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Football: Balotelli levels as Italy draw 2-2 with Brazil

Daniele De Rossi sparked Italy's fightback and Mario Balotelli scored a superb second-half equaliser as the Azzurri battled to a 2-2 draw against an impressive Brazil in a friendly on Thursday. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side, hosts of the 2014 World Cup and possible future opponents of Italy at the Confederations Cup, came into this match looking for a win following a 2-1 loss to England last month.

Italy's Balotelli upstages Neymar in Brazil draw

By Brian Homewood GENEVA (Reuters) - Italy striker Mario Balotelli left his Brazil counterpart Neymar in the shadows as he capped an inspiring performance with a majestic goal in a 2-2 international friendly draw on Thursday. Balotelli curled an unstoppable shot past Julio Cesar as Italy recovered from 2-0 down at halftime to deny Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari his first win since being reappointed for a second stint in November.

Soccer-Injured Balotelli out of Lazio clash

By Terry Daley ROME, March 1 (Reuters) - Mario Balotelli will miss AC Milan's Serie A match with Lazio on Saturday (1945 GMT) after picking up a knee injury in the Milan derby, club manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday. "Balotelli won't play against Lazio, he has internal bruising and he isn't available," Allegri told Milan's official TV station Milan Channel. "He's been out of action for a week and can't play." Allegri later told reporters that the striker was "99.9 percent" certain to not play.

UPDATE 1-Soccer-Inter fined 50,000 euros for Balotelli racist abuse

(Adds details, Balotelli fine) Feb 26 (Reuters) - Inter Milan have been fined 50,000 euros ($66,100) after fans racially abused their former player Mario Balotelli in Sunday's derby with AC Milan, Serie A's disciplinary commissioner said in a statement on Tuesday. Balotelli, himself, has been fined 10,000 euros for an "insulting gesture" towards Inter fans at the end of the 1-1 draw.

Italian media shrug off racist abuse of Balotelli

* Balotelli abused during Milan derby against his former team * Racism gets little attention in Italian media * Player becomes political symbol in general election ROME, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Racist chants against Mario Balotelli made little impact in Italian media on Monday, which focused more on the AC Milan striker's failure to score in his first city derby against his former club Inter.

Football: Milan praise Balotelli resolve in face of racism

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri praised striker Mario Balotelli's resolve in the face of racist taunting during a tense Milan derby which finished 1-1 on Sunday. Both clubs had fears that Balotelli's first derby since his playing days for Inter would lead to ugly taunting of the striker, who recently signed for the club from Manchester City. And although the match was relatively incident-free, some fans in the "Curva Nord" end of the San Siro where Inter's hardcore fans traditionally sit were seen waving inflatable bananas during the game.

Football: Inter, Milan draw as Balotelli returns to derby

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli missed a handful of chances in his first derby in over three years as the Rossoneri shared the spoils in a 1-1 derby draw with hosts Inter Milan Sunday. Milan took a 21st minute lead through striker Stephan El Shaarawy and dominated throughout before ultimately lamenting their earlier misses when Inter midfielder Ezequiel Schelotto levelled in the 71st minute. The result left Milan in third, 13 points behind Juve but still one ahead of Inter and Lazio ahead of the latter's home game against Pescara on Monday.

UPDATE 1-Soccer-Balotelli helps Milan grab 2-1 win over Parma

(Adds details) MILAN, Feb 15 (Reuters) - A stunning Mario Balotelli free-kick gave AC Milan a 2-1 win over mid-table Parma in Serie A on Friday that put them level with third-placed Lazio and a point ahead of rivals Inter Milan in the race for European places. Balotelli's strike 13 minutes from time capped a bustling display by the controversial forward and sealed the points for Massimiliano Allegri's side after an own goal from home defender Gabriel Paletta in the 39th set them on their way to victory.

Football: Moratti calls on racists not to target Balotelli

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has called on fans of the Nerazzurri to refrain from targeting the club's former striker, Mario Balotelli, with racist abuse at the upcoming Milan derby. If Sunday's match at the San Siro was any indicator, Balotelli, who joined AC Milan two weeks ago from Manchester City, is set for a red-hot reception when Inter host the Milan derby in two weeks' time. At Inter's home game against Chievo late Sunday racist chanting aimed at Balotelli was heard in the stands which harbour the club's hardcore fans.

Soccer-Balotelli fined by police after airport row - reports

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Mario Balotelli's troubles have followed him back to Italy after media reports on Thursday said the AC Milan striker was fined by police following a row over his parked car at a city airport. The 22-year-old, who left Manchester City last month after two and a half years in England filled with bizarre tales on and off the field, parked his car in front of Linate arrivals and pretended to move it when police asked - only then to be sanctioned.
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