Despite being tipped with a surprise return to the Italy national team set-up after almost three years, it appears that Marco Verratti will not be available for the crucial World Cup play-off campaign at the end of the month after all. 

Verratti had been tipped with a return to the Italy national team squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland coming up on March 26, and recent reports claimed that he was on Gennaro Gattuso’s preliminary squad list.

The 33-year-old last played for the Azzurri during the Nations League finals in the summer of 2023. 

Verratti is currently on the books of Al-Duhail of the Qatar Stars League, but has not featured for his club since January 15 due to recurring injury issues. Those problems are expected to keep him out of action for the play-offs with Italy later this month according to reports from various outlets on Thursday. 

Instead, Gattuso looks set to stick with a first-choice midfield of Nicolo Barella, Sandro Tonali and Juventus’s Manuel Locatelli at the base. Thursday’s reports suggest that Roma’s Niccolo Pisilli is increasingly likely to be included in the squad now that Verratti has been ruled out. 

When do Italy play next? 

The Azzurri will next be in action against Northern Ireland for the World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on Thursday, March 26. 

The winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home on March 31 depending on the result of the other semi-final.

Inter could let go of several long-term first-team servants and are targeting a summer move for Roma midfielder Manu Kone according to Thursday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

The Nerazzurri are sitting seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table with 10 league matches of the season left to go, but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there could soon be a transfer ‘revolution’ on the horizon. 

Inter have several senior players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season and are not currently expected to be renewed, including the likes of goalkeeper Yann Sommer, defenders Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi, and a decision is yet to be made on midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 

The Nerazzurri are also hoping to supply Cristian Chivu with ‘fresh blood’ ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Roma’s Manu Kone was a target in the summer transfer window of 2025, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are likely to make another attempt for the Frenchman this coming window.  

Thursday’s report indicates that Inter are also inclined to activate their buy-back option for 20-year-old Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic, son of former Nerazzurri star, Dejan. 

Departures can’t be ruled out, and La Gazzetta dello Sport argues that none of Inter’s first team stars are particularly ‘untouchable’ at this stage, aside from perhaps Lautaro Martinez and Pio Esposito. 

Even an Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolo Barella or a Marcus Thuram could theoretically be allowed to leave if a particularly enticing offer were to come in. Galatasaray are also reportedly persisting with their interest in Hakan Calhanoglu. 

Yann BIsseck is said to have interest from the Premier League and Denzel Dumfries reportedly has a release clause option in his contract valid this summer. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport maintains that these suggestions are purely hypothetical at this stage. But if a big name or two were to leave this summer, Kone, who is likely to cost in excess of €40m would be the primary target. 

Robeto Piccoli is expected to start at centre-forward for Fiorentina in the absence of Italy international Moise Kean as the Viola prepare to take on Rakow Czestochowa in the Conference League on Thursday evening. 

The Conference League has been a rare source of victories for Fiorentina in 2025-26. Paolo Vanoli’s side beat Polish opposition in Jagiellonia Białystok by a 5-4 scoreline over two legs of the play-offs in order to qualify for tonight’s round of 16 tie. 

Rakow Czestochowa finished the league phase in second place and qualified directly for the round of 16 as a result. 

Fiorentina are without Kean in attack. The Italy man is in contention to return against Cremonese in Serie A on Monday evening instead. Compatriot Piccoli is expected to start at centre-forward instead. 

Vanoli is expected to rest Dodo, Nicolo Fagioli and give an opportunity to goalkeeper Oliver Christensen instead of David De Gea. 

According to Sky Sport Italia, Fabiano Parisi and Jacopo Fazzini could also start in attack in a fairly heavily rotated Viola side.

Kick-off is due at 19.45 GMT. 

Fiorentina vs. Rakow Czestochowa: Probable line-ups 

Fiorentina (4-3-3): Christensen; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Fabbian, Mandragora, Ndour; Parisi, Piccoli, Fazzini. 

Rakow (3-4-2-1): Zych; Mozor, Svarnas, Racovitan; Tudor, Repka, Struski, Ameyaw; Ibid, Makuch; Brunes.

Where to watch Fiorentina vs. Rakow Czestochowa

Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 6 and online through Discovery+. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game commentary and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Inter gets a shake-up

Scudetto, and then there will be a revolution

The club wants a side with more characters, even Barella and Bastoni up for discussion. And, on the market place, Kone and Vicario primary objectives 

Milan’s plans for the Champions League

Kean for the attack

Italy sink 

Our sides a disaster in the Champions League

No team reaches the quarter-finals. The bottom  of the barrel. Look how many points they’ve suffered: The reasons behind the crisis 

Real lessons 

Super Valverde (three goals) to overwhelm City

Rino, you think about it 

The locations of the training bases have already been chosen: Toronto and then Utah 

It’s Bologna-Roma. Gasp plays for a lot, Italiano for everything 

And in the Conference, Fiorentina take on Rakow 

Corriere dello Sport 

A place for one 

The Euroleague derby 

At the Dall’Ara (17.45) the first of two battles for a spot in the quarter-finals

Bologna with Castro, Roma have SuperMalen 

A route to the Champions League also comes up in this competition: One of Italiano or Gasp could save the honor of Italian football

