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NAPOLI SET TO BE HANDED 3-0 LOSS FOR NOT SHOWING UP AT JUVE

Napoli is likely to be handed a 3-0 loss by the Italian league´s judge for failing to show for its Serie A match at Juventus on Sunday night.

Napoli did not travel to Turin for the game after local health authorities ordered the squad into quarantine after two players tested positive for the coronavirus – midfielders Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas.

Juventus followed its regular matchday routine on Sunday and arrived at the stadium for the scheduled 8:45 p.m. (18:45 GMT) kickoff. In somewhat farcical scenes, several players walked out onto the field while a limited number of fans watched from the stands.

It will not be known whether Juventus will be awarded a 3-0 win by default – or if the match has simply been postponed – until next week’s disciplinary commission, where Napoli will make its case.

“The sporting rules are clear and say that if a team does not show up, they face disciplinary sanctions,” Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said. “The Sporting Judge will speak tomorrow, and based on his decision, there will be further reflections.

“It is evident that the fact that a team does not reach a stadium to play a planned match does not give a great image of Italian soccer, but we are provincial and we care little about what happens outside our borders, without considering the damage we do to soccer internationally.”

Vincenzo Spadafora, Italy´s sports minister, said he would also speak about the issue with the heads of the Italian soccer federation and the league, in two meetings already scheduled for Monday.

“The protocol proposed by the FIGC and validated by the Technical-Scientific Committee tried to make Italian soccer safe to allow the restart that everyone wanted,” Spadafora said Sunday. “It’s clear however that the situation in general over the past few weeks has become even more complex, so much so that it hasn’t left even the world of soccer immune despite the rigid rules.

“I want to make a really clear appeal for the much more important interest of health to prevail over whatever other logic or vested interests.”

Napoli had requested that the match be postponed and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis had also contacted Juventus asking the same.

“He texted me a couple of days ago, asking me to postpone the match,” Agnelli said. “My answer was that Juventus abides by the regulations.”

The Italian league´s protocol for COVID cases is the same as UEFA rules. If a team has 13 available players, including at least one goalkeeper, the game can go ahead.

“In regards to Napoli´s official request the Lega Serie A clarifies that the current system of rules must guarantee the health of everybody, equal treatment for all clubs and the respect of the principals of sportsmanship,” read a statement by the league´s governing body.

“On that matter it is opportune to remember that the statement issued by Campania health authorities only asks fiduciary isolation for the close contacts of Piotr Zielinski. Therefore, in this case the FIGC protocol agreed with the Technical-Scientific Committee should be applied. The protocol provides certain and mandatory rules that allow league matches to go ahead even if there are positive cases in the group, fielding the players who tested negative through exams undergone within the time range given by the health authorities.”

The entire Napoli team has been tested constantly after Napoli played Genoa last weekend. More than 20 Genoa players and staff members have tested positive.

Genoa´s match at Torino on Saturday was postponed.

“The Lega Serie A did also approve a precise set of rules to adopt if there are several positive cases and that can lead to the postponement of the match only if there are specific conditions which, at the moment, don´t apply to Napoli´s case,” continued the governing body´s statement.

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KANE, SON STARS AS SPURS PUT SIX PAST TEN-MAN UNITED.

Son Heung-min and Harry Kane both scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur claimed a remarkable 6-1 victory against 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Spurs had to come from behind as Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes rolled in a second-minute penalty after Anthony Martial was fouled by Davinson Sanchez.

Tanguy Ndombele equalised from close range two minutes later, before quick thinking by Kane allowed Son, who started after recovering from a hamstring injury last weekend, to apply a sublime finish on seven minutes.

On 28 minutes, Martial was sent off for an altercation with Erik Lamela, before Kane fired in from Son’s pass on the half-hour.

Son turned in his second, and Spurs’ fourth, eight minutes before the break.

Six minutes after half-time, Serge Aurier drilled in a fifth.

Kane converted Spurs’ sixth goal from the penalty spot on 79 minutes after Paul Pogba fouled Ben Davies.

Spurs move up to fifth place on seven points, while Man Utd are 16th on three points.

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PEPE, SAKA HELP MOVE ARSENAL TO FOURTH POSITION WITH WIN OVER THE BLADES

Quickfire second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe earned Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium.

The best moment of a quiet first half came on 37 minutes, when Aaron Ramsdale spectacularly saved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s long-range shot.

The introduction of Pepe as a 58th-minute substitute provided the spark that Arsenal needed.

He released Hector Bellerin down the right and the defender crossed for Saka, who celebrated his England call-up this week with a headed goal on 61 minutes.

Less than three minutes later Pepe scored himself with a superb solo run and finish to cap off a 19-pass move.

Sheff Utd were given hope when David McGoldrick curled in their first goal of the season with six minutes left, but Arsenal held on for a win that lifts them up to fourth on nine points.

The Blades remain without a point and are second from bottom.

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WOLVES COMPLETE LOAN SIGNING OF AIT-NOURI

Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced the signing of French youth international full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri on loan for the rest of 2020/21 campaign.

The 19-year-old joins from Ligue 1 side Angers with Wolves having the option of making the move permanent.

“It’s a massive club, a big club and I always had it very clear in my mind that I wanted to come to Wolves and so I’m very happy,” he told the club’s

“I’ll be aiming to settle into the club as quickly as I can, and with the help of my team-mates, get in the best shape I can, and to try and play as many games as I can in the Premier League, because it’s a league you dream about playing in.”

