Advances to the championship with a view to the Champions League for Roma and Juventus, the first to return to the field after the break for the national teams. However, neither of the two will be able to afford to think about Europe, however glittering the names of the opponents are.
Before Barcelona and Manchester City, in fact, it will be necessary to focus on Frosinone and Chievo, otherwise the good things done previously will be thrown away or, even worse, officially sinking into a crisis never seen before. No one when drawing up the calendars would have foreseen that Juventus-Chievo (at 20.45) would have been a reverse spin, with the Venetians first in the standings with full points and the Bianconeri bottom with 0. “It will be a very delicate match, we have to win it by all costs – admitted Allegri bluntly. – They got off to a very good start but we have no choice, even if this shouldn't make us anxious. The players are aware that there are no years of transition at Juve, you always play to win."
After the market alibis and injuries (Asamoah and Khedira aside) the Bianconeri are starting an iron cycle from which most of the season will pass. Everyone around Vinovo is aware of it, which is why the match against Chievo is worth much more than just three points.
Massimiliano Allegri, after the defeats against Udinese and Roma (and the relative criticisms), has decided to change pace: stop at the "depleted" 3-5-2 by the departures of Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez, make room for the 4-3-1 2 and to the new purchases of a complex market, which has seen a real revolution. The first novelty will be the inclusion of Alex Sandro in defense together with Lichtsteiner, Barzagli (favorite over Chiellini) and Bonucci, for a department that must erase the recent disasters (three goals conceded already) and return to the solidity of the past. But the real changes will be seen in midfield with the return of Marchisio and the inclusion of Hernanes, with Sturaro and Pogba completing the whole. Up front then very confirmed Dybala (the only positive note at the beginning of the season), Mandzukic and Morata contend for the other shirt, with the Croatian favorite given the influence of the Spanish. Maran will respond with a mirror form and the Paloschi-Meggiorini duo, one of the best in the championship so far.
But the third day will begin at 18 with Frosinone-Roma, an unprecedented Lazio derby full of curiosities. Difficult to analyze a match with so many technical differences, but woe to take a little known and therefore insidious opponent off the cuff. “They are not in Serie A by chance, this will be a difficult match – thought Garcia. – Nobody will have to think about Barcelona, now only Frosinone counts”. The French coach therefore continues on a very different line from the past, when the proclamations only brought trouble to the yellow and red universe.
Fewer words and more points and so far the results seem to prove him right: after the draw in Verona came the success over Juve, much more convincing than the 2-1 final. Then tonight we will see one of the most awaited experiments from the yellow and red bank of the Tiber, that Totti-Dzeko-Salah trident which many consider perfect for the new Rome. The captain, still without minutes in this championship, will play as playmaker behind the Bosnian-Egyptian duo, with a consequent transition from 4-3-3 to 4-3-1-2. In defense, in front of Szczesny, Florenzi and Digne were confirmed on the flanks, with Manolas and new signing Rudiger central. Obligatory substitution instead in midfield: with Pjanic unavailable here is the return of De Rossi in his role flanked by Keita and Nainggolan. Stellone, still chasing his first point in Serie A, will attempt the feat with a 4-3-3 with Paganini and Soddimo supporting Ciofani.