Valverde humiliates Pep 

Champions League: City overwhelmed with three goals from the Uruguayan 

Guardiola, what a lesson in Madrid. Donnarumma saves a penalty from Vinicis (3-0). Psg, five against Chelsea, brace from Kvara (5-2), Arsenal save themselves in Leverkusen (1-1), Bodo continue to amaze: Sporting also capitulate in Norway (3-0)

Fiorentina, the uncomfortable cup 

Survival is the most important thing, but need to get past Rakow in the Conference League to save any further embarrassments 

Spalletti, here’s Vlahovic again 

Returning in Udine 

Dusan back after three months. Senesi intrigue: Juve are also there 

Conte, Mister 600 

He has 597 points in Serie A

Could reach a landmark figure in Napoli-Lecce 

Inter, Alisson or Vicario 

Goalkeepers in the distance 

Sommer heading for farewell: The replacement will arrive from the Premier League

Iran, no World Cup 

The announcement from the minister 

‘The conditions are not there’. Infantino’s gaffe 

Tuttosport 

Juve, the bonus Vlahovic 

DV9 returns in Udine: They need his goals for the Champions League comeback and the new contract … 

Dusan scores right away in a training match: After 105 days of absence, he will start again from the bench, but everyone is waiting for him on the pitch. Contacts over his renewal are intensifying: The salary reaches 6 million with bonuses and objectives, Spalletti lifts the tension. Boga sees himself as a starter, more doubts in goal: And for the future, looking at Martinez from Villa. Inquiry for Lewandowski

The war affects the World Cup. Iran forfeit

The consequence of the conflict and FIFA’s embarrassment 

From Tehran: ‘We can’t play in the United States like this’. The logic would be to replace them with another Asian side (Iraq or the UAE), but with fears of other renunciations, a decision based on overall ranking can’t be ruled out. Sport in Palestine: The Italian parliament writes to the IOC and FIFA. Meanwhile, Verratti is out: Gattuso puts the trust in Locatelli and thinks about Pisilli

Valverde, Real magic. PSG, what a spectacle! 

Fantasy hat-trick from the Uruguayan, City destroyed 

Chelse\ hold them off in Paris, but then Vitinha and the brace from Kvara make it 5-2. Fantastic Bodo: 3-0 against Sporting, looking at the quarter-finals and history 

Bologna and Roma to feel like we’re in Europe 

At 17.45: The derby in the round of 16. Italiano: ‘We want to get through to the end’. Gasp: ‘I’m not thinking about Como.’. Conference League: Fiorentina-Rakow 

D’Aversa studies Serie B and … Juric 

The Serbian’s return looms over safety. The scathing letter from Marengo to Cairo 

Raffaele Palladino admits that the difference in quality of players is the main reason behind Atalanta’s 6-1 hammering by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but insists that he would stick with the same system if he were to hypothetically play the same game again.

Atalanta were thumped 6-1 on home soil by a dominant and ruthless Bayern side in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in Bergamo on Tuesday night: Josip Stanisic, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson, Jamal Musiala and Mario Pasalic with the goals. 

• Read more: Atalanta 1-6 Bayern Munich: Player ratings!

Click here to see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Palladino reacts to Atalanta 6-1 Bayern Munich 

Atalanta were vastly outclassed by their Bundesliga opponents on the night, but Palladino insists that his players will learn from this experience and become better as players and as a team because of it. 

“Firstly let’s congratulate Bayern. A very strong team, at times they were truly unplayable,” Palladino told Sky Sport Italia after full-time. “For us, the best player was our fans. I want to thank them. They cheered us on until the very end despite the defeat.

“It’s an experience that will make us grow. I would go about it in the same way if we were to play again. If we got here, to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and are fighting in the league, it’s because of the mentality and therefore I would play like this again.”

Atalanta will be hoping to bounce back in Serie A this weekend, but they face another tough task there with a trip to San Siro to take on league leaders Inter on Saturday. 

“The team has always reacted well to defeats and we will react as early as Saturday,” said Palladino. “We’re facing a strong team again in Inter, but I’ve told the team that they have to accept the result and recover their energy.”

And returning to the topic of the Bayern defeat, Palladino said: “We dropped off in the second half. They dribble at you and have these incredibly strong wingers. They’re a team that’s destined to go all the way, but having said that, I’m happy with the team, which sweated until the end. And again, I’d like to thank the fans.” 

Palladino insists that he will not move away from Atalanta’s man-to-man system, even if it was part of their downfall against Bayern. 

“We expected them to put us in a difficult spot, with their strong players up front and their attacks from deep. We accept their qualities and strengths. We’ve come this far because we’ve had this mentality and we won’t change that. We won’t defend zonally, we accept the result and either we win or we learn.

“I’ve never seen players with these qualities, They really impressed me. They always gave it to players on their preferred foot and at the right speed. You can try and play deep, but they will still hurt you all the same.

“We had four big absences, we didn’t have many players up front and we preferred to stay the same after the game against Udinese over the weekend.

“We were never able to restart properly. They had aggression and immediately won the ball back. We’ve come this far because we have this mentality after beating Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. Aside from the system, the difference is in the players.”

Michael Olise was the star of the show as Bayern Munich hit Atalanta for six in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday evening. 

La Dea were utterly outclassed by their Bundesliga opponents in Bergamo on Tuesday night and a late consolation goal from Mario Pasalic will not count for much following the earlier strikes from Josip Stanisic, Olise (x2), Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson and Jamal Musiala. 

