Croatia midfielder Luka Modric will undergo surgery for a fractured left cheekbone, his Serie A club AC Milan said on Monday, weeks before the 40-year-old is due to participate in his fifth World Cup.
Modric suffered the injury in a clash of heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at the San Siro. He left the field with 10 minutes left.
Although clearly in pain, Modric remained on the bench until the end of the game without receiving medical treatment, but following an examination he will require an operation later on Monday.
Milan is third in the standings, 12 points behind leader Inter Milan with four games remaining, and Modric is doubtful to take any part in its season run-in. A protective mask may be needed should he recover in time for the World Cup.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, starts on June 11, and Croatia will face England, Ghana and Panama in Group L.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric will undergo surgery for a fractured left cheekbone, his Serie A…
Napoli cruised to a 4-0 win at home to Cremonese on Friday, a result which means Serie A leader Inter Milan will have to wait at least another week to celebrate the title win and leaves the visitor in serious relegation trouble.
Napoli is second in the standings on 69 points, nine behind Inter who is away to Torino on Sunday and three points ahead of AC Milan who hosts Juventus.
Cremonese is third from bottom, level on 28 points with Lecce who is in the safety zone ahead of a trip to Hellas Verona on Saturday. Verona is second from bottom on 18 points and looks Serie B bound along with bottom club Pisa.
With its title defence all but over, Napoli was still keen to impress after a dismal performance last weekend when it failed to register a single shot on target in a 2-0 home loss to Lazio.
“After Lazio, we spoke, I coach intelligent guys and they understood what didn’t work,” Napoli boss Antonio Conte told DAZN before kickoff.
“Today we have to get back on track.”
Conte’s men duly obliged.
Scott McTominay was denied by the onrushing keeper Emil Audero in an early attack but his opening goal quickly followed in the third minute.
McTominay collected Kevin De Bruyne’s pass, took one touch to control before rifling a low shot to the bottom corner of the net for his ninth league goal of the season.
Napoli created plenty of chances before doubling its lead on the stroke of half-time with an own goal.
Rasmus Hojlund slipped as he got his shot away but the ball took a wicked deflection off Filippo Terracciano to wrongfoot Audero and Napoli finished the game off in stoppage time before the break.
After McTominay made an acrobatic pullback from the byline to keep the ball in play, De Bruyne battled to win possession from Youssef Maleh in the area and drilled his shot beyond Audero.
Napoli continued where it left off after the interval. Keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic threw the ball to Alisson Santos who ran the length of the pitch unchallenged before firing home from the edge of the area.
Amir Rrahmani rattled the Cremonese crossbar and Audero denied McTominay from the penalty spot late on as Napoli failed to add to its goal tally, but Conte, and the home fans, will be more than happy with an impressive performance.
Published on Apr 25, 2026
Napoli cruised to a 4-0 win at home to Cremonese on Friday, a result which means Serie A leader Inter Milan will have to wait at least another week to celebrate the title win and leaves the visitor in serious relegation trouble.
Napoli is second in the standings on 69 points, nine behind Inter who is away to Torino on Sunday and three points ahead of AC Milan who hosts Juventus.
Cremonese is third from bottom, level on 28 points with Lecce who is in the safety zone ahead of a trip to Hellas Verona on Saturday. Verona is second from bottom on 18 points and looks Serie B bound along with bottom club Pisa.
With its title defence all but over, Napoli was still keen to impress after a dismal performance last weekend when it failed to register a single shot on target in a 2-0 home loss to Lazio.
“After Lazio, we spoke, I coach intelligent guys and they understood what didn’t work,” Napoli boss Antonio Conte told DAZN before kickoff.
“Today we have to get back on track.”
Conte’s men duly obliged.
Scott McTominay was denied by the onrushing keeper Emil Audero in an early attack but his opening goal quickly followed in the third minute.
McTominay collected Kevin De Bruyne’s pass, took one touch to control before rifling a low shot to the bottom corner of the net for his ninth league goal of the season.
Napoli created plenty of chances before doubling its lead on the stroke of half-time with an own goal.
Rasmus Hojlund slipped as he got his shot away but the ball took a wicked deflection off Filippo Terracciano to wrongfoot Audero and Napoli finished the game off in stoppage time before the break.
After McTominay made an acrobatic pullback from the byline to keep the ball in play, De Bruyne battled to win possession from Youssef Maleh in the area and drilled his shot beyond Audero.
Napoli continued where it left off after the interval. Keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic threw the ball to Alisson Santos who ran the length of the pitch unchallenged before firing home from the edge of the area.
Amir Rrahmani rattled the Cremonese crossbar and Audero denied McTominay from the penalty spot late on as Napoli failed to add to its goal tally, but Conte, and the home fans, will be more than happy with an impressive performance.
Published on Apr 25, 2026
Napoli cruised to a 4-0 win at home to Cremonese on Friday, a result which…
Luciano Spalletti will stay on as Juventus coach after signing a new two-year deal, the Serie A club announced on Friday.
Spalletti will reportedly be earning five million euros ($5.8 million) a season from his extended contract.
“It’s important that I tell you first before it becomes official that we have decided to extend my contract for two more years,” Spaletti said in a video released by the club which showed him speaking to his players.
Spalletti was brought in by Juve in October to replace the sacked Igor Tudor and charged with ensuring qualification for the Champions League.
The club has been convinced by the 67-year-old who most famously won the Serie A title with Napoli in 2023.
Spalletti, whose previous job was a tumultuous and unsuccessful stint as Italy coach, has Juve one point away from fourth place which is currently occupied by Como.
However, the gap is effectively two points as Como won both meetings between the two teams this season.
Juve face another Champions League qualification contender in Atalanta on Saturday night.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
Luciano Spalletti will stay on as Juventus coach after signing a new two-year deal, the Serie A club announced on Friday.
Spalletti will reportedly be earning five million euros ($5.8 million) a season from his extended contract.
“It’s important that I tell you first before it becomes official that we have decided to extend my contract for two more years,” Spaletti said in a video released by the club which showed him speaking to his players.
Spalletti was brought in by Juve in October to replace the sacked Igor Tudor and charged with ensuring qualification for the Champions League.
The club has been convinced by the 67-year-old who most famously won the Serie A title with Napoli in 2023.
Spalletti, whose previous job was a tumultuous and unsuccessful stint as Italy coach, has Juve one point away from fourth place which is currently occupied by Como.
However, the gap is effectively two points as Como won both meetings between the two teams this season.
Juve face another Champions League qualification contender in Atalanta on Saturday night.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
Luciano Spalletti will stay on as Juventus coach after signing a new two-year deal, the…