Ageless Ibrahimović Scores 2 as AC Milan Wins 3-1 at Napoli

Zlatan Ibrahimović. (AP)
Zlatan Ibrahimović. (AP)
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Ageless Ibrahimović Scores 2 as AC Milan Wins 3-1 at Napoli

Zlatan Ibrahimović. (AP)
Zlatan Ibrahimović. (AP)

Zlatan Ibrahimović remains unstoppable and AC Milan remains unbeaten atop Serie A.

The 39-year-old Ibrahimović scored twice to raise his total to 10 goals in six games played as Milan won 3-1 at Napoli on Sunday.

“He seems even stronger now than he was 10-12 years ago,” said Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso, who teamed with Ibrahimović when Milan last won the Italian league in 2011.

However, there was concern for Ibrahimović when he exited toward the end clutching his hamstring. The Swedish superstar already missed two games this season after contracting the coronavirus.

“It looks like a muscular problem but we’ll have to wait a few days to understand the extent of it,” said Milan assistant coach Daniele Bonera, who was standing in for head coach Stefano Pioli, who has the coronavirus.

The Rossoneri again moved two points ahead of Sassuolo, which won 2-0 at Hellas Verona earlier to also remain undefeated through eight rounds.

Having also beaten Inter Milan in the city derby and drawn with Roma, Milan’s unexpected title credentials are growing week by week.

Milan finished no better than fifth the past seven seasons.

“It shows that we’re on the right track,” Bonera said. “But it’s really premature after eight rounds to talk about what might happen in May. There’s a long way to go.”

Ibrahimović soared above Kalidou Koulibaly to head in from long range following a cross from Theo Hernandez midway through the first half.

After Giovanni Di Lorenzo hit the crossbar for Napoli, Ibrahimović used his thigh to steer in another goal by the far post following a cross from Ante Rebić near the hour mark.

Dries Mertens pulled one back for Napoli less than 10 minutes later from close range after getting away from Alessio Romagnoli.

But Napoli’s comeback quickly lost steam when Tiémoué Bakayoko was sent off after picking up his second yellow card for a foul on Hernandez.

Jens Petter Hauge added another goal for Milan five minutes into stoppage time, from a tight angle.

Super Sassuolo
It is only Sassuolo’s eighth season in the Italian top flight and the team has never finished higher than sixth. But a Champions League spot is now in site for the Emilia-Romagna club.

Verona dominated the match, hitting the woodwork four times. But Sassuolo broke the deadlock three minutes from the interval and against the run of play.

Jérémie Boga latched onto Domenico Berardi’s crossfield pass and curled it into the far top corner.

Berardi got onto the scoresheet himself in the 76th minute as Verona players failed to close him down before he unleashed a shot that took a slight deflection to dip under the crossbar.

Sassuolo remained one point ahead of third-place Roma, which beat Parma 3-0.

Inter comeback
Two late goals helped Inter Milan fight back from 2-0 down to beat Torino 4-2 thanks to an inspired Romelu Lukaku.

Both sides had players ruled out with the coronavirus. Torino was also missing coach Marco Giampaolo because of the virus and forward Andrea Belotti pulled out injured during the warmup.

His replacement, Simone Zaza, fired Torino in front on the stroke of halftime and Cristian Ansaldi doubled the visitors’ lead in the 62nd from the penalty spot after Ashley Young fouled Wilfried Stephane Singo.

Inter pulled one back just two minutes later as Lukaku’s shot came off the crossbar with Alexis Sánchez managing to fire in the rebound.

Lukaku then hit the post before turning in Sánchez’s cross.

And Inter’s comeback was complete six minutes from time when Lukaku converted a penalty after Achraf Hakimi was tripped in the area by Nicolas Nkoulou.

Inter sealed the match in the final minute when Lukaku ran down the left and rolled across for Lautaro Martínez to tap in.

Other matches
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored twice in an impressive first half for Roma after Borja Mayoral’s opener.

Mkhitaryan has now scored five goals in his last two Serie A matches.

Cesare Prandelli’s first match back in charge of Fiorentina ended in a 1-0 defeat at home to Benevento.

Also, Bologna won 2-1 at Sampdoria and Udinese beat Genoa 1-0.



Barcelona Out to Prove Clasico Superiority in Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
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Barcelona Out to Prove Clasico Superiority in Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP

Hansi Flick's Barcelona are closing in on a potential quadruple this season but blocking their path are eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Although the Catalan giants, also in the Champions League semi-finals, are widely considered the best team in Spain at the moment, Carlo Ancelotti's faltering Los Blancos could claim both domestic titles still on the line.

Madrid trail leaders Barca by four points in La Liga, with another Clasico to come in May, but first the Spanish giants butt heads in Seville on Saturday in the Copa del Rey final.

Flick's Barcelona have emphatically bested Madrid on the two prior occasions they have met this season, first winning 4-0 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

Then Barca dismantled Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, roaring to a 5-2 victory to claim the first trophy of the Flick era.

Barcelona outplayed Madrid in both games but their German coach had nothing but praise for his Italian counterpart.

"Real Madrid has an incredible team and one of the best coaches in the world... He (Ancelotti) has won everything," said Flick on Tuesday.

"He's a gentleman... I have the highest respect.

"On Saturday, we play the final against Real Madrid and of course against Carlo."

Ancelotti will need to find ways to shut down Pedri in midfield as well as dynamic wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Madrid have lost 12 matches this season, compared to just two across all competitions in the previous campaign.

Barcelona breezed past Real Betis and edged Atletico Madrid on the way to the final at La Cartuja stadium, their first since 2021, when they beat Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid, who last won the trophy in 2023, needed an extra-time goal from Antonio Rudiger to beat Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

After Madrid's Champions League elimination by Arsenal earlier this month they are desperate to beat Barcelona and claim some silverware as well as restoring their pride.

Both sides have lost important players in the run-up to the game.

Barcelona are without top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski and left-back Alejandro Balde, while Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga was ruled out for the rest of the season on Thursday with a groin injury.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe missed Madrid's nervy 1-0 win at Getafe on Wednesday as he recovers from an ankle problem, but Ancelotti said he is expected to be fit to face Barca.

'Anything can happen'

Mbappe was whistled by Madrid fans during their win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend when his face appeared on the screens at the Bernabeu and he will hoping to lift his first major trophy with the club, following European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup wins.

When Madrid have lined up with Mbappe alongside Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo sometimes the team suffers at the back.

"Maybe they are the favorites, but a final is a final and anything can happen," said Ancelotti.

"We have to defend well and I am convinced that we will defend well and have opportunities in attack."

Barcelona will likely line up with Gerard Martin at left-back replacing Balde, which is an area Madrid can exploit, perhaps through Rodrygo, although the Brazilian has not scored in his last 11 matches.

"On a statistical level he has to play because if he's not scored in all that time, well he has to sooner or later," joked Ancelotti.

"In these type of matches he always scores and I believe in him completely."

Rodrygo netted both goals as Madrid beat Osasuna to win the Copa del Rey two years ago, the club's 20th.

Barcelona are the all-time record winners on 31 triumphs, ahead of current holders Athletic Bilbao on 24, with Madrid third.