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Conference League: Barak at last gasp, Fiorentina beats Maccabi Haifa in comeback

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Conference League, first round of 16: Maccabi Haifa-Fiorentina 3-4

A Fiorentina team that was as effective in attack as it was inaccurate in defense emerged with a precious 4-3 victory, with a decisive goal by Barak in 95′, from the Conference League round of 16 played againstMaccabi Haifa on the neutral at the Bozsik Stadion in Budapest. In the return match, in Florence next Thursday, there will be two results for the Viola to advance to the quarters, a win and a draw.

First half: good start, then Maccabi emerges

The start looks decidedly promising for Vincenzo Italiano’s men: after 2′ in fact, the goal of the lead arrives and to score it è the revived M’Bala Nzola, who scores a header for a goal that, on a personal level, had been missing since last January 14 (Fiorentina-Udinese 2-2 league).

The rest of the first half è forò nightmarish for the Viola, this evening on the field in a white jersey: in fact, at 12′ came the 1-1 scored by Seck, good at beating Terracciano from close range, while at minute 29 there’è the 2-1 for the Israelis, scored by Kinda who took advantage of an uncertainty in marking by Kayode to diagonally beat the lily-white goalkeeper.

The resumption: everything happens in Budapest

In the resumption, Italiano trusted the same eleven sent on the field from 1′ and the players on the field responded positively: at 59′, in fact, Beltran signed the 2-2, making the most of Nzola’s assist and the lack of pressure from the players of the formally “host” team. Maccabi’s counter-response is worth forò the 3-2, at 67′: great play byKhalaili on the right, the young Israeli (class of 2004) unloads an impenetrable diagonal for Terracciano.

Fiorentina, however, did not give up and in minute 73 scored the equalizing goal: Biraghi’s low cross reached Mandragora, who right-footed guessed the right angle and beat the opponent’s goalkeeper. Only after this goal come the first moves of Italiano, who chooses Bonaventura and Belotti taking over Duncan and Nzola at 75′.

In the final, the match gets nervous: Show, Maccabi’s Angolan midfielder already cautioned on 3-2, intervenes late on Bonaventura and gets himself sent off at 81′ for double yellow, on the other side Kayode gets himself cautioned for a hold against Pierrot. A minute later Barak enters for Mandragora, and è the decisive change: at minute 95, when everything seems to suggest that the match will end in parity, the Czech unloads a left-footed shot from the limit that does not find Kaiuf ready and it goes into the box. The triple whistle came shortly afterwards: the Viola won 4-3 and could breathe a big sigh of relief given how the match seemed to have turned out before the final 20 minutes.

Conference League, the results of the other round of 16

These are the results of the other Conference League matches, all played on Thursday: Ajax-Aston Villa 0-0; Molde-Club Brugge 2-1 (Stenevik, Gulbrandsen; penalty. De Cuyper); Olympiacos-Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-4 (El Kaabi; Zahavi 2, Shahar, Peretz); Sturm Graz-Lille 0-3 (David 2, Zhegrova); Dinamo Zagreb-PAOK 2-0 (Petkovic 2); Royale Union Saint Gilloise-Fenerbahce 0-3 (Batshuayi, Oosterwolde, rig. Tadic); Servette-Viktoria Plzen 0-0.

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Trapani Shark leads the way, Jasmin Repesa reveals the secret

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Jasmin Repesa, coach of the Trapani Shark, gave a lengthy interview to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’. “I came here to challenge myself, because there was a very young, very ambitious project – he began -. A city that likes basketball, a president who provided an important budget, and a fan base that made us feel their support right away. And the team has responded well on the court. I am satisfied with what we have done so far”.

The newly promoted Granata are currently first in the LBA standings, along with Brescia and Virtus Bologna: “I never thought that far ahead. But I was confident. I am convinced that there is everything, or almost everything, to be very competitive, we have proven it. We are a team that can play good basketball, and we have become one of the most entertaining. People want to see basketball like we are playing”.

“Team success comes first – added the Croatian coach. “We have embraced this philosophy from day one, with so many players who have been real stars in the past at different clubs. It is the only way if we want to be really competitive”.

“There are six games left and the playoffs will be another competition. Surprises can always happen, it depends on a thousand factors: how you get there, whether you have luck or bad luck, whether there are injuries or not. We just have to keep improving and growing. In the season finale we have strong opponents waiting for us, with much more experience, much more tradition, but certainly not hungrier than us. Our advantage is having so many players who have made themselves available for the common result. This is our strength” Repesa concluded.

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Milan-Inter: Conceiçao with a doubt, Inzaghi changes six

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Milan and Inter face each other at 9 p.m. at the ‘Meazza’ in the first leg match of the Coppa Italia semifinal. After Bologna&#8217s clear away victory over Empoli (3-0) with which it mortgaged the final, it will be the turn of the Nerazzurri and Rossoneri to challenge each other in the fourth Milan derby of the season.

Sergio Conceiçao starts again with Leao: the Portuguese will be back as a starter in the Rossoneri’s three-quarter, with Pulisic and one between Jimenez and Musah, with the former ahead in the ballot. In attack, Abraham is ahead of Gimenez for a shirt from the 1′.

Made choices in midfield, formed by Fofana and Reijnders, and in defense where Gabbia and Thiaw will play, with Walker and Theo Hernandez acting as full-backs, while Maignan will be in goal.

Simone Inzaghi, on the other hand, changes as many as six players from the challenge with Udinese, starting with the goalkeeper. Between the posts, in fact, there will be Josep Martinez in front of a revolutionized defense that will see the presence of Bisseck, De Vrij and Bastoni.

The goalkeeper will be Josep Martinez.

In the midfield, Asllani is disqualified: confirmation for Calhanoglu in the direction, assisted by Frattesi and Barella. In attack, with Lautaro Martinez and Taremi out, chance for Correa from 1′, paired with Thuram.

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NBA, Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic show: Memphis knockout, Minnesota no

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In the NBA night seven games were staged. At the FedExForum in Memphis, Steph Curry’s show with his 52 points (12 threes made) dragged the Golden State Warriors to victory over the Memphis Grizzlies (134-125).

At the Denver Nuggets, however, a stellar Nikola Jokic’s 61 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists was not enough, earning him his 31st triple-double of the season. In fact, at Ball Arena, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves who won, in the second overtime, 140-139.

The Milwaukee Bucks took advantage of Kevin Durant’s absence and beat the Phoenix Suns (133-123) thanks to the usual Giannis Antetokounmpo, author of 37 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists. It was also all easy for the New York Knicks who folded the Philadelphia 76ers (105-91) thanks to Og Anuoby’s 27 points off the bench.

Finally, the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic also win: the former beat the Atlanta Hawks (127-113), the latter overcame the Toronto Raptors (137-118), and the latter knocked out the San Antonio Spurs (116-105) thanks to 24 points from Paolo Banchero.

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