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Today’s Papers – Big Milan, Tudor’s fury, derby of risks

La Gazzetta dello Sport

There’s the Rome derby at lunchtime, and it can’t be missed

Big Milan

Three goals in Udine and second placement

Allegri’s climbing with a good playing style and a super Pulisic. Fofana scores too: third win in a row.

Tudor’s fury

‘Referee and VAR shameful.’ Napoli can run away.

Inter, Thuram tries

There’s the taboo Sassuolo. More Pio than Lautaro in attack.

Who jumps more?

Toro-Atalanta to fly (and Lookman…)

Corriere dello Sport

Juventus stop

Igor’s fury

Only 1-1 in Verona, Napoli can go to the top alone

Tudor accuses: ‘A shameful penalty against us.’

Conceiçao’s goal is not enough. The coach criticises Rapuano and VAR for Orban’s equaliser. ‘We were affected. There was also a red card for a foul on Gatti. I want no excuses, but games are decided like this ultimately.’

Scary Milan

Allegri win 3-0 in Udine. Pulisic’s brace, Fofana on target too.

Sarri-Gasp, derby of risks

Chivu warns Inter

Tuttosport

Team on the pitch with Atalanta, the fans march against Cairo

Toro, Pulici plays too!

3-0 in Udine and second place

Pulisic show: Fofana goal, it’s a Milan worthy of the Scudetto

‘It’s a disgrace!’

A drained Juventus draw in Verona, but the penalty kick and a missed red card to Orban infuriate Tudor.

The coach admits the display was dull, but destroys VAR: ‘Only those who didn’t play football can punish a handball like Joao Mario’s. And if the Gatti blow isn’t worthy of a red card…’ Then attacks the Lega. Conceiçao’s goal not enough: ‘I would have preferred a victory.’

​https://onefootball.com/en/news/todays-papers-big-milan-tudors-fury-derby-of-risks-41695064 

🔥 The Rome derby, a magnet for the ultras

This Sunday, the Lazio-Roma match, a very heated derby in Italy, is set to take place. In fact, for many, it is the hottest derby in Serie A and one of the best atmospheres in the world.

The importance of this derby attracts ultras from different parts of the world and, as Keita Baldé once said, it is attempted to be played early, in this case at 12:30, to avoid altercations.

👊💥 ¿Por qué se juega el Lazio-Roma de mañana a las 12:30? ¿Por qué tan pronto?

Fácil, para intentar que no se peguen y por la noche sería más difícil controlarlos.

Y es que las ‘Curvas’ se van a llenar de ultras de diferentes puntos de Europa. pic.twitter.com/XQuRemEbpq

— Jose Rodríguez (@JosRodriguez37) September 20, 2025

According to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’, about 1,500 police officers will be deployed throughout the city and during the match because English, Polish, Bulgarian, Greek, German, Spanish, and Croatian ultras will also be meeting in the Italian capital.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 FILIPPO MONTEFORTE – AFP or licensors

​https://onefootball.com/en/news/the-rome-derby-a-magnet-for-the-ultras-41695063 

Tom Cleverley has guided Plymouth Argyle to three wins and six defeats in their nine League One games this season [Rex Features]

Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley was left unhappy with his side’s “casual” nature in their 1-0 loss to Peterborough United.

Having won three successive games in all competitions the Pilgrims went into the game against a side who had been bottom of the table at kick-off.

But Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s first-half goal was enough for posh to earn their second win of the season – despite Argyle having a goal ruled out shortly before half-time.

“I thought we lacked a bit of tempo, we didn’t test their box enough, we didn’t manage the game well enough in the last hand an hour when we need to be a bit more direct,” said Cleverley, who watched the game from the stands after being sent off last week.

“We bring a second striker on, they camped in a little bit and football’s not perfect, we’re not going to play nice pretty stuff all the time, sometimes it’s test their box enough times until something breaks through, and I don’t think we did that today.

“The mindset and approach was to be questioned. It’s the first time you can say we’ve been real favourites – bookmaker’s favourites – it wasn’t the internal approach of the game.

