Serie A

ROMELU LUKAKU appeared to aim a cheeky dig at rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after scoring a stunning goal for Inter in the Milan derby.
The pair clashed last month in the Coppa Italia, trading insults and both landing themselves with suspensions during a fiery affair.

Lukaku celebrates after sealing Inter’s derby day delightCredit: Reuters

Lukaku gets his reward for his outstanding performance! 🙌Inter in control of the derby 🔵⚫Inter in control of the title race? 👀 pic.twitter.com/qGZFL05oTO
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) February 21, 2021

After Ibrahimovic called him a ‘little donkey’ and urged him ‘call your mother and do your voodoo s**t’, Lukaku hit back, saying: “‘F*** you and your wife, you little b**. You want to speak about my mother?”
And the Belgian appears to have had the last laugh.
With both vying for the Serie A title, the teams met again at San Siro on Sunday in a crunch clash.
Lukaku, 27, rounded off Inter’s 3-0 triumph with a stunning solo effort before running to the corner flag to vociferously celebrate with his team-mates.

And some believe he shouted ‘Dio! Te l’ho detto cazzo’, the Italian for ‘God! I f****** told you’, in a direct reference to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who claimed last year that Milan had no king but a God instead.
But others understood him to be saying ‘Io’, as part of the line ‘Me! I f****** told you’.
Whether that was a jibe back to his AC Milan nemesis will have to be confirmed by Lukaku himself but, nevertheless, the Inter star certainly came out on top in the personal duel between the pair on Sunday.
Having gone face to face with the Swede in their last encounter, he is now on a run of scoring in five consecutive derbies – a record.

Lukaku and Ibrahimovic clashed last monthCredit: Reuters

Lukaku didn’t hold back as he celebratedCredit: Premier Sports
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

Lautaro Martinez put Antonio Conte’s side ahead early on, heading home a pinpoint cross from Lukaku.
The Argentine made it 2-0 after the break when a slick move through Achraf Hakimi, Christian Eriksen and Perisic led to a tap-in finish.
The win left Inter four points clear in the title race.
Early frontrunners Milan have now only won two in seven in all competitions, having also lost to their neighbours in the Coppa Italia last month.
After the win, Lukaku’s strike partner Martinez gushed about his colleague to DAZN.
The forward said: “Lukaku can improve a lot, he is 27, he works and he makes himself available to his teammates.
“He is a great person on and off the pitch, we are happy to have him with us.”

Martinez and Lukaku both got on the scoresheet against MilanCredit: Getty Images – Getty
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Ex-Man Utd stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku clash in fiery Milan derby More

ISAAC DROGBA, son of Chelsea legend Didier, made his professional bow in the Italian fourth-tier on Sunday.
Earlier this month, the 20-year-old joined Serie D side Folgore Caratese to aid their promotion push.

Didier Drogba’s son Isaac, 20, came off the bench to make his pro debutCredit: Sportitalia

The striker moved to Folgore Caratese in Italy’s Serie D earlier in FebruaryCredit: Sportitalia

And, in a win over Saluzzo at Stadio XXV Aprile, Drogba made his first appearance in a professional game.
The youngster spent last season in the reserves of French side Guingamp, where dad Didier also starred for a year as he made his way in the game.
Previously, the young Drogba had been part of Chelsea’s youth academy in another nod to his family’s heritage.
But he is now making his way in the town of Carate Brianza, to the north of Milan, where Folgore are based.

On Sunday, the Serie D Group A side were 4-1 up with ten minutes to go when Drogba was substituted on.
That is how the scoreline stayed, leaving the side ninth but only three points behind the play-off places with a game in hand.
ONLINE CASINO OFFERS: CLAIM OVER £800 IN BONUS CASH

Paris-born Drogba left Guingamp last summer having signed in February of 2018.

When joining the Ligue 2 team, a number of Chelsea legends commented on his progress, Frank Lampard writing on social media: “I remember Isaac as the small polite boy! Now a man!”
Ex-Blues captain John Terry added at the time: “Can’t believe how big he is mate.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Chelsea legend John Terry is building a swimming pool and tennis court on his property More

ROMELU LUKAKU fired home a blistering effort against AC Milan to seal a huge derby win for his Inter side.
The Nerazzurri were 2-0 up in the clash between Serie A’s top two sides when the striker delivered an individual wonder goal on 65 minutes.

