Juventus bounded to the top of Serie A by securing a battling 2-0 victory at Palermo after former striker Amauri condemned AC Milan to a 2-1 defeat at home to Fiorentina on Saturday.
Juventus missed the chance to return to the top of Serie A when they were held to a 0-0 draw at mid-table Parma on Wednesday.
The prize is awarded to the most valuable player in the 32-team tournament. The decision will be announced on Monday.
The Italians scored with a flattering 4-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League Group D on Wednesday.
The first goal was diverted off Filippo Inzaghi's shoulder to beat Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
World champions Italy beat 10-man France 2-0 in Group C on Tuesday to qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008. It was a nightmare of a match for France who lost Franck Ribery to a suspected broken leg and had Eric Abidal sent off before half-time as they were eliminated from the competition.
Troubled AC Milan slipped back to sixth in Serie A on Sunday after they lost 2-1 at home to Atalanta and rivals Udinese beat Fiorentina 3-1.
Serie A leaders Inter Milan beat AC Milan 2-1 to extend their advantage over AS Roma to seven points.
A summary of the opening night's matches in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, France outclassed Ukraine 2-0 and Portugal beat Belgium 2-1 in the other Euro qualifiers.
Two goals by defender Daniel van Buyten, the second in stoppage-time, gave Bayern Munich a 2-2 draw against AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
AC Milan and Liverpool won their Champions League qualifying rounds.
Hard running, hard tackling and an ever-visible aggression and determination characterise Gennaro Gattuso.
Argentine Hernan Crespo struck again as AC Milan won 2-0 at Roma on Sunday to keep level at the top of Serie A with Juventus.
Luis Suarez has agreed a deal with the club to end his contract and settled on personal terms with Atletico Madrid,
Boca Juniors edged out AC Milan 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out following an absorbing 1-1 draw after extra time to win the World Club Cup.
Serie A champions Juventus continued their rebuilding when they signed forward Simone Zaza from Sassuolo for 18 million euros ($19.72 million), the Turin club said on their website (www.juventus.com) on Tuesday.
Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal was dropped by coach Antonio Conte on Sunday and is also likely to be fined after returning late from a World Cup qualifier with Chile.
A round-up of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A and Bundesliga.
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo said on Saturday he remains focused on winning trophies with the Italian champions, amid rumours linking the Portugal star with a return to former club Real Madrid following Juve's exit from the Champions League.
Maurizio Sarri says he found Cristiano Ronaldo difficult to manage during his time in charge of Juventus, as he had to consider the 'personal interests' of the Portugal striker.
Juventus are desperate to win a first Champions League title in a quarter of a century
Barcelona's Gerard Pique is envied. Not just for his footballing skills bout also his football jersey collection.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said Cristiano Ronaldo has told him that he will stay at the club this season, something the new boss believes guarantees goals for the Serie A giants.
Maverick striker Mario Balotelli has been called up by Italy for the first time since the World Cup in June after being included on Sunday in the squad for next weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Croatia.
Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal smashed home a second-half penalty to earn a 1-0 win at home to Monaco in an absorbing Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, leaving the tie on a knife-edge.
Substitute Alessandro Matri was the unlikely hero when he scored an extra-time winner to give Juventus a 2-1 win over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, keeping them on course for the treble.
Major League Soccer would provide a good platform for young English players who have struggled to break into the first team, former England captain Steven Gerrard has said.
Wales winger Gareth Bale has enough firepower to terrorise opponents in this month's European Championship in France, midfielder Joe Allen has said.
Orlando City midfielder Kaka is the highest-paid Major League Soccer player for a third consecutive year with over $7 million in annual earnings, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union on Tuesday.
Juventus's win over Real Madrid has strengthened their conviction that they are good enough to rejoin European football's elite after years of watching the Champions League final stages from the sidelines.
Italy and England have faced each other 27 times, the Azzurri winning 11 to Three Lions' eight, with eight draws.
The football fever reaches sky-high with all eyes on Euro 2016. Tournament host France will play the opener against Romania, which will be aired in India post mid-night on June 11. As the UEFA braces for the 15th edition of the European continental championship, the tournament organisers have revealed the all time XI to play in Euro's history.
Cristiano Ronaldo made an immediate impact on his return from a COVID-19 infection on Sunday, scoring three minutes after coming on as a substitute before converting a penalty to lead Juventus to a 4-1 Serie A win at Spezia.
Torino came from behind to beat Serie A leaders Juventus 2-1 in a pulsating derby on Sunday.
