Atalanta BC had a difficult month after a poor start at Udinese, as they drew 0-0 in Italian Serie A on Saturday.
It could have been worse for Atalanta if Alexis Sanchez hadn’t missed an excellent opportunity to give Udinese the lead just before the break.
The Chile forward headed a cross onto the right post and fired the rebound onto the underside of the crossbar from 6m out and with the goal gaping.
Photo: EPA-EFE
It was a woeful performance from Atalanta, which produced few chances and had goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi to thank for a wonder save in the first half.
Atalanta remained second, two points behind SSC Napoli.
Title-chasing Napoli appear to be on the verge of losing their key players who helped them win their last Serie A crown.
Photo: Reuters
Napoli coach Antonio Conte on Saturday confirmed that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has asked to leave the club in this month’s transfer window, amid reports the 23-year-old’s entourage is already in talks with French Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a rare howler as Sergio Conceicao’s first Serie A match as AC Milan coach ended 1-1 at home against relegation-threatened Cagliari Calcio.
Juventus fell to a draw in Serie A with a 1-1 draw in Turin in a derby.
Photo: AFP
Bundesliga
Reuters,
Monchengladbach, Germany
Leaders Bayern Munich scored several more goals in their 1-0 German Bundesliga victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday to close out the match much earlier, coach Vincent Kompany said.
Bayern had plenty of chances, especially for Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka, in the first half with around 70% possession, but had to wait until the 68th minute to break the deadlock thanks to top scorer Harry Kane’s penalty.
PREMIER LEAGUE
AFP and AP,
MANCHESTER and LIVERPOOL, England
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Saturday that club captain Kyle Walker had asked to leave the English champions to explore opportunities abroad.
Walker, 34, has won 15 major trophies, including six English Premier League titles, since joining City in 2017.
“Two days ago, Kyle asked to explore possibilities to play and finish his career,” Guardiola said after Walker was absent from his team’s 8-0 win in the third round of the FA Cup against Salford.
Meanwhile, Everton on Saturday hired David Moyes for a second stint as manager at the club.
Moyes replaces Sean Dyche, who left the team just one point above the relegation zone on Thursday.
Moyes, 61, managed Everton from 2002 to 2013, at which time he led the Merseyside club to the 2009 FA Cup final and four European campaigns.