Remote challenge for second place. For now, realistically speaking, this can only be the objective of Rome and Naples, as detached from the leaders Juve as they are close to each other. That's why the midweek round, which will see them play Chievo and Fiorentina, can't go wrong at all, on pain of complicating a ranking that's already quite like this. The most delicate and fascinating match is undoubtedly that of the Franchi, which will see Paulo Sousa's Viola pitted against Sarri's Azzurri.
Moments diametrically opposite those of the two teams: Napoli has relaunched both in terms of standings and game, Fiorentina instead has lost a lot of ground and has sunk into mediocrity. No comment (as per bad habit, moreover, on the eve) from the Neapolitan coach, instead several ideas on the purple side, who see today's match as a sort of last resort to restore the season.
“They are strong in all departments but we have already shown that we can beat superior teams – growled Paulo Sousa. – We will need all the help of the fans, we are trying to do our best to grow and have more continuity of performance”. The problem is that the Florentine people do not think so and have pointed to the Portuguese, as well as the Della Valle family, as the main culprit. The defeats against Genoa and Lazio prevented a leap in quality that would have brought the Viola back into full battle in the Champions League, testifying to a team always on the verge of turning around without ever really succeeding.
Napoli, on the other hand, have set their sights on Spalletti's Roma with determination, even though they know that they will most likely have to wait for more days to try to overtake. Winning at the Franchi, however, would be really important and Sarri knows it well: it is no coincidence that, thanks to the imminent Christmas break, he will reset the turnover by confirming the 4-3-3 already seen with Turin. In front of Reina space for Hysaj, Chiriches, Albiol and Ghoulam, with Zielinski, Diawara and Hamsik in midfield and the Callejon-Mertens-Insigne trident in attack.
Sousa, forced to give up Borja Valero again, will respond with a 4-2-3-1 with Tatarusanu in goal, Salcedo, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Astori and Milic in the back, Vecino and Badelj in the midfield, Chiesa, Ilicic and Bernardeschi in the trocar behind the lone striker Kalinic.
Roma's match at the Olimpico against Chievo is easier, at least on paper. Perhaps for this reason, rather than on Maran's team, the Roman press preferred to focus on Spalletti's future, back in the balance after the revelations in France Football, in which the coach reiterated his willingness to leave in case of a season without trophies.
“I just repeated what I always say, I work to win and if there aren't the conditions to do so, I'll leave – he explained at the press conference. – Then of course we will also evaluate other things: the growth of the players, the climate in the locker room, the fact that only the big clubs score 81 points in 36 games. I don't see anything strange in my way of thinking, in fact it would be much more incorrect to say 'I didn't win but now give me a 5-year contract'. But now let's think about Chievo, it's a fundamental match”.
Roma will have to face it with two very heavy absences: De Rossi (problems with his left calf) and Manolas (muscle injury) are not available. Spalletti will have to make a virtue of necessity and will line up a 4-2-3-1 with Szczesny in goal, Bruno Peres, Rudiger, Vermaelen and Emerson in defence, Nainggolan (recovered in extremis) and Strootman in midfield, Salah, Perotti and El Shaarawy in trocar behind the lone striker Dzeko.
Maran, refreshed by the successes with Palermo and Sampdoria, will respond with a 4-3-1-2 with Sorrentino in goal, Frey, Dainelli, Gamberini and Spolli in the back, De Guzman, Radovanovic and Izco in the midfield, Birsa behind the pair attack Meggiorini-Pellissier.