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog. 

Atalanta 1-6 Bayern Munich: Player ratings!

Atalanta: Carnesecchi 5; Zappacosta 6 (Bellanova 6), Hien 4, Kolasinac 4 (Ahanor 5), Bernasconi 4; Sulemana 5.5 (Samardzic 5), De Roon 5, Pasalic 5.5 (Musah 5), Krstovic 5, Scamacca 5 (Djimsiti 5.5). 

Best Atalanta player: Zappacosta 6 – Despite the scoreline and despite being part of a back four that had conceded three times within the first 25 minutes, it was a fairly solid showing from Zappacosta on an individual level. The experienced Dea wing-back was a handful on the right flank, provided a couple of decent balls into the area and also helped out defensively, including a good header to clear an awkward cross behind for a corner in the first half. 

Worst Atalanta player: Bernasconi 4 – That’s a night the young Atalanta wing-back will want to forget in a hurry. Utterly outclassed and often completely helpless up against Olise and the Italian will be relieved that the Bayern winger is now suspended for the return leg next week. 

Atalanta coach: Raffaele Palladino 3 – The Dea tactician got it all completely wrong with his team and tactical selections. Not helped by the absences of Ederson, Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori, but still, the decision to switch to a back four in order to ‘match’ Bayern was a decision that did not work, and was one that the coach had to use two substitutes to fix at half-time. It seemed like Atalanta were so focused on their defence, which collapsed three times within the first 25 minutes, that they didn’t really have much of a plan any time they did find themselves on the ball. 

Bayern: Urbig 6; Stanisic 6, Upamecano 6.5, Tah 6.5, Laimer 6 (Davies 6, Bischof 6), Kimmich 6.5, Pavlovic 6.5 (Goretzka 6); Olise 9, Gnabry 8 (Musiala 7), Diaz 7; Jackson 7.5. 

Best Bayern player: Olise 9 – Vincent Kompany has a special, special player on his hands with the French winger, who struck complete fear into the Atalanta defence any time he got on the ball on Tuesday night. It felt like La Dea were completely powerless to stop the France international at times, especially coming in off the right flank and onto that magical left foot of his. 

Worst Bayern player: Bischof 6 – It feels wrong to criticise any of the Bayern players after such a convincing performance, individually and collectively. But the German youngster missed a challenge and then failed to track back for Atalanta’s late consolation goal, which shouldn’t have been the case just 20 minutes after his introduction. In fairness to him, he can’t have been expecting to play after Alphonso Davies was brought on at half-time. 

Bayern coach: Vincent Kompany 8 – A brilliant, dominant and ruthless display from the Bavarian giants. Fielding Gnabry over Musiala brought an element of unpredictability to the Bayern attack, and Atalanta’s man-to-man system seemed to be of little difficulty to Kompany’s side. If anything, it seemed to help them. And they did it all without talisman Harry Kane as well. An impressive display, even if Atalanta were nowhere near the levels they needed to be to compete.

Atalanta were outclassed and humiliated on home soil as Bayern Munich stuck six goals past them in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in Bergamo on Tuesday night: Josip Stanisic, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson and Jamal Musiala and Mario Pasalic with the goals. 

Atalanta pulled out a miraculous escape against Bundesliga opposition in Borussia Dortmund in the play-off rounds in order to qualify for this evening’s clash against Bayern, who finished second in the league phase and qualified for this stage of the competition automatically as a result.

There were a few surprising selections as Raffaele Palladino switched to a back four and deployed both Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic in attack. Ederson, Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori were unavailable through injury and Giorgio Scalvini through suspension. Bayern, meanwhile, left Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala out of their starting line-up, but were still able to deploy an attacking unit of Olise, Gnabry, Luis Diaz and Jackson. 

Click here to see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

It was an intense start after kick-off in Bergamo, and despite Atalanta dispossessing their opponents in their own half twice within the opening minutes, it was Bayern who registered the first shot on target through Olise. 

Bayern continued to put their foot on the throttle early on and found the opener in the 12th minute. It was a quick corner routine that gave them the lead: Atalanta switched off for the briefest of moments and were punished. Olise’s corner went short to Gnabry, who squared it to Stanisic to tap in. 

The Bavarians doubled their advantage 10 minutes later with an Olise special. 

The Frenchman cut in off the right flank, took a few touches to set himself on his wonderful left foot and dispatched a curling effort right into the side netting in the far corner of the net. 

Things went from bad to worse for La Dea when Gnabry added a third less than five minutes later. 

Goalkeeper Urbig went long over the top, Olise did brilliantly to bring the ball under control and slip it to Gnabry, who raced into the area and dispatched past Carnesecchi with ease when one-on-one. 

Bayern, away from home and not even at the halfway stage of the first leg, were not content with a three-goal lead and continued to send in the warning shots. 

Jackson should have done better one-on-one with Carnesecchi, Gnabry clipped the crossbar and Dayot Upamecano was inexplicably given acres of space in the middle of the park to line up a shot, which fortunately went wide, all before the interval. 

Bayern picked up where they left off at the beginning of the second half. Nicola Zalewski fired a free-kick into the Bavarian’s wall in the 52nd minute, which allowed Kompany’s side to spring a counter-attack and finish through Jackson one-on-one. 