Lukaku gets his reward for his outstanding performance! 🙌Inter in control of the derby 🔵⚫Inter in control of the title race? 👀 pic.twitter.com/qGZFL05oTO
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) February 21, 2021

Romelu Lukaku hit a blistering third goal for Inter Milan on SundayCredit: AFP or licensors

A long ball forward from Ivan Perisic began a counter-attack and Lukaku turned Franck Kessie to open up his route to goal.
The Milan defence backed off and he launched a stinging strike past Gianluigi Donnarumma’s near-post from 18 yards out.
Inter players mobbed Lukaku as he celebrated, with fans picking up on a potential call out to rival star Zlatan Ibrahimovic through the pitchside microphones.
The Belgian called back up the pitch after pointing to himself and then the San Siro pitch, and there was some debate over exactly what he shouted before his team-mates piled in.

Some believed he was shouting ‘Dio! Te l’ho detto cazzo’, the Italian for ‘God! I f****** told you’, in a direct reference to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who claimed last year that Milan had no king but a God instead.
But others understood him to be saying ‘Io’, as part of the line ‘Me! I f****** told you’.

The striker’s celebration was seen by some as a jibe at AC Milan’s Zlatan IbrahimovicCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Whether that was a jibe back to his AC Milan nemesis will have to be confirmed by Lukaku himself but, nevertheless, the Inter star certainly came out on top in the personal duel between the pair on Sunday.
Having gone face to face with the Swede in their last encounter, he is now on a run of scoring in five consecutive derbies – a record.

Lautaro Martinez put Antonio Conte’s side ahead early on, heading home a pinpoint cross from Lukaku.
The Argentine made it 2-0 after the break when a slick move through Achraf Hakimi, Christian Eriksen and Perisic led to a tap-in finish.
The win left Inter, by far Serie A’s leading goalscorers, four points clear in the Scudetto race.
Early frontrunners Milan have now only won two in seven in all competitions, also losing to their neighbours in the Coppa Italia last month.
ONLINE CASINO OFFERS: CLAIM OVER £800 IN BONUS CASH

Lukaku’s strike partner, Martinez, told DAZN post-match that the former Manchester United man can still get even better.
He said: “Lukaku can improve a lot, he is 27, he works and he makes himself available to his teammates.
“He is a great person on and off the pitch, we are happy to have him with us.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Ex-Man Utd stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku clash in fiery Milan derby More

INTER MILAN hammered rivals AC Milan 3-0 at the San Siro to move four points clear at the top of Serie A.
Two goals from Lautaro Martinez and a superb solo strike from Romelu Lukaku gave Antonio Conte’s side the win.

Martinez, 23, scored twice in an excellent performanceCredit: EPA

Lukaku, 27, was unstoppable as he added a thirdCredit: AP:Associated Press

Ibrahimovic, 39, could only stand and applaud Lukaku’s outstanding displayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

With both teams challenging for the title, the 228th Milan derby was arguably the biggest for some time.
It was also the eagerly awaited rematch between heavyweights Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the first time the two had met since they clashed heads in the Coppa Italia semi-final.
And it was Lukaku who struck the first blow.
Running on to a ball down the right flank, he got in behind the defence and tried to find his strike partner Martinez.

Simon Kjaer blocked the Belgian striker’s low cross, but he immediately regained possession and looped a fabulous ball towards his initial target.
Martinez, unmarked, confidently headed home to give Inter a fifth-minute lead.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

Milan nearly equalised ten minutes later when Ibrahimovic attempted an audacious back heel in front of goal.

His effort would have deceived many but Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was alert to the danger, making a decent save to his left.
The Nerazzurri enjoyed the best of the action in the first half with Lukaku almost doubling their lead in the 26th minute, coming just inches from finishing Ivan Persic’s low cross.
Chances were few and far between for Milan, but they had a good one in the 33rd minute when Theo Hernandez controlled a loose ball in the opposition area.
His bobbling right-footed shot got the better of a frozen Handanovic but went the wrong side of the post.
Inter almost made Hernandez pay a few minutes later when Gianluigi Donnarumma, making his 200th Serie A appearance, was forced into a good save from Perisic.
And they had another chance just before half-time when Milan Skriniar headed a Christian Eriksen free-kick just wide.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Lautaro doubles the Inter lead! 🔵⚫Handanovic had to weather a Milan storm to start the half, but now Conte’s side are well and truly in the driver’s seat 🔥 pic.twitter.com/D0wc3pEDD5
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) February 21, 2021

