth of Arsenal and City over the course of 20 more games.

But a title challenge is just the next step on an upward trajectory since Emery took charge just over three years ago.

After a 13-year absence from Europe, including a three-year spell in the second-tier Championship, the Villains have qualified for continental competition for the past three seasons.

Paris Saint-Germain were on the ropes at Villa Park in April but escaped to win a thrilling Champions League quarter-final 5-4 on aggregate before going on to win the competition for the first time.

Arsenal also left Birmingham beaten earlier this month, their only defeat in their last 24 games in all competitions.

However, Emery getting the upper hand over his former employers is a common occurrence.

The 54-year-old has lost just twice in 10 meetings against Arsenal during spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal and Villa, including a 2-0 win at the Emirates in April 2024 that ultimately cost Mikel Arteta's men the title.

Even Emery's ill-fated 18 months in north London were far from disastrous with the benefit of hindsight.

He inherited a club in decline during Wenger's final years but only narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in his sole full season in charge and reached the Europa League final.

Arsenal's loss has been to Villa's advantage.

For now Arsenal remain the outsiders in a three-horse race but inflicting another bloody nose to the title favorites will silence any doubters that Emery's men are serious contenders.


Ronaldo Confident of Reaching 1,000 Goals, Keen to Keep Playing

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)
TT

Ronaldo Confident of Reaching 1,000 Goals, Keen to Keep Playing

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Nassr v Al-Okhdood - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 27, 2025 Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review. (Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo said his passion for the game remains undimmed and that he ​is still motivated to reach his target of 1,000 career goals after the Portuguese forward was named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai ‌on Sunday.

Ronaldo's double for ‌Saudi ⁠side ​Al-Nassr ‌on Saturday took his tally to 956 goals for club and country, and with the 40-year-old set to play on for "one or two more years" his ⁠target looks achievable.

"It’s hard to continue ‌playing, but I am ‍motivated,” he ‍said after receiving the award ‍for the second consecutive year.

"My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn't matter where ​I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. ⁠I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.

"You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number (1,000 goals) that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, ‌if no injuries."


Wawrinka ‘at Peace’ with Retirement but No Plans to Go Quietly

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)
TT

Wawrinka ‘at Peace’ with Retirement but No Plans to Go Quietly

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley during their men's singles match on day 2 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2025. (AFP)

Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka said Monday he was "at peace" with his decision to make 2026 his last year on tour but insisted there were still goals to meet.

The 40-year-old announced this month that he plans to call it quits, with the United Cup in Perth starting Friday the beginning of the end for the popular Swiss star.

"Of course, I'm still passionate about the game, about the sport I love," he said.

"What I received from it, the emotion playing in a different country, coming back here with a lot of fans, a lot of support, so I'm going to miss that part, that's for sure," he said.

"The last few months, I've had time to decide whether it will be my last year or not, and for me, it's quite clear. I'm happy with the decision, I'm at peace with that."

Wawrinka won the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016, at a time when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were dominating men's tennis.

A former world number three, he is now ranked 157 after struggling with injuries but said he would work as hard as ever this season.

"I still want to play some good tennis, I still have goals. Hopefully I can come back in the top 100, finish on a good ranking," he said.

"I want to play the full year, the big tournaments, the main ones, and let's see my ranking in the next few months."

Wawrinka has 16 career ATP titles although the last came in Geneva in 2017.

He won Olympic gold in doubles alongside Federer at Beijing in 2008 and helped deliver a first Davis Cup triumph for Switzerland in 2014.

Wawrinka leads a Swiss team also boasting world number 11 Belinda Bencic at the mixed-teams United Cup where they are grouped with France and Italy.