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Calcio FC Weekly
AC Milan Are the Real Deal
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Welcome to Issue 6 of Calcio FC Weekly!
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Just when you thought Napoli were going to build on their early lead in the Scudetto race, AC Milan and Roma peg them back. Plus, there's a new record scorer in Serie A and we have the latest on San Siro's future.
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Don't forget you can get in touch with us on our socials and at newsletter@destinationcalcio.com
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Here's a taste of what's on the menu in today's bumper newsletter:
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- AC Milan are the real deal
- Mistaken identity in Naples
- San Siro latest
- The future is bright for Italian strikers
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Plenty to Be Happy About for AC Milan
On a day when European blue triumphed over American red at the Ryder Cup, there was a role reversal in Serie A as AC Milan beat Napoli 2-1 to move top of the table.
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At Bethpage Black it was the team in red mounting a spirited, if ultimately futile, comeback, while at the San Siro it was the Azzurri who looked to snatch a point after going two goals down.
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Their efforts, like those of Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, were valiant but fruitless as 10-man Milan became the first team to defeat Napoli in Serie A since February.
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The Rossoneri now find themselves top of the table with 12 points, level with Napoli and Roma but ahead on goal difference.
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If this was the first real test of their mettle, they passed it with flying colours.
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Alexis Saelemaekers put Milan ahead just two minutes into the game, their fastest goal in Serie A in just over a year, before Christian Pulisic (pictured above) doubled their advantage.
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To suggest the American has hit the ground running under Massimiliano Allegri would be an understatement. Pulisic has scored a league-best four goals in five Serie A appearances with two assists to his name, along with two goals in two Coppa Italia outings.
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According to Opta stats, since he made his Serie A debut two years ago, no other player has been directly involved in as many goals as Pulisic, who has contributed to 46 - 27 goals and 19 assists - one more than Lautaro Martinez.
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Pulisic was hooked 10 minutes into the second half when Pervis Estupinan’s yellow card was upgraded to red by VAR following a lengthy delay after he was judged to have denied Giovanni Di Lorenzo a clear scoring opportunity.
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Kevin De Bruyne converted the penalty and at this point you felt Napoli would get out of a jam, as they have done time and again under Antonio Conte.
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And they very nearly did, with Di Lorenzo heading just wide with 15 minutes left and Noa Lang forcing Mike Maignan into a smart save with 90 minutes on the clock, before David Neres rattled the post after his shot was deflected by Luka Modric.
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But Milan, just like Europe at Bethpage, got over the line. Allegri took over a team at their lowest ebb after Paulo Fonseca's and Sergio Conceicao’s disastrous spells last season and he has completely transformed them.
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Can he deliver another Scudetto at the first time of asking just as he did in his first spell at the San Siro in 2011? It’s too early to say, but in less than three months he seems to have restored Milan as credible challengers. That, surely, is a step in the right direction.
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"This is just the starting point,” he said.
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“We have to keep going. We took one more small step toward our goal - a draw wouldn't have been the worst outcome, all things considered.
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“We will have other difficult games where we are under pressure, but with this kind of fighting spirit, it’s much easier to bring home the result."
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Next up for Milan is a trip to Turin to face Juventus, the team Allegri (pictured below) won five consecutive Scudetti with.
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The Bianconeri are a point behind the leading trio, but have gone slightly off the boil after two consecutive draws against Hellas Verona and Atalanta.
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Allegri means 'happy' in Italian and so far Milan have plenty of reasons to be upbeat.
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Mistaken Identity In Naples
And what of Napoli, then? The Serie A champions’ first bid to scamper off into the distance was stopped in its tracks.
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It was Napoli’s first loss in the league since going down to Como in February and while the defeat is no reason to press the panic button, the dynamic between Antonio Conte and Kevin De Bruyne has come under scrutiny.
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The Belgian scored Napoli’s only goal but was hooked 10 minutes later with his team chasing an equaliser.
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His reaction went down like a lead balloon with Conte, who wasted no time reminding the 34-year-old who calls the shots.
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“I hope he is dissatisfied with the result, because if it is with the substitution, he chose the wrong person,” he thundered in his post-match interview.
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De Bruyne came off along with Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund with Eljif Elmas, David Neres and Lorenzo Lucca replacing them.
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"I tried to bring on fresh legs to exploit one-on-one situations, especially since Milan were defending so deep,” Conte said.
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“I subbed Lucca on for Hojlund. There isn't much else to say - I believe the substitutions were the right calls."
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Conte has never been one for diplomacy and De Bruyne (pictured below), who was also subbed off 20 minutes into Napoli’s defeat by Manchester City two weeks ago after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card, is the latest player to find himself in the line of fire.
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Since joining from City in the summer to much fanfare, the playmaker has acquainted himself well to his new surroundings, scoring three goals in five Serie A appearances.
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If Napoli have barely skipped a beat in the attacking third, the same cannot be said of a defence which has conceded five goals in the last three league outings.
