Lucas Paqueta is settling in at AC Milan and beginning to prove he is worth the hype.
While the Brazil international did not score in a 2-0 win at Genoa on Monday, he was at the heart of most of the Rossoneri's good play and hit the woodwork.
Fabio Borini and Suso scored as Milan moved back into fourth spot in Serie A and the final Champions League qualifying berth.
Lazio's Senad Lulic, left, and Napoli's Simone Verdi go for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Lazio at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (Cesare AbbateANSA via AP)
"I was amazed by him (Paqueta), both on a physical and tactical level," Borini said. "He likes to display his skills, but he's very intelligent at the same time."
Paqueta transferred to Milan from Flamengo this month for a reported 35 million euros ($40 million) and started in the Italian Cup and Super Cup.
The 21-year-old Paqueta made his Serie A debut on Monday and showed why Brazil coach Tite was enthused about his prodigious talent.
Lazio's Lucas Leiva, left, challenges Napoli's Piotr Zielinski during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Lazio at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (Cesare AbbateANSA via AP)
As well as providing opportunities for his new teammates, Paqueta had good movement off the ball and demonstrated a willingness to get stuck in.
He nearly scored a spectacular opener on the stroke of halftime but his long-range volley crashed off the left post.
However, he still has much to learn as was evident when his showboating almost cost Milan a goal.
Paqueta beat a defender with a remarkable flick but he then immediately gave the ball away to spark a Genoa counterattack which, fortunately for him, came to nothing.
"He can still improve, even if he's already demonstrating his ability," assistant Milan coach Luigi Riccio said. "He's skillful, physical, fast, and can head a ball. He can do well."
SUPER SORRENTINO
Veteran Chievo Verona goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino ensured it wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo's night on Monday.
Sorrentino somehow managed to push Ronaldo's penalty — which had seemed destined for the bottom right corner — around the post at full stretch.
Juventus nevertheless won 3-0 to restore its nine-point advantage over second-placed Napoli.
It would have been worse for Chievo had it not been for a number of decent saves from Sorrentino, who turns 40 in March.
"So many congratulations to Sorrentino and to our goalkeeping coach for the penalty save," Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo said. "They are two great professionals, they deserve this satisfaction."
Sorrentino might have felt a small sense of revenge after he was knocked unconscious by Ronaldo in the Portuguese star's debut for Juventus.
But Sorrentino could do little to prevent three players from scoring their first goal of the season: Douglas Costa, Emre Can and Daniele Rugani.
Juventus has 14 different goalscorers, as many as it had in the whole of last season.
Only Roma has had more players score in this Serie A.
ROTATION WORKS
Maurizio Sarri was criticized during his last season in charge of Napoli by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis for not making the most of his squad.
His replacement, Carlo Ancelotti, is doing just that and its working.
While most of his changes to his starting lineup have been to give certain players a rest, Ancelotti was forced to rotate his squad on Sunday because of injuries to Napoli captain Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne, and with Kalidou Koulibaly suspended.
Napoli still beat Lazio 2-1.
"There was a lot of worry because of the absences but I know the value of these players and if a team manages to overcome these absences it means it has important technical and mental values.
"We'll go forward like this, seeing as everyone has a high performance there will not be a standard starting lineup."
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No. 10 Miami needs everything at its disposal to slow down top-seeded Indiana's high-scoring offense in next week's College Football Playoff championship.
The good news is that the Hurricanes' defense should be at, or near, full strength.
Coach Mario Cristobal told reporters Monday he expects defensive linemen Ahkeem Mesidor and Ahmad Moten, as well as cornerback OJ Frederique, to be ready to play in next week's title game.
Mesidor and Moten were both injured during last week's dramatic 31-27 victory, but later returned. Frederique was injured during Miami's surprising 24-14 Cotton Bowl victory over No. 2 Ohio State and did not play in the Fiesta Bowl. Now, it appears all three will be there to try and help derail the Hoosiers attempt to become the first 16-0 college team since the 1890s.
