July 1, 2022
The brief from today:
Supercoppa Italiana returns to Saudi Arabia
The Supercoppa Italiana, the match played between the Serie A and Coppa Italia winners, was traditionally hosted at the various stadiums around Italy until commercial interests changed that. Beginning in 2009, China and Qatar alternated with some Italian cities as hosts. Saudi Arabia then joined the fray in 2018, and held the match for two years. With COVID restrictions coming into effect shortly after the 2019 edition in Riyadh, the last two Supercoppa games have been in Reggio Emilia and Milan respectively. Today, the announcement was made that the 2022 edition between Scudetto winners, AC Milan, and Coppa Italia holders, Inter, is heading back to Riyadh, with the scheduled date set for January 18, 2023. In addition to this match, Saudi Arabia recently hosted the Spanish equivalent in January of this year, and will also host the next edition in Jeddah in January 2023.
Lazio were the winners of the last Supercoppa in Saudi Arabia
Second homecoming for Lyon
Lyon signed free agent, and former striker, Alexandre Lacazette last month, and today they did the same with another free agent, Corentin Tolisso. Tolisso, another youth team product, returns to Lyon after leaving them to join Bayern Munich in 2017. He returns to his boyhood club as a World Cup and Champions League winner, and considering he’s still only 27, Lyon will be hoping for a big contribution from him granting him a five year contract. Tolisso had a major knee injury shortly after the 2018 World Cup that disrupted his Bayern stint, but that didn't deter OL from signing him. His fellow returnee, Lacazette, also played a major role in convincing him to “come home” as Tolisso mentioned in today’s press conference, “I’ve been talking to Alex a lot. To tell you the truth, I think he messaged me more in the last month than he has in the last five years! Alex has played a big role, he’s really a friend for me outside football. The fact that he was there was an extra asset in my decision.” Former players returning to clubs hasn’t always been the best recipe for success, but Lyon seem to be going all in nonetheless. Time will tell if these two will shift that narrative.
Ethiopian Premier League concludes
After an intense last few weeks which saw second place, and defending champions, Fasil Kenema, close down the lead with league leaders St. George to just one point, today was the final matchday for both sides. St. George simply needed a win, while Fasil, who were playing relegation battlers Dire Dawa, also needed a win, and a draw or loss from St. George. In the end, 14 time Premier League champions, St. George, did the job beating Addis Ababa City 4-0 to get their 15th title. Fasil, meanwhile, lost their match 2-3, which secured safety for Dire Dawa, but also meant the momentum they developed since the beginning of May was all for naught.