Ibrahimovic had a quiet first half by his high standards, hitting a tame volley at Handanovic in the 38th minute.
But he, and the game, burst into life moments after the break when his header was brilliantly saved by Handanovic.
The ball was crossed back into the middle where Ibrahimovic met it again just yards out, but he failed to beat an inspired Handanovic, who made another top save a minute later from Sandro Tonali.
Milan were now on top, although they were always at risk from the counter – and it proved their undoing.
Achraf Hakimi, bursting forward from defence, skipped beyond two Milan players to find Eriksen waiting in the middle.
The former Tottenham man controlled the ball before laying it off to Perisic in the box, who squared to Martinez.
The Argentina international, playing with supreme confidence, slotted it home to double Inter’s advantage and pick up his 15th goal of the season in all competitions.

Lukaku gets his reward for his outstanding performance! 🙌Inter in control of the derby 🔵⚫Inter in control of the title race? 👀 pic.twitter.com/qGZFL05oTO
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) February 21, 2021

Lukaku should have added a third six minutes later when he was put through on goal, but he fired straight at Donnarumma.
It would not be long until he did get his goal, though, delivering a knockout blow in the 66th minute.
Running at a weary Milan defence with pace and desire, Lukaku unleashed a clinical left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
He had delivered the knockout blow and sent a huge message to Ibrahimovic, who could only stand and applaud his rival.
Milan’s Swedish star was substituted shortly after that and the game petered out.
There was still time for another excellent stop from Handanovic as he denied Ante Rebic in the 89th minute.
Inter are now four points clear of Milan at the top of Serie A and must be considered as favourites for a first title since 2010.
Champions Juventus are 11 points behind but do have two games in hand.

Ex-Man Utd stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku clash in fiery Milan derby More

ITALIAN fans lit flares and ignored social distancing ahead of the Milan derby held behind closed doors at the San Siro.
AC Milan and Inter supporters congregated in their thousands before the biggest Derby della Madonnina in more than a decade.

Supporters lit flares and waved flags as they congregated before the Milan derbyCredit: EPA

Italian fans crowded together despite the Covid-19 pandemicCredit: AP:Associated Press

Riot police were called to try and disperse crowdsCredit: EPA

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte’s Inter took a one-point lead at the top of Serie A into the game and a 3-0 win gave them a four-point buffer.
A fiery atmosphere was created in the build-up to the game despite Covid rules in the Italian city stating people should keep a metre apart and wear masks in public spaces.
Reports suggested 5,000 fans from both teams packed the surrounding area around the shared stadium with police called to disperse the rowdy crowds.
Italian rulemakers ‘strongly recommend’ avoiding public transport unless for essential travel or commuting to work.

Fans could be sen huddled together waving large flags with many mouths and noses left uncovered despite the pandemic.
Sunday’s derby had been hotly-anticipated after the heated clash between Inter’s Romelu Lukaku and Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic last time out.
The ex-Manchester United team-mates went head-to-head in an explosive exchange in the Coppa Italia quarter-final last month.
Veteran Swede Ibrahimovic, 39, was seen and heard shouting: “Go do your voodoo s***, go do your voodoo s***, little donkey.”

BETS OF THE DAY: DON’T MISS TODAY’S BEST ODDS BOOSTS

Fans with megaphones geed up the massesCredit: EPA

Italian supporters unfurled huge banners and waved flags in the build-up to kick-offCredit: EPA

Fans of both sides flooded to the stadium despite the game being held behind closed doorsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Lukaku, 27, responded with ‘I’ll f*** you and your wife’.
The ex-Everton and Chelsea ace then charged at the Swede and blasted ‘Let’s go inside you b****’ before both players were booked.
The two protagonists escaped any further punishment after an investigation by the Italian Football Federation.
And a stunning mural depicting their coming-together was painted outside the San Siro before Sunday’s league game.
Inter took the lead thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s goal after just five minutes and went in at half-time 1-0 up.
And the Argentine bagged his second in the 57th minute to give Conte’s side a two-goal cushion.
Lukaku got in on the act less than ten minutes later to secure all three points for the blue side of the city.

A mural of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku’s clash from the last derby was painted outsideCredit: AFP or licensors

Fans took selfies with their flaresCredit: Reuters

Thousands packed into the area surrounding the San SiroCredit: Reuters
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Ex-Man Utd stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku clash in fiery Milan derby More