Winning to continue the Champions League dream. Inter and Milan are looking for two successes which, standings in hand, would be essential to conquer third place, especially after Fiorentina's draw against Bologna (1-1, goals from Bernardeschi and Giaccarini). This is especially true for the Nerazzurri, who in the event of success would go back to the bottom step of the podium by themselves, but also for the Rossoneri, who would move to just 4 points behind the Viola. Inter will inaugurate Sunday football in the lunch match against Verona (at 12.30), against Hellas bottom of the standings but relaunched by Wednesday's victory over Atalanta.
“It won't be easy, they have recovered and are achieving excellent results – thought Mancini. – We have to think about winning this match and continuing the good things done with Chievo”. The coach, back on the bench after Wednesday's disqualification, hasn't forgotten the controversies of recent days, which see the Italian referees once again as protagonists. “Only here are the coaches disqualified, this thing doesn't exist in any other country in the world – he explained at the press conference. – In England and Turkey I have never been expelled, I spoke to the fourth official and confronted myself, just like here. It's better that I don't say what I think…”.
In short, the post-derby nervousness has far from disappeared, which is why a positive result in Verona would be really important for the Nerazzurri. Mancini has at least 3 formation doubts between midfield and attack: the ballots concern Medel and Felipe Melo, but also Brozovic and Gnoukouri and Perisic-Ljajic. The Inter 4-3-3 should see Handanovic in goal, Nagatomo, Murillo, Juan Jesus (Miranda is suspended) and Telles in defence, Brozovic, Medel and Kondogbia in midfield, Perisic, Icardi and Eder in attack. Delneri, called to a real feat to reopen the salvation issue, will respond with a 4-4-2 with Gollini between the posts, Gilberto, Moras, Helander and Pisano in the back, Wszolek, Marrone, Ionita and Emanuelson in the midfield, Toni and Pazzini up front.
In the afternoon (15 pm) it will be Milan's turn, on the hunt for a third consecutive victory after those over Inter and Palermo. In front there will be Colantuono's Udinese, back from draws with Lazio and Empoli and eager to ruin the Rossoneri afternoon. “This year we only managed to win 3 in a row once, now I want to equal this record and then, next week, surpass it – Mihajlovic's speech. – It will be a tricky match against Udinese, they run and play well. We'll have to play as if it were a derby, we've already lost too many points along the way."
In fact, the margin of error is very small, also because next week there will be Fiorentina-Inter and Milan cannot waste the opportunity to at least get close to one of the two. Mihajlovic wants to strike while the iron is still hot, which is why he will rely on the usual 4-4-2 net of the (very heavy) absence of Bonaventura, stopped by a pain in his hip and not even called up. The left flank will thus be occupied by Kucka with Bertolacci and Montolivo in central midfield, everything else confirmed with Donnarumma in goal, Abate, Alex, Romagnoli and Antonelli in defence, Honda right winger and the Bacca-Niang duo in attack. Colantuono will try the coup with the usual 3-5-2: Karnezis between the posts, Wague, Danilo and Felipe in the back, Edenilson, Badu, Lodi, Kuzmanovic and Armero in the middle, Matos and Thereau up front.
