'Kvaradona' Leading Upbeat Napoli's Charge against Liverpool

'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP
'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP
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'Kvaradona' Leading Upbeat Napoli's Charge against Liverpool

'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP
'Kvaradona' leading upbeat Napoli's charge against Liverpool. AFP

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the name dancing around Napoli fans' lips thanks to a stunning start to life in Italy which has swept away the summertime blues ahead of Wednesday's visit of Liverpool.

Kvaratskhelia has been nicknamed "Kvaradona" after scoring four times and setting up another goal in the first five rounds of Serie A fixtures.

The Georgian will be leading Napoli's bid for a big win in their Group A opener at the Stadio Maradona, especially as Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen is a doubt with a muscular problem.

And while comparing him to Napoli's and possibly football's greatest ever player might seem like blasphemy, it is testament to how well he has slotted into a team which until the first day of the Serie A season appeared to be deep in crisis.

Such has been his impact he has also been called the "new KK" after Kalidou Koulibaly, one of four big players to leave the club since their league title challenge collapsed at the tail end of last season.

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti has been keen to dampen expectations of the 21-year-old, who arrived from Dinamo Batumi in his home country but who had already impressed over three years at Rubin Kazan before leaving following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"He's a really sweet kid, a good kid, one of those who at times doesn't want to be in certain situations because he's so timid," said Spalletti on Saturday after his latest match-winning display at Lazio.

"When you see him walk about he's all floppy like he's on springs, but when you give him the ball he knows how to move.

"He's got a quality in how he strikes the ball and brings down anything you throw at him."

- Bad feeling banished -
Kvaratskhelia smashed home the decisive second in Napoli's 2-1 win at Lazio which put them two points behind Serie A leaders Atalanta, and he could easily have had more.

His beautifully struck effort from distance cannoned off the post in the first half and he should have put Napoli ahead moments before his 61st-minute winner, shaving the bar from an almost identical chance.

His instant impact and obvious delight at playing for such a storied club have been the perfect antidote to the negative vibes which had been almost as suffocating as the heat of a Neapolitan summer.

Fans were livid after seeing some of their crown jewels sold off with few of the replacements seen as adequate for a team who were in last season's exciting Scudetto race until April.

They implored owner Aurelio De Laurentiis to sell the club, using the hashtag "A16" on social media as a reference to the motorway which connects Naples with Bari, another southern city where the film mogul owns the club.

During a summer training camp event organized to present the team Spalletti was interrupted by a enraged supporter who shouted at him to "wake up" from his supposed torpor.

But nine goals from their first two games, Kvaratskhelia's sparkling form in both and the subsequent arrival of Italy starlet Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone and Tanguy Ndombele swept away the ill feeling.

A fresh league title bid looks on the cards, but the question is now whether Kvaratskhelia and Spalletti's exciting side can make the sort of impact on the Champions League that Italian clubs have failed to do for too long.



Fabregas Delighted as Como Live Up to Champions League Standard in Dream Debut

Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
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Fabregas Delighted as Como Live Up to Champions League Standard in Dream Debut

Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)

Italian club Como pulled off a dream debut in the Champions League with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig on Thursday, and manager Cesc Fabregas was happy to see his team live up to the ⁠standards of Europe's ⁠elite club competition.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder retired at Como in 2023 before joining ⁠their coaching staff and becoming manager.

"It was a historic evening for the club and the fans, who will still be talking about it in 10 years’ time," Fabregas told reporters, according to Reuters.

"That’s the beauty ⁠of ⁠football, I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did."

Como have seven points from their first three Serie A matches this season and host Parma on Monday.


Gauff Sees Progress Despite US Open Exit

Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Gauff Sees Progress Despite US Open Exit

Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

Coco Gauff's US Open title bid ended in disappointment on Thursday after a 3-6 6-4 6-4 loss to Elena Rybakina, but the American will leave New York convinced that the changes she has made to her game are beginning to pay off.

"I think I played almost every match on my terms," the 22-year-old told reporters. "I think the worst match for me was maybe the quarter-final where I maybe fell back into some old habits, but ⁠in 24 hours I ⁠was able to switch that.

"I'm just excited to keep putting in the work for another year, another two years, and see where I'm at 24, 25, and where my game can take me."

Rybakina, who will take over as world number one ⁠from Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, maintained constant pressure on Gauff and edged the key moments.

"I think she played really well. I thought it was a really good match, and honestly, it came down to a couple service games of mine in both sets, and I didn't quite hold," Reuters quoted Gauff as saying.

The American, who won the US Open title in 2023, has had a good run over the last few months, ⁠reaching ⁠her first Wimbledon semi-final, winning the Cincinnati title, getting to the last four in Toronto and making another deep run in New York.

"My dad came up to me and was like, you accomplished so many great things this summer, and I'm like, I don't care about the summer," she said.

"But, I mean, it's the goal. I want to be a consistent player. I want to give myself as many opportunities to lift a trophy. But, yeah, it hurts."


Rybakina Not Putting Pressure on Herself Before Sabalenka Showdown

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Rybakina Not Putting Pressure on Herself Before Sabalenka Showdown

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

Elena Rybakina said she will not put extra pressure on herself before Saturday's US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka, with the second seed viewing the showdown as another chance to test herself against a rival who pushes her to the limit.

Rybakina rallied to beat Coco Gauff 3-6 6-4 6-4 in a thrilling semi-final on Thursday to earn a title clash with defending champion Sabalenka and take a step towards her third Grand Slam crown.

The pair have played two previous Grand Slam finals, with Belarusian Sabalenka defeating Rybakina in the 2023 Australian ⁠Open decider before ⁠the Kazakh levelled the score at Melbourne Park in January.

"It's an important match, and since it's a final, I feel like it doesn't matter who's on the other side," said Rybakina, who will take over as world number one from Sabalenka on Monday.

"I don't want to put too much ⁠pressure on myself, because we're very close in the rankings.

Even if something goes wrong in the final, I'll still have other opportunities and other tournaments until the end of the year.

"We push each other when we play these matches, and you can clearly see on what you need to work more. I think that's great that you play against someone who pushes you to the limit."

According to Reuters, Rybakina credited her team for helping her maintain her strong form this season after her ⁠Australian Open ⁠triumph.

"It definitely helps. There's been a lot going on in the previous year outside of the court," the 27-year-old said.

"I think now all of my focus is on tennis. I can't always perform at my best, there's always ups and downs, but I think we've been doing a very good job, right decisions in certain situations, because every day is a challenge.

"I'm not getting younger, and physically always some things come up. So just all things put together and also experience for the past years on tour have led to these kinds of results."