Napoli Secure Champions League Spot as Juventus Stumble against Fiorentina

Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026.  EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA
Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026. EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA
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Napoli Secure Champions League Spot as Juventus Stumble against Fiorentina

Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026.  EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA
Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026. EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA

A 3-0 win over Pisa secured second-placed Napoli a place in the Champions League on Sunday, while Juventus suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to 10-man Fiorentina to drop from third to sixth in the Serie A standings.

AC Milan moved up to third with a 2-1 win over Genoa. AS Roma's 2-0 win over Lazio in a chaotic Capital Derby, courtesy of Gianluca Mancini's first brace of the season, left them tied with Milan on 70 points, but trailing by head-to-head performance this season.

Juventus, who suffered their first loss since February, are tied on 68 points with fifth-placed Como - who beat Parma - going into the final day of the season on May 24, when two of the four Champions League spots will still be up for grabs.

Napoli's title defence ended earlier this month when Inter Milan secured the Scudetto, and a draw at Como and a loss to Bologna had delayed their Champions League qualification, Reuters reported.

However, Antonio Conte's men eased to victory over bottom side Pisa, as Scott McTominay and Amir Rrahmani scored within six minutes to put them 2-0 ahead in the first half, before Rasmus Hojlund's stoppage-time strike capped a dominant performance.

Juventus had started well against Fiorentina, with Francisco Conceicao and Dusan Vlahovic creating early chances. But shortly after the half-hour mark, Cher Ndour's shot took a deflection off Juve defender Teun Koopmeiners and found the net.

Vlahovic's equaliser in the second half was disallowed after a VAR review due to offside, but Fiorentina's Luca Ranieri was sent off for protesting against the goal being initially awarded.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, 15th-placed Fiorentina doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Rolando Mandragora.

BRAWL AT CHAOTIC CAPITAL DERBY

There was high tension between Roma and Lazio, as a brawl broke out in the derby shortly after Mancini's second goal. Wesley and Nicolo Rovella were both sent off, and Roma held onto their two-goal cushion to win their fourth straight league game.

The derby at the Stadio Olimpico was scheduled early, along with the league games relevant to the top-four race, to avoid security complications from the Italian Tennis Open men's final taking place next door at the Foro Italico.

Meanwhile at Genoa, Milan took the lead when Christopher Nkunku scored from the spot early in the second half, and doubled their lead through Zachary Athekame in the 80th minute. The hosts fought back with Johan Vasquez's strike five minutes later, but fell short.

Como edged Parma 1-0, with Alberto Moreno striking in the 57th minute.

With seventh-placed Atalanta sitting 10 points below Juventus, all clubs in the top six are assured of at least a place in the Europa League if they fail to secure a top-four finish on May 24.

Milan will host Cagliari next Sunday, while Juventus visit city rivals Torino. Roma play at Verona and Como end their campaign at Cremonese.



Sweden Smash Five Past Tunisia in World Cup Opener

Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
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Sweden Smash Five Past Tunisia in World Cup Opener

Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)

Sweden's Yasin Ayari scored ‌two sensational goals and Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres also got on the scoresheet as they cruised to a 5-1 World Cup Group F victory over Tunisia on Sunday.

After scraping through to the finals after a dismal qualifying campaign, they responded by scoring five goals in a World Cup match for the first time since 1938 when they defeated Cuba 8-0.

Ayari – the son of a Tunisian father and a Moroccan mother – put Sweden ahead in the seventh minute after goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh fluffed his lines trying to clear under pressure from Isak, and what ‌followed set the ‌tone for the evening.

The ball fell to Gyokeres, ‌whose ⁠shot was blocked, ⁠but Ayari picked up the loose ball and blasted home a rocket of a shot to send the yellow-clad fans in the stands into raptures, though the player's own celebrations were more muted.

Set up to defend and hit Sweden on the break, Tunisia then got a taste of their own medicine as they committed players forward and chased an ⁠equalizer on the half-hour mark, only to come undone ‌on the counterattack.

The Swedes won the ball ‌in their own box and played it to Gyokeres, who took it ‌on his chest and instantly released Isak down the left. The ‌striker ran at defender Montassar Talbi before cutting inside and slotting the ball past Chamakh, who should have done better.

The Tunisians did little in the opening half but still managed to pull a goal back before the break, defender ‌Omar Rekik scoring with a superb glancing header that was his side’s first effort on target.

