Milan // Champions Juventus host ailing AC Milan looking to extend their seven-point lead over title-chasers Roma, and the Giallorossi’s woes could deepen with Gonzalo Higuain-inspired Napoli now targeting second place.
Juventus spurned the chance to extend their Serie A lead to nine points last week following an unexpected scoreless draw away to Udinese.
But with Roma conceding a fourth draw on the trot, Massimiliano Allegri’s league leaders look to be cruising towards a fourth consecutive league title.
“Winning four titles in succession is not an easy feat, especially in such a tactical and physical league,” striker Carlos Tevez, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, told Jtv.
“Winning a fourth consecutive championship would see us make even more history.”
Nevertheless, Italy’s top flight produced several shock results last weekend and Roma, dumped out of the Italian Cup after a 2-0 home defeat to Fiorentina, have yet to throw in the towel.
Napoli were the only top five team to claim all three points, thanks to a 2-1 win away to Chievo when new signing Manolo Gabbiadini hit a 62nd minute winner.
It was a huge win for Rafael Benitez’s men, and its significance did not escape the attention of Roma either. Napoli, who sit 11 points adrift of Juventus, are now only four behind second-placed Roma.
If the injury-hit Giallorossi lose away to Cagliari and Napoli beat Udinese at home, the gap will be reduced to just a point.
Roma striker Gervinho, along with new signing Seydou Doumbia, is still at the Africa Cup of Nations having scored once in a 3-1 win over DR Congo which qualified the Ivory Coast for Sunday’s final.
Kevin Strootman (knee) is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and fellow midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Juan Iturbe are also out with injury knocks.
Even forward Victor Ibarbo, who arrived on a six-month loan deal last week from Cagliari, has been sidelined after making a late substitute’s appearance in Roma’s Cup defeat on Tuesday.
The pressure is growing on Garcia and the Frenchman admitted: “We need a result at Cagliari to get luck back on our side.”
A Roma slip-up would be welcomed by a Napoli side that has lost only twice in 18 games ahead of hosting Udinese at the San Paolo, which is still ringing from the sound of Wednesday’s 1-0 Italian Cup win over Inter.
Higuain, whose 93rd minute strike secured the win for the Cup holders, is in fine scoring form having hit the net five times in their past five league games.
Rafael Benitez was quick to hail Higauin’s performance, but despite his ambitions in the the Cup, Europa League and Serie A the Spanish coach remains coy.
“It’s a bit like asking whether you prefer your Mum or your Dad,” Benitez said after Wednesday’s win. “All I focus on is our next game.”
Inter, meanwhile, host in-form Palermo on Sunday looking to end a sorry run of results that has seen the Nerazzurri drop to 13th, 24 points behind Juventus.
Inter had only two shots on goal against Napoli on Wednesday and Mancini, who won two trophies from four consecutive Cup finals in his previous spell in charge in 2004-2008, did not spare his misfiring players.
“They were like chickens,” said Mancini, whose side have lost their past two league outings at home to Torino and away to Sassuolo. “I don’t even remember the last time I lost three consecutive games.”
Thanks to results elsewhere last week, and a 3-1 win over Parma that ended a five-game winless streak, city rivals AC Milan moved up to ninth at 21 points adrift of Juventus and 10 behind Napoli in third place.
Embattled Milan unveiled several new players on Thursday including Mattia Destro (Roma), Gabriel Paletta (Parma) and Luca Antonelli (Cagliari) - although Juve have yet to concede defeat in the league this season.
Italian Serie A fixtures (in UAE time)
Saturday
Verona v Torino, 9pm
Juventus v AC Milan, 11.45pm
Sunday
Fiorentina v Atalanta, 3.30pm
Cagliari v Roma, 6pm
Empoli v Cesena, 6pm
Napoli v Udinese, 6pm
Parma v Chievo, 6pm
Sampdoria v Sassuolo, 6pm
Inter v Palermo, 6pm
Monday
Lazio v Genoa, 11.45pm
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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