“But I didn’t think we handled that tag well enough at all, we were a bit casual and rightly so got punished.”

The game’s biggest moment of controversy came when Alex Mitchell’s 41st-minute header appeared to have crossed the line.

Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass palmed the ball onto the crossbar and it appeared to bounce down behind the keeper, but the goal was not given.

Cleverley says he saw an angle of the incident which showed that it should have been given as a goal:

“To me it looked clearly in,” he told BBC Radio Devon.

“On the broadcast I think it’s inconclusive, but from the Mayflower Stand side I’ve seen an angle where the ball’s in.

“Unfortunately there’s no goal-line technology in this division, so we’ll never know.

“But that’s not the place of our focus right now, it’s more on our own performance.”

​https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ckg668y580do?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bsport%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D 

Lazio v Roma: The numbers behind today’s massive Rome derby

Serie A will witness the spectacle of a massive Derby della Capitale at the Stadio Olimpico in a matter of hours.

Roma take on Lazio in what can prove to be a decisive point of the season for the two sides. Lazio, after a transfer ban and financial struggle, have won just once and have lost two games so far in the campaign. Roma, in the meanwhile, have won two and have lost one.

Both sides come into the game at the back of defeats too and these losses came after promising wins. Roma and Lazio also have new managers at the helm – Gian Piero Gasperini and Maurizio Sarri.

Historically, Roma have won 58 Rome derbies in history, with Lazio winning only 42. Interestingly, there have a total of 62 draws.

The Biancocelesti have failed to win the last three outings against the Giallorossi but Sarri has quite a fascinating record in this fixture.

In his previous stint at Lazio, he lost just one Derby della Capitale and won four times, drawing once. This period coincided with an era when Lazio were playing in the Champions League and in the last couple of seasons, things have taken a strange turn.

While this is Gasperini’s first ever derby in Rome, his track against Lazio as Atalanta wasn’t exceptional. He beat the Biancocelesti seven times in that stint, also losing just as many times.

He doesn’t have a great record against Sarri either, winning six times against his compatriot but losing eight times and drawing seven. 

The scene is set for what is always a fiesty affair and Calcio fans will hope that this another such occasion.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

​https://onefootball.com/en/news/lazio-v-roma-the-numbers-behind-todays-massive-rome-derby-41695061 

Chelsea’s player trading model continues to cost the team on the pitch

This is a syndication of the article originally published for the BBC, here.

It was another busy summer at Chelsea, whose sporting structure have built the club’s transfer philosophy around very defined principles, some of which go against much of the conventional wisdom fans have become used to.

For example, teams in the past would try to minimise turnover in any given window, in order to allow chemistry to develop on the pitch, and to help the group bond off it. Chelsea have overturned that rule. If there’s a chance to buy a player for less than they’re worth, they take it. If there’s a chance to sell a player for more than they’re worth, they take it.

Chelsea abandon traditional approach in hunt for profit

Noni Madueke completes Arsenal move.

We saw that in the summer – did Chelsea need to sell Noni Madueke? No. But Arsenal made an offer that allowed the Blues to bank a big profit. Is Alejandro Garnacho a better player? Maybe not, but the chance to buy him for below his market value was equally irresistible.

Buy low and sell high and you’ll make money. But the cost comes on the pitch, and that was clear this weekend as Chelsea continued to show a lack of fluency in attack, or indeed any real chemistry in the team.

A combination of injuries and international break fatigue forced Enzo Maresca to rotate his side. But the players brought in are not yet settled, and it showed. The manager had to draw for the big guns at half time.

A more conservative approach in the summer would have meant players like Madueke or Nicolas Jackson coming into the team; adapted, familiar with the system and ready to deliver. Instead there was the likes of Jorrel Hato, Facundo Buonanotte and Garnacho all making their debuts, trying to learn on the fly.

The advantages of this player trading model are obvious – but so are the downsides.

Will Faulks @willfaulks

​https://onefootball.com/en/news/chelseas-player-trading-model-continues-to-cost-the-team-on-the-pitch-41695043 

‘The team is amazing’ – Ronaldo, Felix bag braces as Al Nassr move top

Maybe we should get used to this.

