Daniele De Rossi marked his 500th appearance for AS Roma with a goal in his team's 3-1 win over Empoli on Saturday as Rudi Garcia's side moved into second place in Serie A.
The 32-year-old De Rossi found the target in the 59th minute after Miralem Pjanic had hit the opener with a superb direct free-kick three minutes earlier.
The Bosnian also played a key role in De Rossi’s goal when his corner was headed home by the midfield veteran.
Roma, playing without the injured Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko, were 3-0 to the good in the 69th minute when Mohamed Salah found the net after being set up by Gervinho.
Empoli pulled a goal back through Austrian international Marcel Buchel in the 70th minute but the three points for Roma will be a huge boost ahead of their Champions League clash at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
The win took Roma into second spot in the table, one point behind leaders Fiorentina.
“When you win it’s always a perfect night, and I’m even happier I scored a goal especially when I don’t score that often,” said De Rossi, whose only regret was scoring under an empty “Curva Sud”.
A large section of the club’s hardline fans, who traditionally occupy the more colourful and lively “Curva Sud” end of the Stadio Olimpico, have gone on strike to protest police restrictions in and around the stadium.
It has left the Curva conspicuously empty, and De Rossi added: “Tonight the goal under an empty Curva was a disappointment. We hope the situation can be resolved, it would have been the perfect present to mark 500 appearances.”
De Rossi added: “It’s an important win for us because Empoli are a tough side, they’re well organised and solid in midfield. Everyone struggles against them.”
Elsewhere, AC Milan put the brakes on Torino's promising start to the campaign by holding on for a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.
Torino hosted AC Milan and were expected to claim their first win over the club since 2001.
But despite Carlos Bacca putting the visitors ahead in the 63rd minute, Daniele Baselli pounced to level 10 minutes later for Torino.
It was Italy Under 21 star Baselli’s fourth goal of the campaign, but he said: “I’m happy for the goal but not for the fact we didn’t win this match.
“We’re a side that never gives up. It’s a shame for the result.”
While it left Torino among the top five, four points behind leaders Fiorentina, Milan slipped to ninth place.
Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic claims he has the full support of club owner Silvio Berlusconi, with whom he has held crisis talks of late.
After two losses and a draw from their last three matchces, he said no one is hurting more than the club itself.
“For me we’ve dropped two points tonight,” Mihajlovic told Sky Sports Italia.
“I’m disappointed because after we scored, we stopped playing. It’s like we’d lost our composure.
“It was only after Baselli’s equaliser that we started playing again.
“We’re the first ones to feel disappointed. But we just have to keep on working hard and trying to get better game by game. There’s still a long way to go in this championship.”
On Sunday, Inter Milan face champions Juventus looking to claim their first San Siro win in the "Derby d'Italia" – one of the league's biggest fixtures – for the first time since 2010.
An Inter win would see Juventus slip 11 points behind the third-place side and could see Inter, if leaders Fiorentina lose at Napoli, go back on top of the league.
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
