Milik Scrambles in Juventus’ Winner for 1-0 Victory over Previously Unbeaten Lecce in Serie A

 Juventus' Polish forward #14 Arkadiusz Milik (R) celebrates with teammates after winning the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Lecce at the “Allianz Stadium” in Turin on September 26, 2023. (AFP)
Juventus' Polish forward #14 Arkadiusz Milik (R) celebrates with teammates after winning the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Lecce at the “Allianz Stadium” in Turin on September 26, 2023. (AFP)
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Milik Scrambles in Juventus’ Winner for 1-0 Victory over Previously Unbeaten Lecce in Serie A

 Juventus' Polish forward #14 Arkadiusz Milik (R) celebrates with teammates after winning the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Lecce at the “Allianz Stadium” in Turin on September 26, 2023. (AFP)
Juventus' Polish forward #14 Arkadiusz Milik (R) celebrates with teammates after winning the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Lecce at the “Allianz Stadium” in Turin on September 26, 2023. (AFP)

Arkadiusz Milik scored for Juventus to beat Lecce 1-0 on Tuesday and deal the visitors their first Serie A loss of the season.

Federico Chiesa missed the only real chance in a forgettable first half for Juventus, which emerged with more vigor after the break.

Milik made the breakthrough in the 57th minute when he emerged at the back post to convert from close range after Adrien Rabiot headed on Weston McKennie’s cross. A VAR check confirmed the Poland striker was onside.

Lecce was one of only two remaining teams along with Inter Milan to remain unbeaten after the opening five rounds, but the visitors lacked the attacking threat to trouble Juve’s well-organized defense.

Nikola Krstović went closest for Lecce when he fired wide in the 76th.

Lecce’s Mohamed Kaba was sent off with a second yellow card for what the referee felt was a dive in injury time. Replays suggested the French forward wasn’t looking for a penalty and simply fell in a tussle for the ball.

Juventus slumped to a 4-2 defeat at struggling Sassuolo on Saturday after making three glaring errors and the home team was careful not to risk giving away any more goals on Tuesday. The win lifted the “Old Lady” to second, two points behind Inter, which hosts Sassuolo on Wednesday.



United Boss Ten Hag Concedes Liverpool Have Advantage of Mature Team

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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United Boss Ten Hag Concedes Liverpool Have Advantage of Mature Team

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Liverpool are a more mature side than Manchester United, with the advantage of a cohesive team of established players, United manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.

"Liverpool are in a different phase of the life cycle," Ten Hag told reporters. "We are much more mixed and we have to build a new team."

United have not beaten Liverpool in the league since a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in August 2022 though Ten Hag's men did prevail 4-3 over former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp's side to win the FA Cup last season, according to Reuters.

Liverpool finished third in the league last season, five places and 22 points ahead of United, but Ten Hag said his side could take heart from their performance in the cup final.

"We can always win, last year we won (in the FA cup) in the second part of the season," the Dutchman said.

"(Liverpool) are a team who are clear in the relationship among their players. It's what (new manager Arne Slot) has inherited. It was built over the last few years."

Slot and Ten Hag have faced each other in the past during their time working in the Dutch top flight, with little to chose between them on paper.

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Both managers have two wins apiece against each other in the Eridivisie, with Sunday's match at Old Trafford their first head-to-head meeting since March 2022.

Liverpool have made a solid start to the season under Slot, who became their first manager since Graeme Souness in 1991 to win his two opening league games in charge with Sunday's 2-0 victory over Brentford.

United, on the other hand, dropped their first points of the campaign when they were beaten 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.

"One of the reasons I came here is I knew beforehand it would be the most difficult thing I could ever do in my life, to come in (to) a club with a lot of problems," added Ten Hag, who took charge of United in April 2022.

"I inherited a history of six years and no trophy. We're still in transition. We have young players, academy players, and now we have to construct a team for the future."