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MILAN, Italy -- Joint Serie A leaders AC Milan and Juventus seemed to be suffering from post-Christmas hangovers as they struggled to grind out wins against Atalanta and Lecce on Sunday. Paris Lenon . In Bergamo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted from the spot after Milan was awarded a dubious penalty in the 22nd minute and Kevin Prince Boateng sealed the result eight minutes from time. Milan was made to sweat before Boatengs goal, with the leagues top scorer German Denis hitting the post for Atalanta. The Serie A champions will need to step up a gear ahead of next weekends mouthwatering derby against a rejuvenated Inter Milan. Massimiliano Allegris side is level on 37 points with Juventus, which ground out a 1-0 win at rock-bottom Lecce, courtesy of substitute Alessandro Matris 27th minute header. Udinese is two points further back after a 4-1 victory over 10-man Cesena. Milan took the lead when Alexandre Pato took a tumble in the box amid a crowd of players and the referee pointed to the spot. Ibrahimovic had scored all five of his previous penalties this season and he converted number six with a low shot into the left corner. And Milan sealed the match when Ibrahimovic threaded a ball through to Boateng who lashed in an effort under the crossbar. "It was a difficult game but we knew Atlanta play good football and is a spirited side," Allegri said. "They created a lot of problems for us. But they are three important points, its never easy to win here. "Were better physically than I would have thought and we did well to deal with the difficulty of the game. Weve got a very important derby on Sunday, were doing great things and Inter is as well now." Juventus striker Matri had only come off the bench four minutes earlier but he was on hand to head home the only goal of the game after Lecce goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi parried Mirko Vucinics shot. "I said before the game that everything is uncertain immediately after the winter break, especially for a team like Juve which is still unbeaten," Juventus coach Antonio Conte said. "If you dont prepare yourself adequately you can have somewhat of a false start. "Im pleased with the three points, although there remains a bit of disappointment that we didnt manage to close the game earlier. We suffered in certain parts, but the defence reacted well. We deserved to win, even without that good a performance." Unsung Udinese remain in touch with the leaders. It got off to a perfect start when Antonio Di Natale opened the scoring with less than a minute on the clock. Kwadwo Asamoah restored its lead in the second half after Eder levelled six minutes before the break. And Cesenas hopes of getting back into the game evaporated on the hour mark when Maurizio Lauro was handed a second yellow card and dismissed. Dusan Basta extended Udineses lead in stunning fashion with a perfect lobbed shot into the far corner from the edge of the area, and Di Natale scored his 12th goal of the season shortly afterward to seal the result. Edinson Cavani scored against his former club to help Napoli to a 3-1 win at Palermo. Goran Pandev opened the scoring in the 35th minute and Cavani pounced 10 minutes after the interval. The Argentinian, who spent three years at Palermo before joining Napoli in 2010, did not celebrate his fantastic curling effort, although he was rewarded with applause by the home fans. Marek Hamsik added the third five minutes later. Fabrizio Miccoli grabbed a consolation for Palermo three minutes from time. Bologna is now six points clear of the drop zone after beating 10-man Catania 2-0. Nicolo Cherubin scored five minutes into the second half and captain Marco Di Vaio doubled Bolognas lead in stoppage time. Catania captain Marco Biagianti was dismissed in the 77th minute for a second yellow card. Pasquale Marino replaced Alberto Malesani on the Genoa bench at the start of the break time in charge of Genoa got off to a dreadful start as he saw his new side lose 3-0 at Cagliari. Joaquin Larrivey fired Cagliari in front in the 13th minute from the spot and Victor Ibarbo doubled its lead after the break before Genoa fell apart as defender Emiliano Moretti was dismissed in the 66th minute and Andreas Granqvist turned the ball into his own net six minutes later. Elsewhere, Roma captain Francesco Totti scored two penalties to help his side to a 2-0 win over Chievo Verona. Stevan Jovetic also scored twice -- including once from the spot -- as Fiorentina beat struggling Novara 3-0. Riccardo Montolivo grabbed the Tuscan sides other goal. Terrell Davis .S. national basketball team this summer. Thats fine, hes got another Olympic option. The Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard may play for Australia in the London Games. Wes Welker . Watkins had eight catches for 105 yards and returned five kickoffs for 207 yards, including an 89-yard return in the fourth quarter to give Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) a lead it never relinquished. Andre Ellington had 212 yards on 24 carries and scored twice, including a 44- yard touchdown late in the fourth that sealed the win. TAMPA, Fla. -- Derek Jeter says the New York Yankees have no choice but to move forward now that Alex Rodriguez has accepted his suspension for the 2014 season. Rodriguez ended his extended and acrimonious fight with Major League Baseball on Friday, withdrawing a pair of lawsuits that were filed in an attempt to overturn a season-long ban for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal -- the longest penalty in the sports history related to performance-enhancing drugs. Jeter spoke Monday at the Yankees minor league complex. He said he has texted with A-Rod since the lawsuits were dropped. Rodriguez was given a 211-game ban last year by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig that was reduced to 162 plus the 2014 post-season by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. A-Rod sued MLB and the union in federal court in Manhattan, claiming the arbitration process was flawed. Rodriguezs lawyers filed notices of dismissal in both cases. "Hes not here for this season, so were going to have to find ways to win with the team that we have," Jeter said Monday at the Yankees minor league complex. "Its a complicated situation, but its pretty much played out. Thats what has happened." Rodriguez was given a 211-game ban last year by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig that was reduced to 162 plus the 2014 post-season by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. A-Rod sued MLB and the union in federal court in Manhattan, claiming the arbitration process was flawed. Rodriguezs lawyers filed notices of dismissal in both cases. Duke Ihenacho. Jeter has texted with Rodriguez since the decision to end the lawsuits came about. "Youd have to ask him how he feels about it, if hes glad that its over with," Jeter said. "Its a situation that he has to deal with. Now its over and its done with, and well move on from there. But youd have to ask him how he feels about that." Rodriguez will be 39 when eligible to return in a year. The Yankees owe him $21 million in 2015 and $20 million in each of the final two seasons of a record $275 million, 10-year deal. NOTES: Jeter, limited to 17-games last season after breaking his ankle during the 2012 AL Championship Series, started his fourth week of on-field work. ... RHP Michael Pineda, a fifth-starter candidate sidelined the past two years by a right shoulder injury, is throwing off a mound. "Im feeling 100 per cent right now, and my body is in perfect shape," said a trimmed down 260-pound Pineda. "Everything is in the past. Im ready to go." ... C Francisco Cervelli, who broke his right hand April 26, and then was suspended for 50 games on Aug. 5 following MLBs investigation of the same Florida anti-aging clinic that ensnared Rodriguez, is also doing early work. "Last year was a disaster, and we just take the positives out of everything for being a better person and a better player," Cervelli said. ' ' ' |