After a ⁠number of miscues ⁠between Isak and Gyokeres, the two clicked again on the hour mark when Isak stole the ball from Ellyes Skhiri and teed up his strike partner to make it 3-1 with a simple finish.

Substitute Mattias Svanberg then scored straight after coming off the bench in the 84th minute. Though the goal was initially disallowed for offside, it was allowed to stand after a VAR review.

Ayari then closed the show in stoppage time with another wonder strike, firing a thunderous shot from outside the box that Chamakh was powerless to stop, and this time the midfielder celebrated with abandon.

The result means Sweden top Group F on three points ahead of Japan and the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 earlier.


Saudi Arabia Ready for World Cup Opener against Uruguay, Donis Says

Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)
Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Ready for World Cup Opener against Uruguay, Donis Says

Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)
Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)

Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Uruguay, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference at Miami Stadium, which will host the match Tuesday, Donis said: “Everyone is ready. I know Saudi football well from my previous work with clubs. We have good memories, such as reaching the round of 16 at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. We are seeking good results in the game’s biggest tournament while staying balanced and realistic.”

Donis also addressed the difficulty of Saudi Arabia’s group, which includes Uruguay, Spain, and Cabo Verde, stressing that this edition of the FIFA World Cup features a large number of teams, which is positive and gives all teams an opportunity to improve and reach the second round.


Vekic Beats Raducanu in Queen's Club Final

Donna Vekic of Croatia poses with the trophy after winning the women's final of the Queen's Club tennis championships against Emma Raducanu of Britain, in London, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Donna Vekic of Croatia poses with the trophy after winning the women's final of the Queen's Club tennis championships against Emma Raducanu of Britain, in London, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
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Vekic Beats Raducanu in Queen's Club Final

Donna Vekic of Croatia poses with the trophy after winning the women's final of the Queen's Club tennis championships against Emma Raducanu of Britain, in London, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
Donna Vekic of Croatia poses with the trophy after winning the women's final of the Queen's Club tennis championships against Emma Raducanu of Britain, in London, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Donna Vekic won her first title in three years as the Croatian beat former US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-0, 7-6 (8/6) in the Queen's Club final on Sunday.

Vekic took the first set in dominant fashion before holding her nerve in a tense second set tie-break.

The fifth title of Vekic's career was a long-awaited triumph for the world number 76, who got her hands on a trophy for the first time since the 2023 Monterrey Open.

The 29-year-old was only able to compete in the grass-court event in west London as a 'lucky loser' after Marta Kostyuk pulled out injured on the eve of the tournament.

Struggling with illness, Vekic had lost to Anna Blinkova in Queen's qualifying but Kostyuk's exit allowed her to make the most of an unexpected second chance.

The 29-year-old has pedigree on grass after reaching the 2024 Wimbledon semi-finals and winning the Nottingham Open in 2017.

Playing in her first final since the Paris Olympics two years ago, when she lost the gold medal match to Zheng Qinwen, Vekic had to dig deep to subdue British number one Raducanu in a rollercoaster second set.

The Croatian trailed 5-2 and wasted four match-points before finally delivering the knockout blow.

"This is really my favorite time of the year, my favorite surface. I love the grass. I've really enjoyed myself this week," AFP quoted Vekic as saying.

"Winning 6-0 is sometimes a curse in tennis. Emma rally stepped up and played some amazing tennis. I just tried to stay with her, make her play it out, stay with every single ball.

"Her last service game and the tie-break is a bit of a blur right now, but I'm really happy I managed to win."

Praising David Felgate -- Vekic's coach for the grass-court campaign this year -- the Croatian added: "We have worked together since I have been 12 years old. You raised me, without you I wouldn't even know what grass is.

"When I called you two weeks ago to ask you to help me you said yes. Thank you so much, without you I wouldn't be here with this trophy."

It was another final disappointment for Raducanu in 2026 after she lost to Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open showpiece in February.

Raducanu was hoping to win her first title since her stunning US Open victory as a teenage qualifier in 2021.

The 23-year-old's bid for the second trophy of her career fell at the final hurdle.

But Raducanu has been revitalized since rehiring Andrew Richardson, who coached her to that historic title in New York five year ago.

The world number 42 had been hampered by fitness issues for several years and arrived at Queen's with only one win in her previous seven matches after battling a viral illness.

Raducanu will head to Wimbledon, which starts on June 29, with renewed belief.

"It's been an incredible week for me, making the final here, playing in my home city, in my home tournament," Raducanu said.

"Today was an really tough match. Donna played extremely well from the start to the finish."