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Allegri returns to AC Milan as Juventus coach

By WTOP Staff

DANIELLA MATAR
Associated Press

MILAN (AP) — Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri will make his return to AC Milan on Saturday, and the reception he receives from his former fans could be as interesting as the match.

Allegri will return to San Siro for the first time in a competitive match since he was fired by AC Milan in January.

Neither team has dropped points this season, and Juventus hasn’t conceded a goal in a competitive match since April.

The only other side to have won both its opening matches is Roma, which hosts Cagliari on Sunday.

Here are some things to know about this weekend’s matches in the Italian league:

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ALLEGRI RETURN

Massimiliano Allegri spent 3½ seasons at Milan and led the Rossoneri to the Serie A title in his first year in charge in 2010-11.

However, he struggled after Milan sold its best players, with several others retiring.

The 47-year-old Allegri was a surprise choice to replace Antonio Conte when the Juventus coach resigned in the offseason, shortly after leading the squad to its third straight Serie A title.

However, Juventus has won both his opening league matches as well as beating Malmo 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“It was important to beat Malmo,” Allegri said. “Now we can focus on the match at San Siro. Milan have started very strongly and have bought really well.

“I have a great relationship with (Milan vice president Adriano) Galliani, he called me before the Malmo game to wish me good luck. But it’s obvious that now we’ll be enemies on the field.”

Allegri returned to San Siro with Juventus in August for a traditional preseason tournament, losing 1-0 to Milan.

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MILAN BUOYANT

AC Milan has also started strongly under coach Filippo Inzaghi, playing entertaining football and opening the season with victories against Lazio and Parma.

The Rossoneri hadn’t won their two opening matches in eight years — when they also played Lazio and Parma.

“It’s been a long while since we had such a positive atmosphere at Milanello and in the club,” Milan vice president Barbara Berlusconi said. “There is a desire to do well, enthusiasm and togetherness. Also my father, Silvio Berlusconi, has come back to take care of Milan with renewed passion and commitment. This is good news.”

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INJURY WOES

Both teams are beset with injuries to key players ahead of Juventus’ trip to AC Milan.

However, it is Juventus which is faring the better as it prepares to welcome back midfielder Arturo Vidal and defender Andrea Barzagli. Andrea Pirlo is also nearing a return but is unlikely to be fit in time for a return to his former club.

Milan will definitely be without goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who injured himself trying to reach a goalbound backpass in Sunday’s 5-4 victory at Parma. Defender Alex and midfielder Riccardo Saponara were also ruled out this week.

However, strike duo Fernando Torres and Stephan El Shaarawy have recovered and should play on Saturday.

Torres is likely to be on the bench as he prepares for his Milan debut.

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RAMPANT ROMA

Roma is the only other squad in Serie A to have won both its opening games. It also got its Champions League campaign off to a strong start with a 5-1 victory over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the team hosts Cagliari.

“Apart from the huge scoreline by which we beat CSKA, I think it was very important above all to start the group with a win,” Roma captain Francesco Totti said. “As I often say, now we have to be good in immediately preparing mentally for our next match. We’re playing Cagliari on Sunday and we must not think of anything else.”

Juan Manuel Iturbe is unlikely to be fit after getting injured following a strong opening 25 minutes against CSKA, which saw him score once and set up two other goals.

Gervinho — who scored two goals and had an assist — will likely be partnered by Alessandro Florenzi.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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