Juventus won the first of three games against Fiorentina over the next 12 days thanks to Kwadwo Asamoah’s goal.

The Juve winger struck just before half-time to cement the Old Lady’s position at the top of Serie A.
Furthermore, it gives Antonio Conte’s men confidence for their next two meetings with the Viola in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Napoli moved to within three points of second-paced Roma, opening up a 10-point gap over Fiorentina in fourth thanks to a 1-0 win over the Giallorossi on Sunday evening.
Jose Callejon scored the only goal of the game nine minutes from time as Rafa Benitez’s men strengthened their claim for Champions League football against next season.
Elsewhere, Rodrigo Palacio’s first-half header gave Inter Milan a narrow 1-0 victory over Torino.
Palacio nodded in the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark as Inter returned to winning ways after draws in their previous two league games.
Atalanta edged 10-man Lazio 1-0 for their first win on the road since October 5.
Maximiliano Moralez’s goal on the hour mark was the difference between the two sides at the Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio shot themselves in the foot two minutes after conceding the goal when playmaker Antonio Candreva was sent off for a second yellow card.
Alberto Paloschi scored twice from the penalty spot as relegation-battling Chievo eased past Genoa 2-1.
Paloschi put the hosts ahead in the fifth minute and that goal looked as if it would be the winner for the much the match.
However, in a dramatic finale, Alberto Gilardino equalised two minutes from time for Genoa, only for Paloschi to convert his second spot-kick on the final play of the game after substitute Dejan Lazarevic was fouled by Marco Motta in the area.
Sampdoria came from two goals down to beat Livorno 4-2 with a rousing second-half display at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Ibrahima Mbaye scored his first goals in Serie A to crown one of Livorno’s best halves of football this season, but that was still not enough to ease their relegation worries.
Instead, Domenico Di Carlo’s men capitulated in the second half with Nenad Krsticic bringing Samp back into the game before a Federico Ceccherini own goal drew them level.
Stefano Okaka and Manolo Gabbiadini then sealed the win for the Blucerchiati to take them 13 points clear of their opponents, who remain inside the bottom three having wasted a great chance to move out of danger.
Parma pulled ahead of Hellas Verona in the race for European qualification with a 2-0 win at Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Jonathan Biabiany’s first-half goal set them on their way and after keeping Verona at bay in the second half, they added a second in stoppage time through Ezequiel Schelotto.
Meanwhile, bottom-side Sassuolo marked their managerial change as they halted a run of seven straight defeats with a goalless draw at Bologna

According to Foxsports

The Argentine praised the Blaugrana captain as a “fabulous person” and wished him good luck as he prepares for the next chapter in his career at the end of the season.

Lionel Messi has highlighted the effect Carles Puyol has had on Barcelona as the long-time skipper’s career with the Spanish club comes closer to an end.

The Blaugrana captain announced on Tuesday that he will depart Camp Nou in the summer after spending 15 years in the first team of the Catalan giants.

Messi pledged his support to the 35-year-old centre-back as he believes he will have thought long and hard about the decision to leave and insisted he will be missed by everyone connected to the club.

“It’s a decision that he’s probably thought a lot about, because it’s not easy to make,” Messi told television show Mundo Leo.

“If he’s said it, it’s because he’s totally convinced and sure about it. He’ll be sorely missed, both inside and outside the dressing room.

Messi went on to wish the Spain international luck on his future endeavours as he plays out the remainder of his final season with Barca.

He continued: “We wish him the very best in whatever he wants to do. Whether he goes to play somewhere else or wants to do something different, I hope it goes really well. He deserves it, he’s a fabulous person.”

According to Goal

Daniel Sturridge struck a late header to help England avoid another disappointing result at Wembley against Denmark.