Ait-Nouri, who has represented his country at under-21 level, had two assists in his opening three fixtures last season as he helped Angers finish 11th in the league.

Wolves are next in action on Monday 19 October when they travel to Leeds United.

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WOLVES 1-0 FULHAM: NETO GETS WOLVES BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Pedro Neto’s second-half strike proved decisive as Wolverhampton Wanderers ended a two-match losing run to record a 1-0 win against Fulham at Molineux.

In a first half of few clear chances, Wolves went closest to breaking the deadlock on 29 minutes but Neto and Nelson Semedo were denied by a superb double save from Alphonse Areola.

After half-time, Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic fired wide from a central position moments before Ruben Neves’ effort for Wolves flew narrowly past the post.

It was the home side who broke the deadlock on 56 minutes with Neto’s powerful left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

With 15 minutes remaining, Aboubakar Kamara squandered Fulham’s best opportunity to equalise as he shot straight at Rui Patricio after Mitrovic had set him up.

Fulham remain at the foot of the table after a fourth successive defeat. Wolves are in 12th.

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WESTHAM ENDS LEICESTER’S PERFECT START TO THE SEASON WITH 3 GOALS AT THE KING POWER.

Pablo Fornals scored one goal and assisted another as West Ham United ended Leicester City’s 100 per cent start with a 3-0 victory at King Power Stadium.

Michail Antonio put the visitors in front on 14 minutes when he converted Aaron Cresswell’s left-wing delivery with a header across goal.

The Hammers doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Cresswell’s long ball forward was controlled superbly by Fornals, who beat Kasper Schmeichel at his near post.

Fornals then played an excellent through-ball to Jarrod Bowen to score a third goal in his last two matches.

Harvey Barnes thought he had struck a consolation in added time but his effort was overturned following a Video Assistant Referee review for offside in the build-up against Jamie Vardy, who had two minutes earlier shot wide when through on goal.

Back-to-back wins lift West Ham up to eighth, while second-placed Leicester miss the opportunity to go back above leaders Everton.

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SOUTHAMPTON SIGN FRENCH MIDFIELDER DIALLO.

Southampton have completed the signing of central midfielder Ibrahima Diallo from Ligue 1 side Brest for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old has signed a four-year contract and is Southampton’s third signing of the summer transfer window.

“He’s a very smart one, a very clever one, he reads the game very well,” Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told the club’s official website.

“He’s also quick and dynamic, against the ball very aggressive and with the ball also with good decision making, so he is a player who I think fits perfectly in our team.”

Diallo graduated from the Monaco academy before going on to make his name with Brest, a club he signed for permanently in 2019 following an initial successful loan spell with whom he won promotion in 2019.

He caught the eye in Ligue 1 last season where Diallo made 27 appearances, earning him a call-up to the France Under-21 team last month.

Southampton, who beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Sunday, next visit Chelsea on Saturday 17 October.

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ROMEU STUNNER HELP FIRE SAINTS TO VICTORY.

Oriol Romeu scored his first goal in 43 Premier League matches in spectacular style as Southampton beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at St Mary’s Stadium.

The visitors were indebted to goalkeeper Sam Johnstone during the first half as he produced fine saves from Ryan Bertrand, Che Adams and Danny Ings, the latter with a header from James Ward-Prowse’s cross.

But Johnstone was eventually beaten by Moussa Djenepo, who turned smartly and found the bottom corner with a low shot on 41 minutes.

Six minutes after the restart Grady Diangana had West Brom’s best opening but he struck the woodwork following a free-kick.

Saints doubled their lead after 69 minutes with Romeu’s superb volley from Stuart Armstrong’s cross.

Southampton move up to 10th with a second successive victory, while the Baggies stay 17th.

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WATKINS SCORES HATRICK, GREALISH BRACE AS ASTON VILLA STUN LIVERPOOL IN 7-2 GAME

A perfect hat-trick from Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa to second place after a sensational 7-2 win over champions Liverpool.

The Villans led after only four minutes when Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian conceded possession to Jack Grealish, who teed up Watkins for a simple finish.

Villa’s lead was doubled when Watkins cut in and slammed a shot into the top corner on 22 minutes.

Mohamed Salah’s smart shot reduced the deficit on 33 minutes but two minutes later, John McGinn’s deflected effort restored Villa’s two-goal cushion.

Watkins’ hat-trick header made the score 4-1 and 10 minutes after half-time, Ross Barkley added a fifth.

Salah pulled another goal back on the hour but Grealish’s double on 66 and 75 minutes completed the comprehensive victory.

Villa now have three wins from three while Liverpool are fifth, also on nine points.

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HARRY KANE SCORES HAT TRICK AS SPURS ADVANCE TO EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP STAGES.

Tottenham Hotspur earned their way into the Europa League group stages with a comfortable 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa in a qualifying playoff on Thursday.

Harry Kane collected a hat trick, Giovani Lo Celso scored a brace while Lucas Moura and Dele Alli completed the easy win in London.

Kane needed only two minutes to get his first of the day, then added strikes in the 56th minute and 74th minutes — the latter coming from the penalty spot — to complete his trio of goals.

Lo Celso scored his goals just three minutes apart — in the 36th and 39th minutes — and Lucas and Alli converted theirs in the 20th and 90th minutes, respectively.

Tjaronn Chery and Nikita Rukavytsya scored the goals for the visitors.

The lopsided win means Jose Mourinho’s men will be included in Friday’s group stage draw.