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Inter Milan and Napoli remain firmly embroiled in one of the most dramatic Scudetto races in recent memory.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, several factors could determine the outcome of this breathless fight.
Simone Inzaghi is hellbent on becoming the first Serie A manager to defend their title in five years.
However, ex-Inter boss Antonio Conte is fighting tooth and nail to bring a second league title to Naples in three years.
Indeed, only three points separate the leading duo ahead of an intense season finale.
Factors That Could Determine Fierce Scudetto Battle Between Inter Milan & Napoli
Inter’s congested fixture schedule could be a sticking point, especially if Inzaghi’s charges overcome Bayern Munich in Europe.
Furthermore, they’re eyeing a third Coppa Italia final appearance in four seasons under Inzaghi.
On the bright side, most of Inter’s ‘high-profile’ league games will come at the San Siro.
As for Napoli, they will lock horns with top-four hopefuls Bologna next weekend.
Ominously for the Partenopei, the match will take place at Renato Dall’Ara amid their rough patch on the road.
Indeed, Conte’s men haven’t won an away league game since January, going winless on their last four trips.
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No Messi, no problem: MLS thumps Liga MX in All-Star Game
The Major League Soccer All-Stars defeated the Liga MX All-Stars, 3-1, in Austin on Wednesday to win the 29th annual MLS All-Star Game. It's the fourth time that the MLS All-Stars have faced the Liga MX All-Stars and the third time that they've been victorious. MLS' goals came from three usual suspects: Nashville's Sam Surridge, Philadelphia's Tai Baribo and Vancouver's Brian White. All three have led the Golden Boot standings at different points of the season, and all three deserved their moment in the spotlight. Another deserving player was Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver, who started the match for MLS in front of a rapturous home crowd. Stuver, an American journeyman player who didn't get his MLS breakthrough until his early 30s, has made a real home for himself in Austin. He's been with the club since its first match in 2021 and is one of its most popular legends. Liga MX didn't win, but it did field the most exciting player of the night: 16-year-old Tijuana star Gilberto Mora. Eagle-eyed viewers of this summer's Concacaf Gold Cup will remember that Mora played for the Mexican national team (and looked great while doing so), but this game felt like his true debut on the international stage — and what a debut it wound up being. His strike in the second half made him the youngest goal scorer in MLS All-Star Game history. The game was meant to show off the best of MLS and Liga MX, but it wound up being overshadowed by two players who didn't bother to show: Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami players, named to the All-Star team in the first round of voting and long committed to attending the game, rescinded their participation hours before kickoff and skipped the spectacle altogether. MLS' rules here are simple and finite: Any healthy, un-injured player who skips the All-Star game must serve a one-game suspension during his next league fixture as a punishment. For Alba and Messi, that would mean missing Inter Miami's crucial Eastern Conference clash on Saturday with FC Cincinnati, its biggest rival in the title race. MLS has a choice to make here. Will it will stick to its guns and enforce its own rule, thereby forcing Alba, Messi and Miami to face consequences for blowing off one of the leagues most beloved traditions? Or will it fold to Miami's wishes, as it so often does, and allow its stars to play against Cincinnati with the unearned advantage of an extra week of rest? We'll find out soon enough. But we do know this: Regardless of what the league office decides, MLS has made a statement of its own. On a night when Miami wasn't interested in standing up for MLS, MLS proved it was more than capable of standing up for itself. MLS will return to action on Friday for its final matchday before the league's summer break.
Steelers Add Two More Injuries to Start Training Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their 2025 training camp at Saint Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The team arrived in style and with optimism as this new-look roster aims for a Super Bowl run in 2026. The Steelers began their first training camp on the right foot, except for the absences of two notable players. Newly acquired superstar tight end Jonnu Smith and versatile running back and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson were both non-participants in the first team activities. Following the conclusion of practice, head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the players who were missing. He shared that Smith was able to participate in individual drills but missed the team session. He wouldn't go into specifics, but he ruled Smith out day-to-day. Despite the early setback, Tomlin didn't seem too concerned about the severity of the injury. Patterson was also with the team, but did not participate in any activities or individual position drills during the first day of camp. Tomlin also ruled him out day-to-day. The injury to Smith is not the way he wanted to begin his tenure in Pittsburgh. Acquired with Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick, his arrival marked the next offensive weapon for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Smith is coming off the best season in his NFL career. Last year in Miami, he caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. He collected the fourth-most receiving yards among NFL tight ends and tied for the second-most touchdowns last season. He and fellow TE Pat Freiermuth are set to be a dynamic one-two punch for the offense in 2025. This is Patterson's second season with the Steelers. Last season, he played a versatile role in the offense. He toted the ball 32 times for 132 rushing yards and zero touchdowns. He also hauled in 12 receptions on 14 targets for 80 yards and a score. With these injuries, the rest of the depth chart receives an added opportunity. The rest of the skill position groups on offense will have one less body taking reps away in camp for the time being. That will hopefully give one or two players a chance to shine and make a positive impression on the coaching staff while they wait for two impact players to return to the field.