Sturridge leapt high to head home Adam Lallana’s cross with eight minutes left of what was otherwise an uninspiring 1-0 win.
This match was billed as a grand audition for England’s fringe players to prove to Roy Hodgson that they deserved a place on the plane to Brazil.
For the most part it was something of an anti-climax though, as England lacked purpose and a cutting edge in the first half in particular.
When Cesare Prandelli looks at the tape of the first 45 minutes of this encounter at Wembley, the Italy coach will hardly be quaking in his boots.
But Hodgson had always earmarked this game as one to experiment, so a little leeway should be given to the England manager.
The first half experiment of deploying Sturridge out wide did not work, though.
The striker, scorer of 32 goals in 39 games while playing as a main frontman, was inexplicably positioned on the left wing.
It was only when Sturridge was moved into the centre after the break that he had the biggest impact, and his goal was a superb poacher’s effort.
Other positives should be taken too. Raheem Sterling hit a post and won the man of the match award.
Luke Shaw did not look out of place when he came off the bench to make his debut at left-back, but Ashley Cole also put in a very impressive 45 minutes for the Three Lions.
But the feeling remains that Hodgson still has a lot of work to do with his players by the time England’s World Cup opener against Italy takes place on June 14.
The 68,573-strong Wembley crowd managed to replicate the atmosphere of Sunday’s League Cup final following a touching minute’s applause to Sir Tom Finney.
But neither team responded and a dull first half unfolded.
Hodgson’s suspect line-up did not help. Sturridge, one of five Liverpool players in the home team, started wide and just nine minutes in he was stationed at left-back, defending Lars Jacobsen’s cross.
The only flash point in the opening 15 minutes came when Daniel Agger caught Jack Wilshere’s left ankle in a challenge.
The midfielder slammed the turf in agony, and Hodgson came to the touchline looking concerned, but after two minutes’ worth of treatment, the Arsenal man was fine to carry on.
Denmark barely ventured over the halfway line, but England offered little down the other end either.
Steven Gerrard pinched the ball off Casper Sloth, but the defender took the England captain down before he could shoot.
Sloth was issued with a yellow card and, had it not been a friendly, he could have seen red. It did not matter much anyway as Wayne Rooney put the resulting free-kick high and wide of goal.
Rooney pierced the back four with a clever run, but Kasper Schmeichel came to the rescue. The goalkeeper then stood carefree as Gary Cahill’s volley sailed over.
Joe Hart was called into action for the first time after half an hour to collect a long ball over the top before Nicklas Bendtner could finish.
Jakob Poulsen then set home nerves jangling when he cut in from the right flank and squared the ball across the box, but Gary Cahill and Cole cleared before Bendtner could convert.
The chance spurred England into life. Sterling and Peter Ankersen slid in at the far post to meet Cole’s dangerous cross but the ball struck a post and Denmark survived.
Schmeichel kept his team level just before the break when he spread his body wide just like his father used to do to deny Sturridge.
Hodgson re-jigged his team at the interval with Shaw replacing Cole. Sturridge also swapped places with Rooney, but England could still not find a cutting edge.
Boos rang out as Rooney was replaced by Danny Welbeck. England’s other substitute, Adam Lallana, showed promise with a clever turn which fooled two Danish defenders, but there was still no threat to Schmeichel.
Welbeck then impressed, turning and firing a low shot which the Danish stopper saved.
The Danes were still a threat on the break, though. Hart spread himself wide to deny Morten Rasmussen, who had replaced the ineffective Bendtner two minutes earlier.
Henderson then flicked a ball through to Welbeck but Schmeichel made himself look like a giant starfish to deny the Manchester United striker.
Schmeichel was there to deny England again soon after. This time the Leicester man punched Sturridge’s fierce shot away.
Just as some supporters started heading for the exits, Sturridge won the game for England.
Sterling found Lallana with a short corner and the Southampton midfielder lifted a delightful chip into the box which Sturridge converted. It was just his third England goal.
The relief inside was palpable as Sturridge swayed his hips in celebration.
However, if England are to enjoy the Samba in Brazil this summer they will have to play much better.

According to Foxsports

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic will play for Inter Milan next season, the Italian club have announced.

The Italian club had been widely touted as the likely destination for the Serbia centre-back since it was revealed last month that he would leave Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.
Inter confirmed on Wednesday that they had got their man, with club president Erick Thohir immediately hailing the signing as “crucial” for the team.
“Vidic is a great champion,” he said on inter.it. “I am extremely satisfied with the completion of this agreement that will bring Nemanja to Milan.
“He is one of the strongest defenders in the world, for his characteristics, his international experience, his charisma as a leader will be crucial for the team and the growth of our younger players.
“He will add value to the club and will be another pillar for the construction of a great Inter.
“Finally, I want to thank Manchester United, Nemanja and his entourage for his availability and the professionalism shown during the negotiation process.”
Vidic, who joined the Red Devils from Spartak Moscow in January 2006, confirmed last month that he would not remain in England after the summer.
”I want to challenge myself again and try to make the best of myself in the coming years,” he said in a statement released by United.
“I’m not considering staying in England as the only club I ever wanted to play for here is Manchester United and I was lucky enough to be part of this club for so many years.
”I’ve got a few options to move on and I will choose the right one for me and for my family.”
Last season, Vidic skippered United to their historic 20th championship – his fifth and the last under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Vidic has also won one Champions League trophy, three League Cups and a FIFA Club World Cup crown during his eight-year spell with United, and has started in 18 Barclays Premier League games and four Champions League matches this term

According to Foxsports

Argentina’s attacking stars failed to find a way through a resilient Romania outfit in a surprising goalless draw in Bucharest.