Olise added his second of the game with another special finish off that magical left boot of his. It was a similar move to his first, again off the right flank, and again, perfectly into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. 

Bayern hit Atalanta for six with their next attack of the game. Jackson found himself out on the right flank, danced past his defender and supplied a cross into the six-yard box for Musiala to poke home. 

Bayern could have had one or two more before full-time as well: Upamecano came closest with his header that bounced off the upright.

Mario Pasalic gave the Atalanta supporters a brief cheer in injury time with a late consolation goal. Raoul Bellanova did well travelling down the right flank and provided a decent ball into the middle. Krstovic and Urbig collided in the middle, but the ball fell kindly for the Croatian to poke home.

Atalanta will still have to travel to Bavaria to take on Bayern in the second leg of this tie next weekend, but after Tuesday’s hammering, this now seems an unfortunate formality for La Dea. 

Atalanta 0-6 Bayern Munich

Stanisic 12′, Olise 22′, 64′, Gnabry 25′, Jackson 52′, Musiala 67′, Pasalic 90+3′.

Tottenham and former Juventus head coach Igor Tudor were forced to backtrack on their decision to drop goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, bringing the Italy international on after just 16 minutes after going 3-0 down. 

The Italy international was left out of Tottenham’s starting line-up for Tuesday evening’s Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Atletico Madrid, with Tudor opting to hand a first European start to Antonin Kinsky instead. Many Spurs supporters celebrated the decision to drop Vicario after a series of unconvincing performances this season. 

However, Tottenham found themselves three goals down after a quarter of an hour in Madrid, and in extraordinary scenes, Tudor decided to sub off Kinsky and bring on Vicario after little over a quarter of an hour. 

Kinsky was punished for a slip that led to Atletico’s opener, and made a second error that led to Julian Alvarez’s goal for 3-0. 

The onslaught didn’t stop there, though, as Robin Le Normand added a fourth for Atletico Madrid from a corner following Vicario’s substitution. Pedro Porro then pulled one back for Tottenham in a crazy first 25 minutes in Madrid. 

Watch: Vicario called into action after 16 minutes of Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham

Kinský is replaced by Vicario after a difficult start against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/1EAxtRoXuE

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 10, 2026

Italy international Guglielmo Vicario has been dropped from the Tottenham Hotspur starting line-up by former Juventus head coach Igor Tudor for Tuesday evening’s Champions League round of 16 first leg against Atletico Madrid. 

Tottenham drop Vicario for Champions League clash

It has been a dismal season for Vicario and his Tottenham teammates on a domestic level, as they currently find themselves in a serious relegation battle in the Premier League. They are still involved in Champions League action, however, having finished the league phase in fourth place. 

Tottenham have lost all of their first three matches under the stewardship of Tudor, who took over from Thomas Frank on February 13. The ex-Juventus tactician already finds himself at risk of the sack, despite being appointed on a short-term contract until the end of the 2025-26 season. 

In an attempt to mix things up, Tudor has decided to drop Italy goalkeeper Vicario from his starting line-up for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, a decision which has been celebrated by vast sections of Tottenham’s online supporters. 

“Finally, Kinsky is between the sticks, I’ve been rooting for him,” wrote one supporter on X. 

Some fans say that Antonin Kinsky’s call-up to the starting line-up is: “100% deserved.” 

“It’s about damn time,” another fan wrote. Another added: “Vicario getting dropped is one positive I suppose.” 

Vicario on the bench pic.twitter.com/PZof1YM4gm

— Rush (@RushTHFC) March 10, 2026

pic.twitter.com/9FtXXgYlJZ

— Kaan (@YTKaan22) March 10, 2026

Oliver Bierhoff believes that his former side, Milan, has what it takes to overcome the seven-point deficit between themselves and Serie A leaders Inter before the end of the season and pointed out the clever trick that Luka Modric pulled out towards the end of Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina. 

Milan beat the table-topping Inter for the second time of the season on Sunday evening, picking up a 1-0 victory to move within seven points of their city rivals with 10 matches of the season left to go. 

The question on everybody’s lips now is whether the Rossoneri have what it takes to close down the gap between now and the end of the season. 

Bierhoff assess Milan’s Scudetto chances and heaps praise on Modric

Bierhoff was part of the Rossoneri side that fought back in the final few matches of the 1998-99 campaign to steal the Scudetto away from Lazio on the final day of the season.: “Simple: We believed and we put together a resounding string of victories,” he recalled in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“That’s the reality. Nobody made any calculations, we were only focused on ourselves and we were convinced that while doing that, Lazio would have some missteps.” 

Head coach Massimiliano Allegri continues to insist that qualification for next season’s Champions League is Milan’s sole focus, not a late fight for the Serie A title. 

“In my opinion, there’s no need to make predictions and Allegri is right to continue talking about achieving the Champions League goal first,” said Bierhoff. 

“Milan have to return to Europe first and foremost, that’s important, and then think about the rest. It’s the right thing to keep the team focused on the short-term goal.” 

Bierhoff went on to give his post-match analysis of Milan’s most recent derby victory over Inter: “I saw a motivated team in the derby, that has confidence and had an excellent first half. They might have dropped a little too deep in the second, but they resisted. It’s clear that they’re well organised, despite facing Inter, and show a willingness to suffer.” 