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On Sunday, Conte was without the injured Amir Rrahmani and kept Sam Beukema on the bench as a precaution as Luca Marianucci, who started alongside Juan Jesus in the middle of Napoli’s back four, is not in the Champions League squad.
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But the Italy Under-21 international had a torrid time at the San Siro and Conte admitted his side must get their act together. And fast.
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“We have work to do and need to improve,” he said.
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“Lately, we've conceded a few too many goals - two against Pisa, two against Milan, and one against Fiorentina - especially since our defence has always been our strength. But the overall performance was positive.
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"Playing with this kind of personality at San Siro against Milan, who are certainly no pushovers, is not something to be taken for granted, and it should give us a good feeling about our collective strength."
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Goodbye San Siro?
If you have always wanted to watch a game at the San Siro, the clock is ticking. Milan’s city council last night approved the sale of the stadium to AC Milan and Inter Milan following a meeting that lasted almost 12 hours and ended at 3:50am.
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As expected, the vote was close, with 24 councillors in favour, 20 against, and two absent.
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The sale is not technically complete yet and must be finalised by November 10, which is the deadline for signing the deed.
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Essentially, the next 40 days will be spent getting final approval from the banks and completing the ownership transfer paperwork.
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The clubs will then shift their focus to construction plans, which are currently only at the conceptual stage with no final designs as yet. Milan and Inter have already hired Manica and Foster + Partners to develop the project over the next 12 months with construction expected to begin in the first half of 2027 and the new venue set to open in 2031.
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The new stadium will be built in the current parking area around San Siro and have a capacity of just north 71,000.
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The existing San Siro will be 90% demolished in stages between 2031 and 2032, with the exception of the southeast corner, which includes one tower, part of the orange stand, and the Curva Sud.
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That, of course, is the ideal scenario. But this is Italy after all, so expect these plans and projects to face a major test from the many appeals that are already being drafted.
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The Future Is Bright
Whisper it, but it may soon be time to park the trope about Italy no longer producing exciting strikers.
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Two of calcio’s most promising forwards announced their arrival this weekend, with Francesco Pio Esposito opening his Serie A account for Inter Milan in their 2-0 win at Cagliari.
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The Nerazzurri have bet big on Esposito this season after he plundered 19 goals for Spezia in Serie B last term as they just missed out on promotion.
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The 20-year-old has featured in three of Inter’s five Serie A fixtures so far and started his team's win over Ajax in the Champions League two weeks ago.
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Born in 2005, Esposito is a veteran compared to Francesco Camarda (pictured below).
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The 17-year-old joined AC Milan’s academy at the age of seven and made his debut with the Rossoneri four months short of his 16th birthday, before becoming the youngest Italian to play in the Champions League.
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He was loaned out to Lecce in the summer and on Sunday became the youngest scorer in Serie A history, netting a 94th-minute equaliser as the Giallorossi rescued a 2-2 draw against Bologna.
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Camarda celebrated like a kid who had the weight of the world lifted off his young shoulders.
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He started his Lecce debut against Genoa, but was relegated to the bench for the next four fixtures and had yet to impress in Puglia.
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"It's a wonderful feeling, my first goal, and I'm happy that it counted toward the point we earned,” he said.
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“We are all committed to working hard to bring home points."
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Despite Camarda’s goal, Lecce remain bottom of Serie A with two points along with Genoa and Pisa, but safety is just one point away.
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San Siro: A Maiden Voyage to one of Football's Most Majestic Arenas
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The San Siro may soon be a thing of the past, but what is it like to step into one of the world's most iconic arenas as a female newcomer to calcio? Lauren Canning on the whirlwind of emotions that meets first-time visitors to the Giuseppe Meazza.
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Unwanted Guests at Home for 30 Years: Why Padova Ultras Are Boycotting the Stadio Euganeo
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The San Siro isn't the only Italian stadium that's currently a source of debate. Padova ultras boycotted home matches in protest against the club for the whole of last season. Dan Cancian went to find out why back in October last year.
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Don’t forget, Destination Calcio will be bringing you live Serie B action during every round of the 2025-26 season on DCTV
- Click HERE to find out the matches we will be showing across the next few weeks.
- Click HERE for the full 2025-26 calendar.
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Things you may have missed this week
- Gianfranco Zola had a small role to play in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph, as he served as vice-captain Francesco Molinari's designated buggy driver, much to the delight of Chelsea fan Justin Rose. "I didn't know he was coming this week. It was a huge surprise and he was one of the first people I bumped into," he said. "I was starstruck, which is amazing."
- It was a nice weekend for the Grosso household. The 2006 World Cup winner Fabio steered Sassuolo to their second win of the season as they beat Udinese 3-1, while his son Filippo scored his first senior goal as Frosinone thrashed Mantova 5-1. The 19-year-old midfielder was making his first start of the season.
- Andrea Belotti faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury in Cagliari’s 2-0 defeat by Inter Milan on Saturday night. It's desperately disappointing news for the 31-year-old, who had got off to an excellent start to life in Sardinia with two goals in three matches.
