The Champions League passes through here. Milan-Naples, as well as being a great classic in our league, is a real Champions playoff, at least that's what the standings say. With the Azzurri in third place with 41 points and the Rossoneri in fifth with 37 (but with the match in Bologna still to be recovered) it is clear that the match at San Siro weighs a lot, and not only for them. Lazio and Inter will also be watching with interest, ready to take advantage of the direct clash to attempt a climb in the standings. In short, this Milan-Naples really offers a rich dish and a stake worthy of such a challenge. “It will be a great match and we are ready – thought Vincenzo Montella. – If we want to aim for Europe we have to raise the bar and improve further, it certainly won't be easy because they were built to win. Up front we are all close, we try to reach the maximum”. The Rossoneri coach no longer wants to hide and openly declares his team's European ambitions, the blue one for his part has never done so and is ready to play the match to the best of his strength. “This race can tell us where we are, it's an important test for both – explained Maurizio Sarri. – This is a strange championship, to stay at the top you need to score many points and win direct matches. If I would sign to finish second? Juve remains in another category but I won't sign anything…”. Important proclamations those of the two coaches, determined to face each other head on as per the script. It is no coincidence that the two respect each other a lot and have not failed to compliment each other on their respective works.
“Napoli is a very strong team that has been playing at great levels for years – continued Montella. – For us it is a source of pride to face him as an equal, moreover in his best moment”. “Milan have certainly taken big steps forward – replied Sarri. – It wasn't easy for them to reunite the environment, they did well and now they can play it”. However, the etiquette will end at 20.45, when a festively decorated San Siro will be able to enjoy the match on the pitch. Montella has two important defections: Romagnoli and Locatelli are disqualified, De Sciglio injured. The coach will bet on a 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Abate, Paletta, Gustavo Gomez and Calabria in defense, Kucka, Sosa and Bertolacci in midfield, Suso, Bacca and Bonaventura in attack. Training troubles also at Napoli, especially in the backlog where Koulibaly and Ghoulam (African Cup) and Chiriches will be missing. Sarri will use the usual 4-3-3 with Reina in goal, Hysaj, Albiol, Maksimovic (favorite over Tonelli) and Strinic in defense, Zielinski, Jorginho and Hamsik in the midfield, Callejon, Mertens and Insigne in the offensive trident. Gerard Deulofeu will not be in the match but Montella can still smile: the Spanish full-back is in fact a new player for his Milan. The agreement with Everton was reached yesterday on the basis of a onerous loan deal (about 700 euros) with no right to buy, therefore a middle ground between what were the initial positions of Galliani and the English club. Deulofeu will arrive in Milan tomorrow to then undergo medical tests on Monday and, in the event of a positive outcome, immediately make himself available to the club and coach.