And what is the biggest ‘threat’ to Milan heading into the final stretch of the season?
“The anxiety of having to make up ground. When you’re behind and you can’t slip up, it’s understandable that there’s a little bit more tension. However, it looks to me as though neither Allegri nor the group of players lacks the necessary experience.” 

Bierhoff is particularly impressed by the performances of former Ballon d’Or winner Modric this season: “Champions stay as champions at all ages, and I was convinced that he would prove that when he signed for Milan. I’m not surprised by the ability or the confidence he has on the pitch, but just look at how much he runs. 

“On Sunday, in the final few minutes he took a yellow card for protesting after trying to recover the ball near the opposition area. I think he knew that he needed to break up the rhythm of the match to defend the result. He helps out in both phases of the game and he’s turned out to be a great coup.” 

Bierhoff has no doubt that Milan should offer Modric an extension to his one-year contract: “For the good of Milan and for Italian football, I say yes. There’s nobody else like Modric out there.” 

Bierhoff also gave his thoughts on Milan’s attackers in 2025-26. On Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, he said: “You will see that their goals will come. I’m also convinced that my compatriot Fullkrug will score too. He’s a good guy who has useful characteristics.” 

Harry Kane is not fit enough to start for Bayern Munich against Atalanta in Tuesday night’s Champions League round of 16 first leg in Bergamo, as Raffaele Palladino turns to Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic in a two-man attack for La Dea. 

You can follow the action as it unfolds on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Atalanta are the only Italian side left standing in the Champions League in 2025-26 following the elimination of Juventus and Inter in the play-off round and the exit of Napoli at the end of the league phase. 

La Dea miraculously overcame Bundesliga opposition in Borussia Dortmund in the play-off round in order to qualify for tonight’s round of 16 tie against Bayern, who finished second in the league phase and qualified for this stage of the competition automatically. 

Kick-off this evening is due at 20.00 GMT. 

The second leg of this fixture will be played in just over a week’s time, on Wednesday, March 18. 

Atalanta are without several key first-team players through injury on Tuesday night, including Ederson, Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori. Giorgio Scalvini was sent off in the chaotic final minutes of Atalanta’s victory over Dortmund in the play-off second leg, so misses out through suspension tonight. 

Palladino turns to Scamacca and Krstovic to lead the attack in tandem against Bayern. The Dea system appears to be a 4-4-2 with Marten De Roon and Mario Pasalic in central midfield and Kamaldeen Sulemana and Nikola Zalewski out wide. 

There had been some doubts over the fitness of England national team captain Harry Kane, who was left out of Bayern’s squad for their 4-1 Bundesliga win over Borussia Moenchengladbach over the weekend. He is not fit enough to start and is replaced by Nicolas Jackson. 

Manuel Neuer and Alphonso Davies are still unavailable through injury, so Jonas Urbig starts in goal and Konrad Laimer at left-back for Vincent Kompany’s side. 

Serge Gnabry is also chosen to start ahead of Jamal Musiala.

Confirmed Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich line-ups 

Atalanta (4-4-2): Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Hien, Kolasinac, Bernasconi; Sulemana, De Roon, Pasalic, Zalewski; Scamacca, Krstovic.

Bayern (4-2-3-1):Urbig; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Jackson.

10-03-2026 20:00

1/8 Final

Gewiss Stadium (Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia)

Atalanta

Bayern

1 - 6

Player statistic

1st half

		12'		Josip Stanisic (Assist: Serge Gnabry)
		22'		Michael Olise (Assist: Dayot Upamecano)
		25'		Serge Gnabry (Assist: Michael Olise)
		39'		Konrad Laimer

2nd half

		52'		Nicolas Jackson (Assist: Luis Díaz)
		64'		Michael Olise (Assist: Alphonso Davies)
		67'		Jamal Musiala (Assist: Nicolas Jackson)
		77'		Michael Olise
Yunus Musah		83'
		84'		Joshua Kimmich
Mario Pasalic		90+3'

Match statistic

31

Possession %

69

11

Total shots

25

3

Shots on target

13

4

Shots off target

8

4

Blocked shots

4

2

Corners

7

1

Offsides

1

11

Fouls

11

Atalanta

Bayern

Starting lineups

29

Marco Carnesecchi

Goalkeeper

77

Davide Zappacosta

Defender

67'

4

Isak Hien

Defender

47

Lorenzo Bernasconi

Defender

23

Sead Kolasinac

Defender

55'

7

Kamaldeen Sulemana

Midfielder

73'

8

Mario Pasalic

Midfielder

15

Marten de Roon

Midfielder

59

Nicola Zalewski

Midfielder

55'

9

Gianluca Scamacca

Attacker

46'

90

Nikola Krstovic

Attacker

40

Jonas Urbig

Goalkeeper

2

Dayot Upamecano

Defender

4

Jonathan Tah

Defender

6

Joshua Kimmich

Defender

44

Josip Stanisic

Defender

86'

45

Aleksandar Pavlovic

Midfielder

68'

27

Konrad Laimer

Midfielder

46'

17

Michael Olise

Midfielder

14

Luis Díaz

Attacker

11

Nicolas Jackson

Attacker

7

Serge Gnabry

Attacker

46'

Substitutes

31

Francesco Rossi

Goalkeeper

57

Marco Sportiello

Goalkeeper

5

Mitchel Bakker

Defender

3

Odilon Kossounou

Defender

48

Federico Cassa

Midfielder

45

Dominic Vavassori

Midfielder

19

Berat Djimsiti

Defender

46'