- According to Opta, Kevin De Bruyne is the first midfielder to score in his first three Serie A away fixtures since the turn of the century. Only three other players have managed the feat - Mauro Zarate in 2008, Miroslav Klose in 2011 and Krzysztof Piątek in 2018.
- Marco Amelia believes a row between Massimiliano Allegri and Zlatan Ibrahimovic cost AC Milan the chance of winning a second consecutive Scudetto in 2012. Four points clear of Juventus in March, they finished second, four points behind their rivals, as the Bianconeri became the first team to go unbeaten over a 38-game Serie A season. The reason behind it? A heated face-to-face between Allegri and Ibrahimovic after Milan beat Arsenal 4-3 on aggregate in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The Rossoneri took the first leg 4-0, before Arsenal almost pulled off a stunning comeback at the Emirates, winning 3-0. Already incensed by the manager’s decision to take two reserve goalkeepers on the bench, Ibrahimovic lashed out at a smiling Allegri when the boss returned from his post-match interviews. “Something broke that day,” former keeper Amelia told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
- Ascoli's Samuele Vitali is the only ever-present shot-stopper across Italy’s top three divisions not to concede a goal this season. The 23-year-old has kept a clean sheet in the Bianconeri’s seven games, for a total of 630 unbeaten minutes. Ascoli are third in Serie C Group B with 17 points, one adrift of league leaders Arezzo and Ravenna.
- Mel Gibson was in attendance at the Stadio Olimpico as Roma beat Hellas Verona 2-0. No word on whether he’s planning a biopic of Gian Piero Gasperini just yet.
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Watch the Calcio FC podcast on YouTube and listen on Spotify
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Kit of the week
Competing for attention with two giants of world football can be a challenging affair, particularly if they happen to be in the same the city and your club happens to be in Serie C. But Alcione Milano have come out swinging and produced a quite frankly astonishing number.
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Milan's third team have arguably one of the best third kits this season, courtesy of Adidas. The three stripes match the capital A that dominates Alcione's badge, but the real piece de resistance is lower down the shirt, which features the silhouette of the Milan Duomo in grey against a black backdrop.
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I mean, would you just look at that?
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A reminder that if you spot a classic shirt while you're at the game or out and about, get in touch on our socials or via email and let us know why we should feature it!
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What we are reading this week
It is 40 years since Hellas Verona completed the 1984-85 season in top spot, one of the most miraculous Scudetto victories in the history of Italian football. Richard Hough brought it back to life, telling tales of the unforgettable season from the mouths of some of its most important characters in his wonderful Verona Campione: The Miracle of 85.
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Coffee corner
This week's entry comes from Lecce, specifically Southeast Cafe. Located in the old town, this is a great place to explore Lecce's wonderful and historic baroque buildings and to simply do some good, old-fashioned, people-watching.
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Got a tip for the best espresso you've had in Pisa? Had a memorable cappuccino in Parma? Let us know on our socials or by email at newsletter@destinationcalcio.com!
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Where to watch calcio this weekend
Serie A (times BST/EST)
- Verona vs Sassuolo, 19:45/14:45 DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Inter Milan vs Cremonese, 17:00/12:00, DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Atalanta vs Como, 19:45/14:45, DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Udinese vs Cagliari, 11:30/06:30, DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Bologna vs Pisa, 14:00/09:00, DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Fiorentina vs Roma, 14:00/09:00, TNT Sports 3 (UK), DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Napoli vs Genoa, 17:00/12:00, DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
- Juventus vs AC Milan, 19:45/14:45 TNT Sports 1 (UK), DAZN (UK and US), Paramount + (US)
Serie B
- Palermo vs Venezia, 19:30/14:30, Destination Calcio
- Empoli vs Monza, 19:30/14:30, Destination Calcio
- Sampdoria vs Catanzaro, 19:30/14:30, Destination Calcio
- Avellino vs Mantova, 14:00/09:00, Destination Calcio
- Spezia vs Palermo, 16:15/11:15, Destination Calcio
- Sampdoria vs Pescara, 16:15/11:15, Destination Calcio
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Random former Serie A/Serie B footballer of the week
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With Cremonese in the headlines courtesy of their great start to the season, it feels appropriate to use this section to pay tribute to one John Aloisi. You may be more familiar with him as the man who slotted the crucial penalty in a World Cup play-off against Uruguay in 2005 as Australia secured qualification for the first time in three decades, wheeling away in celebration at the MCG, instantly a Socceroos hero. Scoring in front of 100,000 people to send your nation to the World Cup for the first time in 32 years is a million miles away from playing 52 games and scoring five goals in two seasons for Cremonese. By the time Aloisi left Italy in the summer of 1997 for Portsmouth, the Grigiorossi had suffered two consecutive relegations.
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That is all for this week folks. We hope you enjoyed this latest issue of Calcio FC Weekly, make sure you hit the subscribe button to have it landing in your inbox every Tuesday and don't forget to get in touch at newsletter@destinationcalcio.com or on our socials!
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