Al Nassr won convincingly in the Roshn Saudi League on Saturday night, triumphing 5-1 at home to Al Riyadh, with their Portuguese pair hogging the headlines.

Cristiano Ronaldo got two goals, so too Joao Felix. The master and, if not quite the apprentice – Felix has for some time been one of the game’s great talents – then a man clearly content with providing more-than-sufficient support.

A summer signing from English Premier League’s Chelsea, Felix’s first three games in the RSL have produced five goals – the hat-trick on debut was the perfect portent of what may well come – and two Man of the Match awards.

Joao Felix continues to thrive as he opens the scoring for Al Nassr v Al Riyadh

After his latest, at the conclusion of Matchweek 3 at Al Awwal Park, the Portugal international was asked about assimilating instantly into Saudi Arabia’s lead league.

“My teammates make the things look easier,” Felix said, quickly flipping focus to the collective. “As a team we are amazing and then individually we have a lot of good players.

“And, if we keep doing well as individuals, the team will go well as well. And if we are all together, we’re going to win game after game, and we will be closer to the title.”

Al Nassr summer signing Joao Felix has two Man of the Match awards in three games

Evidently, that forms a priority this season. Al Nassr, runners-up two years ago and third last term, sit top of the still-nascent standings after three rounds, ahead of champions Al Ittihad on goal difference.

Indeed, they have scored 12, conceded only once. Felix’s captain at both club and country, Ronaldo matched his compatriot’s brace against Al Riyadh, his first from a Felix assist, the second laid on by another recent recruit, Kingsley Coman, who netted the other goal himself.

If neither of Ronaldo’s notches matched his 2024-25 RSL Goal of the Season – considering that fabulous volley, how could they? – they did serve a reminder that he is the owner of the league’s past two golden boots.

Also, that he’s now on 945 career goals, that momentous 1,000 mark creeping more into view.

Cristiano Ronaldo officially became the Roshn Saudi League’s 7th top scorer with 77 goals in 80 games after his brace today🔥 pic.twitter.com/pHkmzOuG3h

— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 20, 2025

And, if Felix heads the current scoring charts, presumably Ronaldo won’t mind. After all, the five-time Ballon d’Or, now with 77 goals in 80 RSL appearances to move seventh on the all-time list, is targeting championship gold this season.

Somewhat ominously, Felix feels this remodelled Al Nassr are only going to improve.

“We are doing a good job; game after game we are getting better,” he said. “Today we did a great match. Unfortunately, we concede one goal; we don’t like to concede, we like to keep the clean sheet. But, in general, we were very good.”

Roll on Matchweek 4, then, where Al Nassr meet Al Ittihad in Jeddah on Friday.

​https://onefootball.com/en/news/the-team-is-amazing-ronaldo-felix-bag-braces-as-al-nassr-move-top-41695042 

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon scores a touchdown in the second half of a 45-31 win over Michigan State at the Coliseum on Saturday night. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Makai Lemon came screaming across the center of the field, gliding past one Michigan State defender, then another, moving as if the world around him were in slow motion.

USC’s top receiver had presumably been a top-line focus of the Spartans’ game plan — and even more so after fellow wideout Ja’Kobi Lane was ruled out Saturday with an injury. But here was Lemon slicing his way through Michigan State’s secondary as if no one had bothered to tell him as much, sprinting free as a deep pass soared in his direction and hit him in perfect stride.

Most of Saturday night’s 45-31 win over Michigan State felt that seamless for USC, which moved the ball with ease on offense, racking up 517 yards in the process. But in a swirl of penalties and poor discipline from its defense, USC inexplicably found itself clinging to a one-score lead in the fourth quarter.

It was the sort of stumble that might’ve prompted flashbacks from the Trojans’ previous conference, when #Pac12AfterDark derailed more than a few seasons while the rest of America slept. Though, as late as Saturday’s game ran — with its conclusion coming just before 3 a.m. Eastern time — there would be no such comeback from Michigan State.