6

Yunus Musah

Midfielder

55'

69

Honest Ahanor

Defender

55'

16

Raoul Bellanova

Defender

67'

10

Lazar Samardžić

Midfielder

73'

9

Harry Kane

Attacker

26

Sven Ulreich

Goalkeeper

3

Min-jae Kim

Defender

42

Lennart Karl

Midfielder

37

Leonard Prescott

10

Jamal Musiala

Midfielder

46'

8

Leon Goretzka

Midfielder

68'

19

Alphonso Davies

Defender

20

Tom Bischof

Midfielder

71'

22

Raphaël Guerreiro

Defender

86'

Napoli have confirmed the extent of the injury to Antonio Vergara, but in more positive news for Antonio Conte’s side, his ‘Fab 4’ of Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa could soon be seen in the same squad. 

When could Vergara, McTominay and Lobotka return for Napoli?

Injuries have been a constant issue throughout the 2025-26 season, sometimes with an entire XI of first-team players unavailable. 

The most recent player to be added to the Partenopei injury list is Vergara. The 23-year-old had only really been given an opportunity in the first team due to the aforementioned injury troubles, but has since gone on to impress, earning the ‘rising star of the month’ award for February and calls for him to be included in this month’s Italy national team squad. 

Vergara was, however, forced off at half-time of Napoli’s 2-1 win over Torino on Saturday, and is now expected to miss the next two league fixtures before the international break coming up at the end of March. 

“Antonio Vergara has undergone diagnostic tests at Pineta Grande Hospital, which revealed a plantar fascia strain in his left foot. He has already begun a treatment programme,” read a statement on the club website on Tuesday. 

As per Corriere dello Sport, a realistic return date for Vergara is the Serie A match against Milan on April 6. 

In more positive news for Conte and his team, De Bruyne, who had missed the last four months of action, returned off the bench against Torino, as did Anguissa, who had missed 16 consecutive Serie A matches with a hamstring injury. 

Scott McTominay is expected to be in contention to feature over the weekend as well, and Stanislav Lobotka is not expected to be out for too much longer either.

Milan finally have centre-forward Santiago Gimenez back in first-team training after missing the last 133 days and the last 19 Serie A matches with an ankle injury. 

Gimenez finally returns to Milan training

The Mexico international, who joined the Rossoneri in a €35m deal from Feyenoord last January, has not featured for Milan since their 1-1 draw against Atalanta in late October. He has been nursing an ankle injury and decided to have surgery to amend the issue in December. 

Gimenez had featured in all of Milan’s first nine matches of the Serie A season and started in eight of them, but has since missed a run of 19 league fixtures, one in the Coppa Italia and one in the Supercoppa Italiana. 

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, the Mexico international was back in first-team training with the Rossoneri on Tuesday. 

The Milan squad had taken Monday off following Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina victory over rivals and league leader Inter, and returned to work at their training base on Tuesday. 

It remains to be seen when Gimenez could make his return to Serie A action. He is unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting line-up against Lazio on Sunday, but could potentially be involved with the travelling squad, if not for the match at home against Torino the following weekend.

As things stand, Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains the only Milan player currently unavailable through injury.

Fabio Capello feels that if Inter win their next three league matches, Milan will have no chance whatsoever of catching them at the top of the Serie A table despite their victory in the Derby della Madonnina over the weekend. 

Milan did the double over Inter in the league this season, confirmed after their 1-0 victory against Cristian Chivu’s table-topping side in San Siro on Sunday night. 

Inter still have a seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A table with 10 games to go, but questions have been asked as to whether Milan have any realistic chance of catching them in the final few games of the 2025-26 campaign. 

“Inter have never seemed unbeatable this season, even in the best moments. It’s no coincidence that they’ve lost several direct clashes,” wrote Capello in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column on Tuesday.

“Over the last few months, Chivu has been very good at regenerating a dressing room that was discouraged by the Champions League final they lost to PSG, but now he will have to show even more skill.” 

Capello believes that Inter’s biggest ‘risk’ between now and the end of the season is a psychological one. 

“The derby, or rather the two losses in the derby this season, are the real danger in the race for the Scudetto. To win it, Cristian has to remove the memory of the defeats against Milan from the heads of Barella and his teammates. I’d go into the dressing room and remind them: ‘Guys, we’re the strongest. Let’s go back to having fun’.” 

Capello on Inter’s decisive run and Milan’s Scudetto chances

Inter have a decisive run of fixtures coming up against Atalanta and Fiorentina over the next two weeks and then the Champions League contenders Roma and Como immediately after the international break. 

“Inter have to immediately reconnect, and to deal the decisive blow in the league this season, they have to get through their next three matches with momentum: Against Atalanta, Fiorentina and Roma, their riskiest opponent,” Capello says. 

“As for Milan, if Inter return to their authentic selves, the Rossoneri will not have the opportunity to attempt the overtake in the Scudetto race. It’s a matter of arithmetics.” 

Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has always maintained that Champions League qualification, not the Serie A title, is Milan’s goal this season. 

“Allegri knows the calculations well, but with his experience and with his Scudetti, he knows that the pressure is all on Inter and sometimes the weight of needing to win at all costs can play tricks on you,” Capello continued. 

