Serie a debut for abankwah
FORMER St Pat’s defender James Abankwah made his Serie A debut yesterday during Udinese’s 3-0 defeat to Bologna.
Abankwah came on with four minutes to go, while Ireland underage star Festy Ebosele started the game before being replaced at half-time.
Last night, AC Milan won 4-0 at Serie A champions elect Napoli courtesy of a Rafael Leao brace and strikes from Brahim Diaz and substitute Alexis Saelemaekers.
Meanwhile, PSG were beaten 1-0 at home by Lyon last night, though they remain six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
Bradley Barcola scored the only goal of the game at the Parc des Princes, with Lyon’s former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette having earlier missed a penalty.
In Spain, Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in seven minutes as Real Madrid beat Valladolid 6-0 yesterday.
Champions
Carlo Ancelotti’s European champions are 1-0 behind as they face Barcelona in the second leg of the semi-final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday and David Alaba said: “We will go to Barcelona with a lot of confidence after today’s game.
“We know it’s going to be a different game, it will be tough, but we want to go there and try to get the victory.”
Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez also scored for second-place Madrid, who trail Barca by 12 points in La Liga after the Catalans won at 4-0 last-place Elche on Saturday.
Benzema, who hadn’t scored in the league since February, netted his first goal with a close-range header after a cross by Vinicius Junior in the 29th minute. The Frenchman added another goal with a shot from outside the area in the 32nd and got his third with a volley with his back to the net.
“When we have Benzema playing at his best level, everything is easier,” Ancelotti said.