Despite the much-vaunted trio of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero starting up front, the South American side drew a blank against the underdogs, with Barcelona’s Messi conspicuous by his lack of influence on the game.
With less than 100 days to go until the World Cup, boss Alejandro Sabella may be slightly concerned that a team that may well be his first choice XI in Brazil struggled to break down a side that failed to qualify for this summer’s extravaganza.
They tried to assert their authority from the kick-off, but despite the envious trio they had in attack, it was defender Jose Basanta who had the first chance when headed over from a corner kick.
Angel Di Maria then played through former Real Madrid team-mate Higuain and the Napoli striker should have done better after being thwarted by Romania goalkeeper Ciprian Anton Tatarusanu.
At the other end, Romania served notice that they were not content to simply sit back and defend as striker Ciprian Marica’s header forced visiting custodian Sergio Romero to tip over.
Romero then made an excellent save to keep out Alexandru Maxim’s close range header, while at the other end, Manchester City talisman Aguero burst past four Romania defenders only to produce a wasteful final ball.
Aguero continued to cause a nuisance of himself after the break by taking the ball past half-time substitute goalkeeper and City team-mate Costel Pantilimon before his strike was blocked on the line by defender Florin Gardos.
Sabella’s side continued to pour forward, with Inter Milan striker Rodrigo Palacio firing wide following an excellent delivery into the area from Marcos Rojo.
Paris St Germain frontman Ezequiel Lavezzi was introduced to the action late on in place of Higuain but he was denied by a tremendous save by Pantilimon to ensure a goalless stalemate.

According to Foxsports

Karim Benzema and Blaise Matuidi were on target as France claimed a 2-0 friendly victory over Holland at the Stade de France in Paris.

Real Madrid striker Benzema put the home side ahead just after the half-hour mark with Matuidi adding a second less than 10 minutes later as players from both teams had a last chance to impress their respective managers ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
Both nations looked strong in the first half, but as the match wore on and substitutions were a plenty, things got a lot slower in the latter part of the match.
And there was some bad news for Holland as they lost 30-year-old midfielder Stijn Schaars to injury five minutes before the break.
The home side started well and Patrice Evra came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes but his effort from the left of the penalty box was comfortably caught by Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Antoine Griezmann was the next France player to have a go and almost put his side ahead before his header from 12 yards out sailed over the crossbar.
The visitors had a chance of their own minutes later but France captain Hugo Lloris kept out Wesley Sneijder’s outswinging corner in what was their first real effort on target.
Les Bleus were beginning to dominate now and could have take the lead midway through the first half but Bruno Martins Indi was quick to block Benzema’s close-range header.
And the Real Madrid striker had another chance with a free-kick minutes later, but only managed to hit the Holland wall as France pushed to break the deadlock.
Sneijder made the home side work hard to keep out three successive corners after 28 minutes, the third finding captain Robin van Persie on the edge of the 18-yard box and the Oranje could have taken the lead, but his volley was punched clear by Lloris.
Just after the half-hour mark Benzema put France ahead as he collected Paul Pogba’s cross from the left and made no mistake as he fired the ball into the back of the net from the right of the penalty area to make it 1-0.
Moments later Sneijder set up Ron Vlaar with a great chance to equalise but his header went over the bar before the visitors lost PSV Eindhoven midfielder Schaars to injury. He was replaced by Kevin Strootman.
France doubled their lead five minutes before the break as Mathieu Valbuena found Matuidi in the penalty box and the Paris St Germain midfielder made his opportunity count as he volleyed the ball home into the top left corner.
Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps brought on Lucas Digne for Evra in a tactical move at half-time.
While, five minutes later, his Dutch counterpart Louis van Gaal substituted Daley Blind as 19-year-old defender Karim Rekik took to the pitch for his senior debut.
Both sides took a while to get going in the second half with Raphael Varane denied the chance to make it three for France as his header dipped over the bar.
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery was handed his 81st cap – replacing Valbuena – as Deschamps continued to make changes to his team with half an hour to go and the 30-year-old could have got on the scoresheet deep into the half but his long-range effort was safe in the hands of Cillessen.
With 10 minutes to go, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud came on to make a late impression for France as both coaches took the chance to watch as many of their players in action as possible before naming their 23-man World Cup squad in May.
PSG midfield man Yohan Cabaye had the last half-chance of the match but his free-kick from just outside the box late on floated past the post as the match finished 2-0 to France.

According to Foxsports