“Max knows best how to motivate his players and will convince them to try until the very end, even if it’s just to guarantee qualification for next season’s Champions League well in advance, the goal he had heralded in the summer. It seems like an impossible mission, but there isn’t always logic in the last few metres of the race.”

Reports in Italy claim that Juventus are interested in a potential summer transfer for Tottenham Hotspur and former Genoa defender Djed Spence as the Bianconeri draw up a list of targets to strengthen their full-back position. 

Juventus interested in Tottenham’s Spence according to reports in Italy

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, full-back is among the priority positions for Juventus to strengthen during the off-season. There have been recent links between the Bianconeri and Italy hopeful Michael Kayode at Brentford, and also with Roma’s Zeki Celik, who could become available on a free transfer. 

According to Monday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the latest name on the wishlist is Tottenham right-back Spence, who knows Juventus sporting director Marco Ottolini from their time together at Genoa. 

Ottolini brought Spence to Genoa on loan with an option to buy, around the same time that Radu Dragusin moved to Tottenham during the January transfer window in 2024. The three-time England international made 16 Serie A appearances during the second half of the 2023-24 campaign. 

As things stand, there have not been any formal negotiations between the two sides, but according to Monday’s report, Juventus would need to pay a fee in the region of €30m if they are to lure Spence away from the relegation-threatened Tottenham.

That is a similar fee to the one that has been cited for the potential signing of Kayode. 

€30m is a considerable fee for Juventus, especially at full-back, and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that the Old Lady may have to look at moving on one of their current players first before they are able to pull off this sort of deal. Pierre Kalulu has been mentioned as one of the players who could potentially be sacrificed in the summer. 

Struggling Juventus striker Jonathan David is reportedly of interest to Ligue 1 side Lyon after a disappointing first season in Serie A with the Bianconeri according to the latest reports. 

David joined Juventus on a free transfer at the beginning of the summer transfer window following a five-year spell with Lille in Ligue 1, during which time he scored 109 goals from 232 appearances across all competitions. 

The Canada international has struggled to replicate that form in Serie A, though. He has five goals and four assists to his name from league appearances so far this term. 

David showed some encouraging signs in January and early February with four goals and two assists from a run of five league matches, but these have been his only goals in the league other than his strike on the opening day of the 2025-26 season. 

Now, David appears to be falling down the pecking order in the Juventus striking department. He was hooked at half-time of Juventus’s 4-0 victory over Pisa in Serie A over the weekend, and watched on as his teammates scored four second-half goals in his absence. 

Recent reports indicate that Luciano Spalletti is now inclined to stick with his ‘fluid front three’ for next weekend’s match against Udinese, leaving David out altogether. The Canadian’s opportunities are expected to be further reduced once Dusan Vlahovic makes his return from injury. 

Could David return to Ligue 1 after less than a year with Juventus?

According to reports from Tuttosport and Calciomercato.com, David could potentially be poised to head back to Ligue 1 less than a year after he left Lille on a free transfer. 

Lyon are said to be among the teams interested in a potential deal for David should he become available during the summer transfer window. 

The French side, under the guidance of former Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca, are currently third in the Ligue 1 table, and it is understood that their interest in David is dependent on their qualification for next season’s Champions League. The top three teams in France are granted an automatic spot in the Champions League, with fourth-place earning a place in the play-offs. 

David technically joined Juventus on a free transfer last summer, but the Bianconeri still spent a reported €12m on commission and signing-on fees, and are currently paying the striker a salary in the region of €6m per season after tax.

Refereeing expert Luca Marelli believes that Daniele Doveri was correct in his decision to not award a last-minute penalty to Inter after shouts for a Samuele Ricci handball at the end of Sunday evening’s Derby della Madonnina against Milan: ‘Not punishable’. 

Milan claimed the bragging rights in Sunday’s derby: Pervis Estupinan’s first-half strike proving enough for the Rossoneri to hold onto a 1-0 victory. This was their second consecutive victory over Cristian Chivu’s side and their fifth in an unbeaten run of seven against the Nerazzurri. 

Inter still remain seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table with 10 matches of the season left to play, but many claim that Milan are the only team remaining that is capable of putting any real pressure on the league leaders heading into the final stretch. 

• Read more: Milan 1-0 Inter: Player ratings

• Read more: Remaining Inter and Milan fixtures compared

What Marelli said about Ricci handball incident in Milan 1-0 Inter 

There were some appeals for an Inter penalty In the final minute of second-half stoppage time in San Siro on Sunday night. 

The ball did strike the arm of second-half substitute Ricci in the penalty area after a touch from Inter defender Denzel Dumfries, however, Doveri did not blow for a handball as he judged the player’s arm to be in a natural position and deemed that he had instinctively attempted to move his arm out of the way rather than moving towards the ball.

Speaking to DAZN after full-time on Sunday evening, refereeing expert Marelli agreed with the decision to not take further action in the closing minutes of the derby: “The touch isn’t punishable because the movement of his arm was to avoid, not create an obstacle,” he declared. 

Many claim that Milan have ‘re-opened’ the race for the 2025-26 Scudetto with their 1-0 victory over Inter in the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday evening, but which of the two sides has the tougher run of fixtures heading into the final 10 matches of the season? 