Read more:How Bishop Fitzgerald’s roots as a quarterback helped him become a prolific USC safety

That’s because USC mounted a 13-play drive with its back against the wall in the fourth quarter, at one point even converting a critical fourth down near midfield. It also needed a facemask penalty from Michigan State on a key third down to keep the drive alive.

On the very next play, Lemon went sprinting on a jet motion, took the handoff and flew into the end zone. His second score of the night would put the Spartans away for good.

With Lane out, Lemon would account for over half of the Trojans’ passing output, as he finished with eight receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, the vast majority of which came in the first half. USC’s next most productive pass-catcher was running back Waymond Jordan, who had 25 receiving yards.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava didn’t need to do much more through the air after halftime. He finished with a season-low 234 yards, but completed 20 of 26 passes and added three passing touchdowns, to go with another on the ground.

USC’s rushing attack did most of the damage, with Jordan and Eli Sanders combining for 241 on 31 carries.

USC running back Eli Sanders runs with the ball during a win over Michigan State on Saturday night. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Once again, USC would pay a serious price for its propensity for penalties. The Trojans were called for 10 penalties for 88 yards, making it three consecutive games in which they lost at least that many yards due to penalties. Over those three weeks, USC has been called for 27 penalties.

The Trojans pass rush continued to look much-improved, but their secondary didn’t exactly soothe concerns Saturday. Spartan quarterback Aidan Chiles only threw for 212 yards, but 169 of those yards — almost 80% — came on just four pass plays.

The road only gets harder from here for USC (4-0). The Trojans’ next three games (Illinois, Michigan and Notre Dame) come against ranked opponents, and two of those games (Illinois and Notre Dame) are on the road. And while the Irish are 1-2, and the Illini were just steamrolled by Indiana on Saturday, both should provide much tougher tests than the Trojans have faced thus far.

USC should have its other top wideout back for that stretch as well. Lane, who was listed as questionable, came out with the team for early stretches. But when the team reemerged in full pads for warm-ups, the Trojans stud receiver was wearing sweatpants.

Without one of their top targets, USC tried to lean on its backs early. Twelve of the Trojans’ first 16 plays went to either Waymond Jordan or Eli Sanders. But it was Maiava who punched in USC’s first score after he faked a handoff and sprinted 15 yards to paydirt.

Michigan State (3-1), meanwhile, took to the air to challenge the Trojans’ struggling secondary. On the Spartans’ first possession, Chiles found Chrishon McCray wide open for a 42-yard touchdown, and Michigan State took an early lead.

Chiles completed each of his first seven passes. But with their run game completely grounded, the Spartans offense came to a halt. Their next three drives accumulated a combined 66 yards.

USC started humming in the meantime, gaining at least that many yards on four of its five first-half drives. The rushing attack found a rhythm, with seven rushes of 15-plus yards in the first half alone, while Maiava moved the ball with ease through the air.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava scores a touchdown in the first quarter against Michigan State. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Still, despite being outgained by almost 200 yards before halftime, Michigan State was within a single score — and set to receive the second-half kick — as USC drove 88 yards down the field before half. With 37 seconds left, Maiava lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone for freshman Tanook Hines, who reeled in the well-timed, seven-yard score.

USC looked ready to speed past Michigan State in the second half as it took just four plays and less than two minutes to drive the field. Maiava hit tight end Walker Lyons for a touchdown, his second in two weeks, to make it 31-10.

But Michigan State mounted an 11-play drive, and USC’s defense chipped in with four back-breaking penalties to keep it moving. Eventually, Chiles punched in a touchdown himself, cutting the lead to two scores.

The momentum swung suddenly after that. On the first play of USC’s ensuing possession, wideout DJ Jordan lost a fumble deep in the Trojans’ territory. The turnover opened the door for Michigan State, which needed eight plays to reach paydirt and cut the lead to a single score.

But USC would slam that door shut on its very next drive, closing the first quarter of its season with a fourth consecutive victory.

Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/article/makai-lemon-slicing-scoring-usc-071405867.html