“I believe we're coming out a lot like we went into the last game,” Cristobal said. “I know a couple guys came out of the game. Mesidor is in great condition. He hurt his elbow for a second and he's already full throttle. Ahmad Moten was full throttle today. I know O.J. came out. (Tight end Elija) Lofton will be the one that's in question. But aside from that, I feel really good about the rest. I would say OJ is good to go and (cornerback Damari) Brown is probably day by day.”
The Hurricanes (13-2, No. 10 CFP) may need every one of them against an Indiana team that is averaging 47.0 points in two blowout playoff wins.
Defensively, the Hoosiers (15-0, No. 1) have been equally efficient, holding their last three opponents — Ohio State, No. 9 Alabama and No. 5 Oregon — to a combined total of just 35 points.
And coach Curt Cignetti acknowledged that aside from losing key defensive lineman Stephen Daley to a right leg injury suffered in the postgame celebration following Indiana's Big Ten championship game victory over the Buckeyes, he expects to have all of his key players on the field next week.
“We came out really good, and everybody that played in the last game will play in this game,” Cignetti said.
Cignetti enters the championship game with a head coaching resume any colleague would want. He's posted 14 straight winning seasons, never had a losing season, celebrated conference championships and deep playoff runs. But there's one line still missing — the same line Cristobal happens to be missing.
Each is one win away from capturing their first national championship.
Naturally, though, neither wants their players pressing as they take college football's biggest stage.
“We've got to prepare for this game no different than we prepared for Ohio State, Alabama,” Cignetti said as the Hoosiers play for their first national title. “The biggest mistake our guys can make, and I'll talk to them tonight in the team meeting about this, is making the game bigger than it is. Going down that road would be detrimental to our preparation and performance. This week is no different than any other week, we have to be on point.”
Cristobal echoed those sentiments, though the Hurricanes face one additional pressure point — they'll be the first CFP to play the title game in their home stadium.
“The only thing that changes is that classes have started, and we have 28, 29 of the 30 new members of our team here practicing with us, which is great for us,” he said. “Aside from that, nothing changes.”
With Corey Hetherman's first season as Miami defensive coordinator nears its end, the Hurricanes seem to be playing some of their best football. They allowed 20 or fewer points in the last seven games prior to the Ole Miss game.
Cignetti isn't surprised.
Hetherman served as his defensive coordinator from 2019-21 at James Madison. When Hetherman departed, Cignetti promoted Bryant Haines to defensive coordinator, and he has served in that capacity each of the past four seasons for Cignetti.
So Cignetti has some notion of what to expect next Monday.
“We've evolved offensively, the terminology has changed. We do things differently, but his scheme has (changed), too,” Cignetti. “Philosophically, in terms, of what we think is important, him and I, that hasn't changed. He's going to create havoc up front, stop the run, tackles for losses, sacks. They've got 47 sacks on the year, and he's going to attack."
Cignetti used the transfer portal to fuel Indiana's success in 2024 and again in 2025 with the additions of players such as Daley, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and starting center Pat Coogan — each of whom has played a key role in this season's success.
But Cignetti said he wants to become less reliant on the transfer portal in the years ahead. In fact, he insists that transition has already started.
“I knew we had to flip the roster (last year)," Cignetti said. “And every year as your high school recruiting builds up, you kind of start to wean down a little bit from the portal. You'll never be at a point where you don't engage with the portal, but this year we'll take a few less than we took last year and last year we took a few less than we did the year before.”
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CORRECTS TO MISSISSIPPI HEAD COACH PETE GOLDING NOT MISSISSIPPI HEAD COACH MARIO CRISTOBAL - Mississippi head coach Pete Golding, center, greets Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, right, after the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami safety Zechariah Poyser (7) and defensive back Ethan O'Connor (24) break up a pass intended for Mississippi wide receiver De'zhaun Stribling (1) during the second half the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oregon wide receiver Dakorien Moore (1) carries against Indiana linebacker Rolijah Hardy (21) during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) kisses the trophy after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the trophy after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Oregon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
