#serie-a

#serie-a

Weston McKennie is thrilled to be playing a more advanced role for Juventus, who are preparing to face Sassuolo in Serie A on Tuesday. Juventus are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak in the competition, but failed to make it four wins on the bounce last time out in a 1-1 draw with Lecce. McKennie scored Juve's equaliser in that match, but Jonathan David missed a second-half penalty that ultimately could have sealed all three points.

Lens extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Toulouse on Friday evening. Toulouse were reduced to 10 men after just 23 minutes when Emersonn was sent off before Lens cruised to a comfortable win thanks to goals from Wesley Said, Adrien Thomasson and Ismaelo Ganiou. The result moves Pierre Sage's side four points clear of champions PSG, who can cut the gap to just one point with a win over Paris FC on Sunday.

The Italian club have already filled their non-EU player slots for the current season, meaning a January move would be impossible even if all parties were willing. Instead, the Giallorossi are said to be exploring the financial and sporting feasibility of a summer deal that could see the 33-year-old return to Serie A, where he previously impressed during spells with Fiorentina and Roma earlier in his career.

For many reasons, because in my view we just started this journey. Our infrastructure isn't ready, I feel Juventus, Inter and Milan have the structure, strength in depth and wage bills that are above all the other clubs. Every time someone other than that group wins a trophy, it means something truly extraordinary has happened. We mustn't bury our heads in the sand and act like we are on the same level as these clubs. We try to bridge the gap as much as possible with hard work and dedication, but we cannot ignore that gap exists.

I'm very happy and very pleased because I think Cristian deserves this opportunity. Even when we were team-mates, Cristian was a very intelligent player.

The home side did not take long to open the deadlock, with a mistimed header at the back setting Matias Soule through on goal after 14 minutes, and he made no mistake with a curling finish beyond Daniele Sommariva. Roma scored a second just five minutes later, as Manu Kone burst from midfield and found the net with a side-footed effort, after fine play by Evan Ferguson in the build-up.

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee is increasingly determined to leave Old Trafford in the upcoming January transfer window, with his future now emerging as one of the most delicate issues facing the club midway through the season. Despite manager Ruben Amorim attempting to block an immediate departure, the Dutch international is understood to be actively pushing for a move back to Serie A in search of regular football.

The internal debate at Barcelona has been shaped largely by the injury setback suffered by Andreas Christensen. The Danish defender's absence has forced the club to reconsider the January stance, with sporting management now seriously weighing the possibility of entering the winter market. While Barcelona were initially reluctant to make short-term moves, the growing lack of options at the heart of defence has made reinforcement a genuine consideration rather than a theoretical one.