Juventus Appeals Successful While Man City Advances To UCL Semis
Juventus had been hoping to have their 15-point deduction in Serie A removed following their appeal. While the appeal was partially successful, the outcome is not yet final. On Thursday, the highest sporting court in Italy, the Collegio di Garanzia of the Italian Olympic Committee, announced its decision to overturn the punishment for Juventus’ financial rules violations that had been imposed by the Italian FA (FIGC) in January. However, the case will now be reconsidered by the Italian FA appeals court (Corte d’Appello), and a final decision is expected to be made in a month’s time. It’s still possible that Juventus could receive a lesser penalty.
Juventus’ successful appeal means they are now third in the Serie A table with 59 points, two points behind second-placed Lazio (61). This decision has significant implications for the league standings. AS Roma, with 56 points, currently hold the last Champions League spot, while AC Milan (53) and Inter (51) have dropped out of the top four with eight games remaining in the season.
Juventus 1/2 On Appeals
In other news, Juventus’ appeal against former sporting director Fabio Paratici’s 30-month ban has been rejected. Appeals against bans for former chairman Andrea Agnelli (24 months) and current sporting director Federico Cherubini (16 months) have also been dismissed. However, the appeal for former vice president Pavel Nedved’s ban has been accepted and will be reviewed by the Italian FA appeals court in the coming weeks.
What Does The Appeal Mean For The Serie A?
Assuming the decision stands in the long term, it has huge implications for Juventus’ immediate future in the Champions League, as they are now well-placed to qualify, having previously been at risk of missing out.
Regarding timing, the Italian FA appeals court can only begin re-evaluating the case once the Collegio di Garanzia publishes its explanations following Thursday’s decision, which is expected to happen in two to three weeks. The new outcome of the sporting trial is likely to be announced in the summer. However, this creates uncertainty around when a potential new penalty could affect the club. Juventus may face a point deduction that could impact the current or even the next season if the appeals court decides to impose a punishment.
Manchester City Beat Bayern: Champions Leauge Semis Set
Manchester City secured their place in the Champions League semifinals with a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena. The result meant City went through 4-1 on aggregate.
Having won the first leg 3-0, City were in a commanding position heading into the second leg. Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel had called for a “miracle” for his team to progress. Despite testing City’s defence with some quick attacks in the first half, Bayern were unable to mount a comeback. City had a chance to extend their lead before half-time when Dayot Upamecano was penalized for handball, but Erling Haaland missed the penalty.
Erling Haaland sealed the deal for Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich, scoring from close range to give City a four-goal lead on aggregate. Although Bayern had a Mathys Tel goal disallowed for offside, they could not mount a comeback until Joshua Kimmich scored from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute, following a handball by Manuel Akanji.
Bayern’s frustration grew as the match wore on, and their manager, Thomas Tuchel, was eventually sent to the stands after receiving a second yellow card. City’s next opponent in the Champions League semifinals will be Real Madrid, with the first leg taking place on May 9 and the return leg on May 16.
Crucial Games Ahead
Manchester City’s next two matches are indeed crucial for their potential treble-winning season. A win against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday, April 24, would see them through to the final of the competition. They then face Arsenal in the Premier League on April 28, and a victory in that match would bring them one step closer to securing the league title.
Haaland was a key player for City in the match against Bayern Munich, despite missing the penalty that would have secured the tie earlier in the game. He continued to threaten Bayern’s defense throughout the match, and his goal in the 57th minute effectively sealed the win for City. The team will undoubtedly rely on his attacking prowess in their upcoming matches.