A first-half strike from unlikely hero Pervis Estupinan gave Milan all three points in their decisive derby against city rivals Inter in Serie A on Sunday night. 

The Nerazzurri are still seven points clear at the top of the league standings with 10 games to go after last night’s defeat, with the Rossoneri the only side looking capable of applying any real pressure on Cristian Chivu’s side. 

As things stand, Inter remain in control of the league table heading into the final 10 league games of the season, and they also have the slightly ‘easier’ run of fixtures compared to Milan in terms of the average league position of their remaining opponents. 

The Nerazzurri still have challenging fixtures against the likes of Atalanta (home), Roma (home), Como (away) and Bologna (away) on the final day of the season, but the average league position of their remaining opponents comes out to 11.2. 

The average ranking of Milan’s remaining opponents currently comes out to 10.7. They still have difficult challenges against Napoli (away), Juventus (home) and Atalanta (away) left on their schedule. 

Inter’s remaining 2025-26 Serie A fixtures 

Atalanta (7th) at home. 

Fiorentina (17th) away. 

Roma (5th) at home. 

Como (4th) away. 

Cagliari (14th) at home. 

Torino (15th) away. 

Parma (12th) at home. 

Lazio (11th) away. 

Verona (19th) home. 

Bologna (8th) away. 

Remaining home games: Five

Remaining away games: Five

Remaining matches against teams in the top six: Two 

Average league position of remaining opponents: 11.2

Milan’s remaining 2025-26 Serie A fixtures 

Lazio (11th) away. 

Torino (15th) at home. 

Napoli (3rd) away. 

Udinese (10th) at home. 

Verona (19th) away. 

Juventus (6th) at home. 

Sassuolo (9th) away. 

Atalanta (7th) away. 

Genoa (13th) away. 

Cagliari (14th) at home. 

Remaining home games: Five

Remaining away games: Five

Remaining matches against teams in the top six: Two

Average league position of remaining opponents: 10.7

Fikayo Tomori says that Milan’s improved defensive solidity is the key behind their upturn in league form this season, and notes that ‘to play two games against Inter and not concede a goal isn’t easy’.

Tomori was among the starters for Milan’s 1-0 victory over their city rivals Inter in the Derby della Madonnina in Serie A on Sunday evening. 

The Rossoneri have now won five of their last seven encounters against the Nerazzurri and are also unbeaten against them over that period. Sunday’s victory was also the second consecutive time that Massimiliano Allegri’s side have kept a clean sheet against Cristian Chivu’s side. 

• Read more: Milan 1-0 Inter: Player ratings

Tomori reacts to Milan 1-0 Inter: ‘To play two games against Inter and not concede a goal, it’s not easy’

The Rossoneri now find themselves seven points behind the table-topping Nerazzurri, and seem to be the only side capable of applying any real pressure on Cristian Chivu’s side heading into the final 10 games of the Serie A season. 

Many of Milan’s players were asked after full-time against Inter whether they feel they are capable of closing down the seven-point gap between themselves and the Nerazzurri. 

“Who knows,” said Tomori in a post-match interview with CBS Sports. 

“I think at this point in time we just have to focus on ourselves. Obviously tonight was an important game, happy to have won. A good performance against a very, very good team. 

“The derby is always a special game and always a difficult game. We’re just focussed on winning, happy to have done that. Now we just have to go onto the next game, rest and recover, enjoy tonight. Just focus on ourselves like I said, keep going and try to finish the season as strongly as possible.” 

Tomori was asked where the Milan players would be celebrating following their victory, to which he jokingly replied: “I’m not sure. I don’t want the Mister to hear me, so I just have to stay quiet!” 

Tomori insists that Milan needed no additional motivation heading into the Inter match, and feels that his side could have easily had another couple of goals to their name before the interval. 

“I think in these kinds of games the Mister doesn’t really have to say too much because it’s a derby, you know how important it is for the club, for ourselves, for the fans, everyone. 

“The way that we approached the game in the first half, we put them under pressure, we had chances to score. Obviously we did score in the first half, but we had a lot of really dangerous opportunities and probably could have scored more. 

“At the end of the day and especially at this stage of the season, three points is all that really matters, so yeah, we’re really happy.” 

Tomori agrees that playing on the right-hand side of Massimiliano Allegri’s back three is helping to get the best out of him this season. 

“Yeah, I think so. I think I can show the different qualities that I have,” he said. “Obviously my first job is to defend, so try to do that, try to do my job first, but I think in games like today where there’s a bit of space, I can affect the game going forwards.” 

Milan are in second place in Serie A with 10 games left to go. They look set to secure Allegri’s goal of Champions League qualification, and despite being seven points shy of the league leaders, this is a vast improvement on the form that saw them finish ninth last season. 

Tomori believes that Milan’s defensive security has been the secret behind their improvement this season. 

“One of the main objectives for us was to concede less goals and I think this season we’ve been a lot more solid defensively, not just the defenders, but the whole team as a unit. 

“We’ve worked a lot and worked a lot on trying to stay compact as a team. To play two games against Inter and not concede a goal, it’s not easy. I think that’s testament to how well we’ve been working and the work that the coaching staff has been doing with us this season.” 

“To play two games against Inter and not concede a goal… It’s not easy”@fikayotomori_ caught up with @Bonetti after Milan’s derby win pic.twitter.com/uGYN6lMWkd

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 8, 2026