On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Juventus topped Hellas Verona rather easily on Monday night, even though it took them 76 minutes to score. While Thiago Motta and the management are under fire for the eliminations from the Champions League and the Coppa Italia, their going in Serie A has been steady for a month, Tuttomercatoweb relays.
The Bianconeri have put together a five-game winning streak. They overtook Lazio in fourth place two rounds ago and stayed in front despite the Biancocelesti beating Milan. Moreover, they have drastically reduced the gap from Inter, Napoli, and Atalanta, which have slowed down significantly.
During the run, Juventus have made up 8 points on the Nerazzurri, 11 on the Partenopei, which haven’t been successful in five matchdays, and 6 on La Dea. The Old Lady took advantage of a relatively easy stretch of the schedule. They defeated Cagliari, Como, and Empoli besides the Scaligeri and the current league toppers.
On the other hand, the Bianconeri had often failed to take care of business against the minnows in the first half of the season, leaving a host of points on the table. They’ll face the Bergamaschi, Fiorentina, Genoa, and Roma in the next four tilts.
Our Take on Juventus
It would be a natural progression, as they have gotten healthier and integrated the January newcomers, which takes time, if it wasn’t for the paltry display in the return leg versus PSV and the inexcusable one against Empoli. It’s never too late to enter the title race, but Napoli and Atalanta could catch fire too and keep it up the rest of the way. Whoever peaks at the right time will take the cake.
More must-reads:
- Los Angeles FC's shrewd transfer moves could make it a contender for MLS trophies
- Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
‘No Chance’: Eddie Howe Makes Shocking Statement About Alexander Isak’s Future Amid Liverpool Links
Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is expected to miss most of training camp due to a leg injury, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Johnson was placed on the non-football injury list when veterans reported to Chicago for camp. He suffered the injury during offseason training, according to Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Johnson is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl and is headed into the second year of a four-year, $76 million deal. He has dealt with a number of injuries over his career, playing no more than 15 games in a season over the first four years of his career. In 2024, he played a full season for the first time, starting all 17 games with a career-high 1,032 snaps. An extended absence into the regular season would force Chicago to find another starting cornerback among their veteran depth, but Poles said that the team is not “overly concerned” about a long-term injury. “We’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back,” said Poles on Tuesday. 2023 fifth-rounder Terell Smith will likely step into a first-team role in Johnson’s absence. Chicago largely relied on a cornerback trio of Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon last year; Smith is the only remaining defensive back on the roster who played at least 150 snaps on the boundary for the Bears in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Offseason signings Nick McCloud and Tre Flowers may also see a bump in reps over the coming weeks as Johnson rehabs his leg with his eyes on returning for the Bears’ Week 1 opener against the Vikings.
Cleveland Guardians Slapped With Bad News Before Trade Deadline
The Cleveland Guardians are quite a mystery heading into the MLB trade deadline, as no one seems to know whether they will buy, sell or possibly even do nothing before July 31. The Guardians are hovering around .500, but they are still smack dab in the middle of the American League Wild Card race. That's in spite of losing 10 straight just before the All-Star break. Even with Cleveland remaining in contention, there are some who believe the Guardians might sell given their conservative nature, but talk show host Bruce Drennan has provided some rather bad news for the team in that regard: the players they might want to move don't have much value. “No top prospects for a big bat, and I don’t necessarily see us selling players, like Carlos Santana or Lane Thomas. What can you get in return?” Drennan said. Drennan has a point. Santana and Thomas are both impending free agents, and neither has been all that good this season. Santana owns a .665 OPS, and Thomas has been on and off the injured list while hitting just .160 on the year. Of course, the Guardians would surely be able to land a hefty return for players like Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase, but it does not seem like Cleveland is going to move either of those two stars. Perhaps the Guardians will surprise some people and go all in by adding pieces at the deadline, but that isn't exactly in their nature. We'll see what happens before the end of the months, but it stands to reason that Cleveland might just stand pat, as Drennan anticipates. Read More Cleveland Guardians Coverage
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin expands on ending training-camp holdout
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had been holding out of training camp but reported Sunday. McLaurin was fined $200K ($50K per day) for skipping four days of camp. The fines, however, aren't the only reason he returned to the team's facility in Ashburn, Va. He also missed spending time with fans and teammates. According to ESPN's John Keim, supporters chanted his name at Sunday's practice, and the WR later signed autographs for approximately 30 minutes. "It feels good to be around my teammates and around the fans," the WR said, per Keim. "I can't beat that at all. They showed me a lot of love and support. You lose sight of something when the business gets involved, but I never lost sight of the way they supported me. It's business, but it has nothing to do with them." While it's a positive for the Commanders that McLaurin is no longer holding out, it's fair to wonder whether contract negotiations will continue to drag on. The WR is entering the final year of his deal and seeking an extension. (He's set to make $15.5M this season.) McLaurin and the team have made little progress in negotiations thus far. The two-time Pro Bowler recorded a career-high 13 touchdown catches in 17 games last season, but his age could be a concern for the Commanders. McLaurin turns 30 on Sept. 15. He's already injured as well. McLaurin is starting training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list because of an ankle issue. The WR is aiming to make a quick recovery and insists his age shouldn't be a factor in contract negotiations. McLaurin said the Commanders should view it on a "case-by-case" basis. McLaurin has been one of the NFL's more consistent pass-catchers, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards in five of his first six seasons with Washington. Now that he's back with the team, perhaps that will remind the Commanders why they love having him around. That could expedite contract talks.
Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
Things have largely gone cold on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front, but that does not mean teams are not thinking of the possibility of that changing. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard noted that the Warriors are being cautious in negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, as he could be possible trade bait if Antetokounmpo is traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are adamant about not giving away Kuminga for less than his full trade value, which is why his situation remains unresolved with August looming. Kuminga and the Warriors have yet to agree on a contract, and it remains unclear when the situation will be resolved. He has a $7.9 million qualifying offer on the table, and signing it would allow him to approve any trade he is involved in. If he signs a multiyear extension, he would not be eligible to be traded until January, which could complicate things if Antetokounmpo decides late in the offseason that he wants a move. Presumably, Kuminga would be a key part of any trade the Warriors make involving Antetokounmpo. However, with no market materializing, there seems to be a growing chance he could remain with the team next season. The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game last season. He appeared in 47 games, making 10 starts and averaging 24.3 minutes per game. However, he has been unable to consistently lock down a major spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, which reportedly led to some tension between the two last season. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still seems unlikely to be traded, but teams are still going to prepare for the possibility.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