Pelicans' exec makes team's stance on Zion Williamson crystal clear
It’s wild how quickly the NBA narrative can flip. A year ago, Zion Williamson was in every trade rumor possible. People were questioning his health, his work ethic, even his future in New Orleans. And the Pelicans? They didn’t really deny any of it. It felt like both sides were one step away from walking. But things have shifted this offseason — quietly, but clearly. The Pelicans could’ve pulled the plug. Zion’s contract gave them outs, and the trade market might’ve still brought back some real value. Instead, they stuck with him. And based on what one of their own just said, they’re not just keeping him around — they’re still betting big on him. In a recent interview with Spotrac’s Keith Smith, an anonymous Pelicans executive made it crystal clear. “Zion is still our guy. We’re all in on him. We think he’s going to have a huge year. We’ve had some bad injury luck and some things that just haven’t worked out. This partnership hasn’t even come close to reaching our best yet.” That’s not something you say if you’re halfway in. They backed it up with their offseason moves, too. They traded CJ McCollum and brought in Jordan Poole, a high-usage creator who can take pressure off Zion. They drafted Jeremiah Fears with the No. 7 pick, a dynamic young guard. They added Kevon Looney, a reliable veteran who brings playoff experience and toughness. Those aren’t tear-it-down moves — those are “let’s try this another way” moves. Of course, Zion’s health is still the question. That never really goes away. He played just 30 games last season, but in those games he looked solid: 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per night on 56.7 percent shooting. The explosiveness was there. The playmaking was sharp. And the hope for New Orleans is that this time, he can finally sustain it. What’s interesting is how the front office is trying to create a better environment around him. Joe Dumars has stepped in to lead basketball operations and is reportedly building a closer relationship with Zion — dinners, real conversations, not just surface-level stuff. It feels like, for once, the team is trying to meet him halfway. It’s a risk, sure. But it’s a calculated one. The West is brutal and the margin for error is thin. Still, if Zion can stay healthy for 60 games, and if Poole finds a rhythm and guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones keep improving — this team has a shot to be in the mix. The quote from the exec says it all. They could’ve hit reset, moved on, cleaned house. But they didn’t. They’re still in. And now it’s on Zion to hold up his end of the deal. After everything that’s happened, they’re telling the world they still believe. Now it’s time to find out if they’re right.
Jayson Tatum Wanted To Leave The Boston Celtics Because Of One Player
Back in 2017, the Boston Celtics made two major moves that would define their future, though not in the way anyone expected. First, they used the No. 3 overall pick to draft Jayson Tatum, a polished scorer from Duke. Then, in free agency, they signed All-Star forward Gordon Hayward to a lucrative deal. At the time, Hayward was entering his prime and coming off an All-Star season with the Utah Jazz. Tatum was the rookie with promise, while Hayward was expected to be the go-to forward. But fate intervened, and everything changed on opening night. Years later, on FanDuel TV, Hayward opened up about the dynamic between him and Tatum. He acknowledged that Tatum felt like he might have to leave the Celtics because of him. “I think, like I said, I was coming off of, I was an All-Star, felt like I was at the brim of my career. Like, we played the same position." "Coach Stevens probably would have been drawing plays for me instead of drawing plays for JT or JB or whoever else me or Kyrie. And, you know, because I got hurt, now he's getting the ball, he's getting more opportunities, and that sometimes is all it takes.” Hayward suffered a devastating leg injury just five minutes into his Celtics debut, an injury so gruesome that it instantly changed the Celtics’ hierarchy. Jayson Tatum was thrust into the spotlight as a rookie and seized the opportunity, eventually helping Boston reach the Eastern Conference Finals that same season. In short, Hayward admitted that if he hadn’t gotten hurt, Tatum wouldn’t have had the ball in his hands as often, or as soon. The offensive pecking order would’ve prioritized Hayward, a proven star with experience under Brad Stevens from their Butler days, over the unproven rookie. From Tatum’s perspective, that likely raised serious questions about his future. If the Celtics were building around Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and later Kemba Walker, where did Tatum fit in? It wasn’t personal, it was positional. Tatum and Hayward both operated as wings who needed touches and space to create. There’s only so much oxygen in an NBA offense, and Hayward being healthy might’ve delayed Tatum’s breakout. That tension, while never explosive, was quietly real. And according to Hayward’s comments, it was enough for Tatum to contemplate leaving Boston altogether early in his career. Thankfully for the Celtics, Hayward’s injury opened the door for Tatum, and Tatum never looked back. He’s now a six-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection, and the face of the franchise. He helped lead Boston to an NBA championship and is widely viewed as one of the league’s top five players. Though he is currently recovering from an Achilles tear suffered during the playoffs, Tatum’s place as the Celtics’ cornerstone is unquestioned. Ironically, what once seemed like a roster logjam may have been the unexpected twist that launched a superstar’s rise.
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