Napoli beat Juventus 2-0 in the Coppa Italia final to spoil the end of Juve's undefeated season and finish Alessandro Del Piero's Bianconeri career on a sour note. For Napoli's Marek Hamsik, who sealed the win by scoring the second goal in the 83rd minute, it was also an end of sorts as he lived up to a promise he made about his trademark, powerful and robust mohawk.

By Max Grieve

Six years ago in Bari, the directors watched on as Juventus celebrated their 29th Scudetto. Celebrations moved from beneath the stadium to the team bus, which Luciano Moggi boarded in tears. The players too, though they appeared to hide it well, must have known what was to come.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

If Chelsea are to win their long-sought-after UEFA Champions League title, they must mount a comeback against a high-powered opponent in Wednesday's Round of 16 second leg with Napoli.

Napoli bring a 3-1 advantage into Stamford Bridge to take on a Chelsea side trying to find its way after the firing of Andre Villas-Boas.

Once again Chelsea took the lead away from home in a Champions League tie, and just like they did in the group stages, they let that led get away as they 3-1 in Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie.

It was three really poor goals that Chelsea gave up in Italy tonight.

Another disappointed result earned by English sides on Italian soil as after Arsenal's defeat against Ac Milan not long ago, this time it's Chelsea's turn to suffer a similar outcome although Andre Villas-Boas ' team did put out a better effort than Wenger's boys.

Playing against Napoli at San Paolo, the Blues actually managed to take an early lead but got pummeled 3-1 in the end, leaving Villas-Boas in despair as his team suffered another disappointment.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

England is in danger of having no teams in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1995-96 after Chelsea were defeated by Napoli 3-1 in the first leg of the Round of 16.

Juan Mata's fortuitous goal midway through the first half was cancelled out by Ezequiel Lavezzi's brace and Edinson Cavani's goal just before halftime.

With the Blues current performances in the league, many are writing them off in tonight's Champions League knockout stage first leg fixture against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.

Truth be said, Chelsea have a mountain to climb in Italy tonight and if reports doing the rounds stating that AVB will start Torres are true, i would urge all Chelsea fans to expect another disappointing outcome.

With the Blues current performances in the league, many are writing them off in tonight's Champions League knockout stage first leg fixture against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.

Truth be said, Chelsea have a mountain to climb in Italy tonight and if reports doing the rounds stating that AVB will start Torres are true, i would urge all Chelsea fans to expect another disappointing outcome.

Por snedecor
Cualquiera que mire los datos de este mercadillo de invierno debe rendirse a la evidencia: para nosotros, sucios PIGS cubiertos de deuda hasta las cejas, parece que se han acabado los tiempos del derroche futbolero, al menos si no tienes unos amiguitos bien situados en el Golfo Pérsico.

Last year the Indian Football Association announced it would be launching Premier League Soccer in early 2012, with six franchises. The franchises are located in Kolkata, Howrah, Asansol, Midnapore, and Siliguri. When the league was announced, IFA also stated that each team would have one icon player and a maximum of three overseas players and one overseas player from Asia.

This feels like the only fitting way. Put the ball in the back of the net yourself, if no other team is able to. Holger Badstuber put it there under pressure to Napoli's credit. Philipp Lahm failed to deal with Maggio to Badstuber's credit. And so Manuel Neuer's record run across all competitions ended after 1147 minutes.

By Kaushik Lakshman

Last week we saw a bizarre transfer when Al-Ain announced that they will be signing Asamoah Gyan on a one year loan at ridiculous wages. Gyan obviously took the option. Many questioned the move, accusing him of being a money grabber, accusing him of making a terrible move with respect to his career and what not.

Sometimes your team is just beaten by a better team. Sometimes the opponent is stronger or faster or more technically skilled, and you just have to take your beating with the best grace you can muster. Thus the equanimity with which Alex Ferguson accepted Manchester United's loss to Barcelona in last season's Champions League final: Barça was simply and obviously better.

Nuri Sahin: A Fantastic Signing in my opinion
So it's official. Nuri Sahin, formerly of Borussia Dortmund is now officially a Real Madrid player.

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He is now the 3rd Bundesliga player to join Real Madrid in Florentino's 2nd stint at the Madrid presidency following Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil.

Nuri Sahin: A Fantastic Signing in my opinion
So it's official. Nuri Sahin, formerly of Borussia Dortmund is now officially a Real Madrid player.

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He is now the 3rd Bundesliga player to join Real Madrid in Florentino's 2nd stint at the Madrid presidency following Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil.

Napoli – Cagliari 2-1: al San Paolo è Cavani show! Di Paolo Esposito Secondo posticipo consecutivo per il Napoli, che tra le mura amiche affronta il Cagliari dell'ex Donadoni. Padroni di casa che si schierano con il classico 3-4-2-1 che vede De Sanctis in porta, Santacroce, Cannavaro e Ruiz in difesa, Zuniga e Dossena ai lati dei centrali di centrocampo Pazienza e Yebda, con in avanti il trio

Probable Formations Matchday 20 Italian Serie A Napoli vs Fiorentina Napoli (3-4-2-1): DeSanctis, Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica, Maggio, Gargano, Pazienza, Dossena, Sosa, Lavezzi, Cavani Fiorentina (4-3-3): Boruc, DeSilvestri, Gamberlini, Kroldrup, Pasqual, Donadel, Montolivo, D'Agostino, Ljajic, Santana, Gilardino Inter vs Bologna Inter (4-3-1-2): Castellazzi, Maicon, Lucio, Cordoba,.