Cristiano Ronaldo draws another blank as Juventus beats Lazio 2-0/////

Cristiano Ronaldo, making his home debut for Juventus, missed an open goal but inadvertently provided an assist for Mario Mandzukic to score as the Serie A titleholders beat Lazio 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday.

Piotr Zielinski scored twice as Napoli came from two goals behind to beat AC Milan 3-2 and give new coach Carlo Ancelotti an unforgettable home debut, especially as it came against the side where he spent eight seasons of his coaching career.

The win left Napoli, last season’s runners-up under Maurizio Sarri, with six points from their first two games

There was another big cheer shortly afterwards when Higuain shot high and wide from his only real opening of the match.

The Pole drove home the equaliser in the 67th minute after an attempted Milan clearance from a corner landed at his feet and substitute Dries Mertens completed the job with 10 minutes left, turning in Allan’s low cross at the far post.


Zielinski pulled one back three minutes later, rolling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the area after Milan lost possession in their own half, and from then on a Napoli fightback looked to be on the cards.

AC Milan stunned the San Paolo when Giacomo Bonaventura’s unorthodox volley put them ahead in the 15th minute and Davide Calabria drove in the second from Suso’s clever layoff four minutes after halftime.

Miralem Pjanic rifled Juventus ahead in the 30th minute with a shot from outside the area before the Turin side added a second in the 75th minute in untidy fashion.

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Posted in: Barca,Cristiano Ronaldo,Davis Cup,Fantasy football,La Liga

Eden Hazard can be best player in Europe, says Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri

Eden Hazard can become the greatest player in Europe, according to Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri.

The Belgian is embarking on his seventh season at Stamford Bridge, despite suggesting after this summer's World Cup that he was ready to move on.

The Premier League transfer window closed with Hazard still at Chelsea, although reported suitors Real Madrid can still pursue him until the end of the month.

But Sarri is looking forward to using Hazard - who could make his first start of the season against Arsenal on Saturday - in his new-look Chelsea side, and is excited to see what the 27-year-old can offer.

"We are talking about one of the most important players in Europe," said Sarri. "But, in my opinion, he can improve more.

"He can be the first. It depends on him. The best for technical skill, the best for scoring, but I think it depends only on him. On his mind."

Sarri also insisted he is not concerned about the form of striker Alvaro Morata, who has only scored once in 15 Premier League games this calendar year.

He said: "I am not worried about Morata. Morata is a very good player.

"I think in this moment he needs only to gain confidence. He needs to score. As all strikers in the world, I think

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Davis Cup: Changes mean death of event - Tomas Berdych

Controversial plans to end the Davis Cup's 37-year-old format will signal the death of the competition, says two-time winner Tomas Berdych.

The 25-year £2.15bn plan approved at the International Tennis Federation AGM on Thursday would turn the Davis Cup into a season-ending 18-team event.

But Czech Berdych, tweeting with the hashtag #ripdaviscup, said the history of the competition "will all be gone".

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt called the decision a "disgrace".

"I am very proud to be a winner of the competition that was here for over 100 years," wrote 32-year-old Berdych, who was part of the Czech Republic team that won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013.

The Davis Cup, which was founded in 1900, has been played in the current format since 1981.

• 'A sad day for tennis' - Davis Cup changes approved

Sixteen nations compete in the World Group in knockout ties, while the remaining countries are divided into three regional zones.

It is played in February, April and September and November, with each World Group tie played over three days in a best-of-five tie of five-set matches.

Under the new format, which will start in 2019, 18 nations will compete in a week-long, round‑robin tournament.

The countries will be split into six groups with each group fixture comprising two singles and one doubles match, all over three sets.

"Sometimes it's more than a game, more than money," said 37-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion Hewitt, who won the competition with Australia in 1999 and 2003.

"Most of my biggest highs and toughest losses came in five-set epic Davis Cup matches in front of screaming home or away fans.

"For the International Tennis Federation to take that away from the next generation of future stars is a disgrace."

An increasing number of top players have skipped matches in recent years to ease their schedule, and both world number one Rafael Nadal and 13-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic have backed reforms.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Britain's governing body, opposed the proposals, saying it was concerned about scheduling, financing and the division between member nations.

Tennis Australia, which from 2020 will host a revamped World Team Cup organised by the ATP in the first week of January, and the German Tennis Federation (DTB) also voted against the plans.

"It will kill the Davis Cup," said DTB vice-president Dirk Hordorff.

"You cannot make an event which is more or less an exhibition, after the Masters in November, and expect the players to come.

"The Davis Cup is the crown jewel of the ITF, and if you change something then you have to have a clear concept and a clear contract, but even board members, regional federations and big nations asked questions and they don't get the answers."

The plan is funded by an investment group led by Barcelona and former Spain footballer Gerard Pique.

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