Starting again with a bang. The championship returns after the break for the national teams and he does it immediately with a sensational Saturday, so rich that it almost seems exaggerated. In addition to Milan derby, in fact, there will also be Juventus-Lazio e Genoa-Napoli, for a non-stop football game ready to give emotions and twists. The match at San Siro, for obvious reasons, is the main course of the weekend, but the matches at Turin and Genoa are no joke either, especially after what has happened in the last few days.
Inter – Milan (18 pm, Dazn)
So let's start with Milan derby number 238 in history, the 201st in Serie A. It seems incredible but it is the first time that the two teams they face each other at the top of the standings: in the only precedent of 1962, in fact, Fiorentina was also there to act as a "third wheel". We are faced with something historic, even though the championship has only just begun, also because both Inter and Milan give the idea of really being able to fight for the Scudetto until the end. Today's derby won't decide anything, but he will leave some indications more precise on the real consistency of the two teams, so far decidedly convincing from all points of view. It is difficult to make any predictions, because if it is true that Inter are coming off an almost sensational positive streak (the 4 previous ones in 2023, between the Italian Super Cup, the Championship and the Champions League, see them winning with a partial score of 7-0), it is also that Milan seems to have eliminated, or at least reduced, the gap with their eternal rivals.
Inzaghi: "Everyone considered us weaker, now it seems that we have to win the European Championship..."
“There isn't a huge difference, they are two teams that have changed and renewed – theInzaghi's analysis -. Obviously it's not a decisive match, but we know what it means for the city and the fans. We are proud to have won last year's derbies which took us to the Champions League final and won a trophy, but previous ones don't win the game. The 3 points would send a good message, even if I don't like grids and predictions: until three games ago it was said that we had weakened, now it seems that we should win the European Championship instead of Italy...".
Pioli: “We don't think about the last derbies lost, we are ready and we are not afraid of anything”
“I don't care about the last derbies lost, I only think about this – he pointed out Pioli -. The past is the past, what really matters to me is that the team manages to find solutions to play its game and put its opponents in difficulty. We face the match with the right conviction and light-heartedness for a group that has always been used to playing like this, we have to play like Milan, bring enthusiasm and heart to the pitch and offer the best performance possible. We will face the match with the right approach, we are not afraid of anything."
Inter – Milan, the lineups: Inzaghi and Pioli do not change the pre-break eleven
Regarding formations there shouldn't be any particular surprises, with Inzaghi and Pioli aiming to confirm the eleven of the first three matchdays. The Inter coach will the entire squad available, including the injured (but fully recovered) Cuadrado and Sanchez, while the red and black one will renounce to the disqualified Tumor and to the injured person Rabbit (injury to the rectus femoris, Newcastle also misses out), who was supposed to replace the Englishman. THE Nerazzurri they will take the field with a 3 5-2 with Sommer in goal, Darmian, De Vrij (favourite over Acerbi) and Bastoni in defence, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Thuram and Lautaro in attack. Classic 4-3-3 also for Pioli, who will respond with Maignan between the posts, Calabria, Kjaer, Thiaw and Hernandez in the defensive department, Loftus-Cheek, Krunic and Reijnders in the midfield, Pulisic, Giroud and Leao in the attacking trident.
Juventus – Lazio (15 pm, Dazn)
THEanother key challenge on Saturday is that of Turin, where the Juventus of Allegri will host the Lazio of the ex (never loved) Sarri. Very important match for both teams: the Bianconeri would like to take advantage of the Milan derby to recover points, the Biancocelesti would like to give continuity to the victory in Naples and definitively get back on track after the shock start. There's a lot curiosity especially about the Lady, protagonist (unwillingly) of one terrible week, in which really everything happened. The main case concerned Pogba, positive result to testosterone and suspended by the anti-doping tribunal (by the way: the counter-analyses, initially scheduled for September 20th, were postponed to October 5th), after which the Bonucci's broadsides, determined to drag his former team to court for reputational damage. Not exactly a peaceful eve, in short, which forces Allegri to isolate the group from the controversies and to think only about the pitch, exactly like last season.
Allegri: “Sorry for Pogba. Bonucci? I'm not passionate about soap operas."
"I'm sorry for Paul, but I can't say anything else while there's a case going on – the Juventus coach glossed over -. For now we only know that he won't be there against Lazio or Sassuolo, let's focus on the guys we have available in an important match, a direct clash with a direct competitor for the Champions League like Lazio. Bonucci? Soap operas are on Canale 5 and I'm not a big fan... I'll just repeat that I wish him good luck with his career, on and off the pitch."
Juventus – Lazio, the lineups: Chiesa starts, Sarri with Guendouzi-Kamada in doubt
Better to think about the pitch and a very interesting match, between two coaches with opposing playing philosophies. The “resultist” Allegri, so far two wins and a draw, seems oriented towards confirm Empoli's lineup, with the only novelty Cambiaso on the right. His 3-5-2 thus he will see Szczesny in goal, Gatti, Bremer and Danilo in defence, Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot and Kostic in midfield, Vlahovic and Chiesa in attack, with Federico fully recovered after the ailments that caused him to miss the national team. A only big doubt for Sarri, undecided between Guendouzi and Kamada: the latest exit polls give the French the favourite, but the Japanese remain in the running until the end. For the everything remains confirmed, therefore 4-3-3 with Provedel between the posts, Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli and Hysaj in the defensive department, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in the midfield, Felipe Anderson, Immobile and Zaccagni in the offensive trident.
Genoa – Naples (20.45pm, Dazn and Sky)
In the evening instead it will be the turn of Napoli reigning champion, awaited bytreacherous away game in Genoa. The pre-break defeat against Lazio opened up some cracks both on the coach, accused of practicing less effective football than Spalletti's, and on the transfer market, in light of the poor contribution given by the new players, but it is clear that the real tests are coming Now. From now until the next break, just like for all the teams involved in the cups, there will be many commitments and the Azzurri will show their true colors. De Laurentiis and the fans, obviously, hope to see the Napoli of last season again, but only the pitch will tell if this will really be the case: today's test against Gilardino's newly promoted Genoa presents more than one danger, given that the rossoblù are already were able to beat Lazio, even away.
Garcia: “A marathon of 7 games in 23 days awaits us, we have to start it off well”
"Seven games in 23 days, it's like a marathon: we must start well and have the whole group available – Garcia explained -. I met all the players again on Thursday but many were tired from being able to do all the normal work, having traveled at night, so we only did one real training session together, always being careful because some were not 100% recovered. A long series of matches awaits us, we must already show that we have done important work, but there is much more to do and improve, especially in finishing."
Genoa – Napoli, the lineups: Elmas favored over Raspadori and Lindstrom to replace Politano
I Garcia's doubts they mainly concern the attack, in light of Politano's ailments, who is still on the bench: his place should go to Elmas, even if Raspadori and Lindstrom still have some chances. For the rest, few doubts, with the Napoli dressed in their classic 4-3-3 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus and Mario Rui in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Elmas, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia in attack. Gilardino will respond with a 4-3-2-1 with Martinez between the posts, Sabelli, Bani, Dragusin and Vasquez in the back department, Strootman, Badelj and Frendrup in the midfield, Malinovskyi and Gudmundsson behind the lone striker Retegui.
