Match story
- Cruzeiro fired more attempts (23 vs 7 shots).
- Cruzeiro was more accurate in front of goal (26% on target vs 14%).
Cruzeiro defeated Botafogo 1-0 in Serie A. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 4 stage in the 2018 season. Leandro Bizzio Marinho officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Cruzeiro vs Botafogo meeting in Serie A with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Cruzeiro and Botafogo. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Serie ARecorded meetings: 10 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
France centre-back moves to Blues in £52m transferStones signs two-year contract with Serie A club Maxence Lacroix has joined Chelsea from Crystal Palace to become the club’s fifth signing of the summer. The France international, who won the FA Cup and Conference League with Palace, was the Blues’ main defensive target of the window.Lacroix, 26, signs a six-year deal with Xabi Alonso’s side. “I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club,” said Lacroix, who played three times for France at the World Cup, including in their 6-4 bronze medal match defeat by England. Continue reading...
While his teammates continue preparations abroad, the American star is staying in Italy as the club carefully manages his recovery from the injury he suffered during the United States' World Cup campaign. Christian Pulisic has officially returned to Milanello following his extended post-2026 World Cup break, marking the beginning of an important phase ahead of the new Serie A season. While his teammates continue preparations abroad, the American star is staying in Italy as the club carefully manages his recovery from the injury he suffered during the United States’ World Cup campaign. The winger’s return comes with optimism despite the physical setback that ended his tournament. Milan remains confident that one of its most influential attacking players will be ready to make an impact early in the new campaign, although the club is taking every precaution before clearing him for competitive action. Pulisic arrived at Milanello on Thursday morning, one day later than originally scheduled after being granted additional time by the club for logistical reasons. He underwent the customary medical examinations before beginning individual work aimed at rebuilding his fitness after the injury sustained during the World Cup. The American international is not traveling with the Rossoneri on their preseason tour of Australia, instead remaining at the club’s training center to focus entirely on rehabilitation. Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez also returned to Milanello as he continues recovering from his own ankle injury suffered while representing Mexico. View this post on Instagram Pulisic suffered leg fracture in World Cup defeat to Belgium The recovery program follows an injury Pulisic suffered during the United States’ Round of 16 defeat to Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. According to The Athletic, the injury occurred when the American attempted a shot before colliding with Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. Although Pulisic initially tried to continue playing, he was eventually forced off the field after struggling with the pain. “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” the 27-year-old explained after the match. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a bone bruise and a microfracture in his right leg, specifically around the tibia-fibula junction, with earlier Italian reports also describing a microfracture to his right fibula. Doctors reportedly believe the injury requires weeks rather than months of recovery, offering encouragement ahead of the domestic season. Meanwhile at Milanello…First day back for Puli & Santi 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/Pfm8qyFDbs— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 30, 2026 Milan’s cautious recovery plan revealed Rather than accelerating his return, Milan has opted for a carefully managed rehabilitation program designed to maximize Pulisic’s long-term fitness. Italian outlets including La Gazzetta dello Sport and MilanNews report that the initial phase focuses on rest before gradually introducing rehabilitation exercises and individual training sessions. The winger is currently working separately from the main squad while recovering from bone edema around the tibia-fibula junction. The club has deliberately avoided placing unnecessary pressure on one of its most important attacking players. Instead of rushing him back into full training, Milan intends to increase his workload only when medical staff are fully satisfied with his progress. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan. Despite the cautious approach, there is growing confidence that Pulisic could be available for Milan’s opening Serie A fixture against Torino on August 23. Reports suggest new head coach Ruben Amorim expects the American to remain one of the team’s key attacking figures this season. However, neither the coaching staff nor the medical department is willing to compromise his long-term condition simply to accelerate his preseason preparations. Italian media indicate the club is even prepared to delay his return beyond the opening weekend if addit
According to reports, Tottenham have agreed to sell Cristian Romero to Inter Milan, amid rumors linking him to Barcelona. Cristian Romero‘s time at Tottenham appears to be coming to an end, with reports out of Italy indicating the club has reached an agreement to sell the Argentine defender to Inter Milan for a fee in the region of €40 million. The move comes as little surprise given how his standing at the club had shifted over the past year, going from captain to a player Tottenham now seem ready to move on from. The clearest signal of that shift arrived with Tottenham’s signing of Jan Paul van Hecke for €60 million, a deal that effectively confirmed the club’s plan to replace Romero as their starting right center-back. Despite wearing the armband last season, his relationship with the fanbase had cooled in recent months, further reinforcing the sense that a transfer was only a matter of time once the 2026 World Cup wrapped up. Cristian Romero of Tottenham. (Getty Images) Inter Milan have moved quickly to take advantage. According to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari of TV Dello Sport, the Nerazzurri have already agreed terms with Tottenham for the transfer. The only step left before the move becomes official is for Inter to finalize personal terms with Romero’s representatives, something that could be resolved in the coming days. A move to Italy would mark a return to familiar territory for Romero, who has previous experience in Serie A with Juventus and Atalanta, though he only ever featured for the latter across a couple of seasons before making his name in the Premier League. For now, all signs point toward Inter Milan being his next destination once the paperwork is settled. Where does Barcelona fit into Romero’s situation? Despite the growing momentum behind an Inter Milan move, Romero’s name has also continued to circulate around Barcelona, though reports frame that interest as something closer to the player’s personal preference than a genuinely viable path forward. Barcelona are said to be keeping tabs on his situation, but their transfer priorities this summer lie elsewhere, with signing a new striker sitting at the top of their list and Julian Alvarez still viewed as their ideal target. Barca do have Romero on their list, but the club has already made clear it won’t take a concrete step forward unless one of the center-backs or full-backs currently in the squad departs first. That leaves Barcelona on the periphery of Romero’s next move rather than an active competitor for his signature, with Inter Milan remaining the far more concrete option.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
