Milan creates a vacuum. The 2020 football year is over with a midweek session full of emotions, which sees the Milanese win and go on the run as it hasn't happened since time immemorial, thanks to the defeat of Juventus on Tuesday and the draw of Napoli against Turin.
The other great team that can smile is Roma, who find success again after the fool of Bergamo, but the ranking is clear: Milan first with 34 points, Inter immediately behind on 33, Giallorossi in third place on 27. In short, there is already a considerable gap between the first two and the third, not counting Juventus and Naples, too discontinuous regardless of the game less, or the surprise Sassuolo, still too immature to think bigger than that.
The Scudetto 20/21 thus risks becoming a Milanese affair, also because Pioli and Conte, albeit with different weapons, have built two very competitive teams. Once again, Milan amazes, capable of beating Lazio in full recovery after a very tight game, in which the balance jumped over and over again. In the end, the Rossoneri won despite the wasted double advantage and, above all, the many absences, proving really hard to die. It can't be a coincidence if the last league defeat dates back to 8 March, nor if the team scores at least two goals from 15 games, regardless of Ibrahimovic's presence. Wednesday, as against Parma, Theo Hernandez wore the clothes of the leader, finding the 3-2 goal in full stoppage time (92'), just when the draw seemed to be done.
In fact, the Rossoneri had squandered the initial 2-0 (Rebic 10', Calhanoglu 17' from a penalty) taking in goals from Luis Alberto (28', headed back from Immobile's missed penalty) and Ciro himself, this time very good at beating Donnarumma with a left footed shot. But the Rossoneri never give up and so, after having missed the 3-2 twice (always with Rebic), here he comes thanks to Hernandez, majestic in the header that is worth a Christmas as leaders. “When you win such an important match like this, it's only right to celebrate together – Pioli's enthusiastic comment -. We knew we had to make a great effort and we succeeded, I'm proud of my team who are doing something important."
So much regret instead on the Lazio front, where you have to deal with the umpteenth points lost this season, despite a performance at times of great depth. “A false result for what we saw on the pitch, a pity because we conceded 2 goals from set pieces and a goal from a penalty – Inzaghi explained -. We dominated at San Siro and it must be stimulating, even if the 3-2 final doesn't reflect the progress of the match”.
Just behind Milan is right away Inter, now in their seventh consecutive victory. The 2-1 in Verona confirms the solidity of a team that isn't always pretty to look at, but is increasingly solid and effective. Conte seems to have found his footing in all departments and this, in the light of a 2021 without European cups, could prove to be a very important advantage. Not surprisingly, once the Champions League is over, turnover has been minimized, with the result that some players are finally finding continuity.
Wednesday it was Skriniar who gave away the victory with a splendid header (69'), after Handanovic had practically given Hellas the 1-1 goal (Ilic in the 63rd minute), thus nullifying Lautaro's spectacular volley (52'). Three platinum points those of the Bentegodi, waiting for understand if the market will give Conte the desired reinforcements. “I don't have to ask for anything, I have to make assessments like this summer and then the club, based on the possibilities, establishes whether it can be done or not – the coach pointed out -. We have to do our best, it's a much more balanced championship, it will be very difficult this year, there will be a great fight until the end".
He smiles too Roma, who regained victory with a fireworks 3-2 over Cagliari, thus archiving the knockout of Bergamo. It wasn't a walk in the park, because the Giallorossi, after taking the lead through Veretout at the dawn of the match (11'), were joined by Joao Pedro half an hour from the end (59'). There, however, the character Fonseca asked for came out, with Dzeko finding the 2-1 (71') and Mancini signing the third goal (77'), before the usual Joao Pedro signed the 3-2 from a full penalty recovery (91'). “This first part of the season is positive, many didn't think we could have finished third but the team has always believed in it – exulted the Portuguese coach -. I've been here for a year and a half and I know there's someone ready to hurt us as soon as a defeat arrives, but I don't listen to criticism to maintain balance".
Who, on the other hand, won't have a particularly happy Christmas is Napoli, which seems to have lost the spirit of a few weeks ago. The home draw against Turin bottom of the standings, obtained as a comeback after recovery, is a lost opportunity to bring the very first positions closer together, so much so as to almost completely nullify the Coni effect, which just Wednesday had restored the Azzurri's hopes of title. But playing like this it will be difficult to make progress, also because the grenades didn't steal anything, playing one of the best matches of the season and taking the lead with Izzo (56').
I took care of avoiding the embarrassing defeatnsigne with a splendid counterbound left foot with the game almost over (92'), but this is not enough to make the environment smile. “We are tired, unloaded and we miss many players – Gattuso's analysis -. We hold on to this point, we could have won, it's true, but we also have to consider the conditions in which we arrived, after playing every three days for four months in a row…". Now 10 days off, after which it will be tour de force again: just think that 3 10 from January to there will be three rounds of the championship, to then start the Coppa Italia. In short, there will be just enough time to take a breather before diving headlong into a 2021 full of football like never before.
