Easter Eve with a view of the Champions League. Roma e Lazio they continue theirs remote derbies which by now, in addition to the supremacy of the city, concerns the noble areas of the classification. In fact, at stake is that second place which is worth the big-eared cup, a sine qua non for the Giallorossi, an increasingly concrete dream for the Biancocelesti. In the middle are Naples and Cagliari, the first to re-enter the fight, the second not to give up the last chance of salvation.
The big match is certainly that of the Olimpico, where Roma e Napoli they will face each other in a real direct confrontation (12.30). “Both we and they will seek victory – the words of Rudi Garcia in the press conference. – There will be two good teams, excellent players and a great referee. I expect a good party, on and off the field, as well as a good game. We will have to try to put Napoli in difficulty, in recent days I have seen great intensity and the right attitude. Now we have to respond on the field”. Yes, because the Giallorossi haven't won at home since November 30 and they desperately need to do it again. The same goes for the Azzurri, who indeed, classification in hand, are forced to snatch the three points even more than their opponents. Fifth place, 5 points from the Champions League area, cannot satisfy a team built for very different goals and now forced to chase in the final rush. “It's an important match, we can get closer to Roma – admitted Rafa Benitez. – In any case, it can't be decisive, there are still too many left at the end of the championship. We will need the right maturity, if we are concentrated we will be able to emerge from the Olimpico with a victory”.
On paper, in short, no one can make a mistake in this match, also in light of future prospects. Roma will have to contend without Totti, Gervinho and Maicon: heavy absences, the umpteenth of a season that started very well and slowly turned into agony. Garcia will rely on the usual 4-3-3 with De Sanctis in goal, Torosidis, Manolas, Astori and Holebas in defense, Pjanic, De Rossi and Nainggolan in midfield, Florenzi, Ibarbo (favorite over Iturbe and Doumbia) and Ljajic in attack. Benitez, on the other hand, can count on the entire squad, except for the suspended Inler: that's why it will be a typical Napoli, with Andujar in goal, Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, David Lopez and Gargano in midfield, Callejon, Hamsik and Mertens in the trocar, Higuain in attack.
Less glamorous, but equally important, the Sant'Elia match between Cagliari e Lazio (15 pm). The Biancocelesti smell of overtaking, the Sardinians are playing the last chance of salvation: the stakes, in short, are quite high. “I repeat again, we have to look only at ourselves – Pioli reiterated. - Only in the end will we look at the results of others, we can influence our own path. We know it will be a difficult match, so we won't be thinking about the semi-final of the Coppa Italia (the second leg against Napoli on Wednesday, ed) but only about Cagliari". However, it will be difficult not to be conditioned by what will happen at the Olimpico, as well as by the next match against the Azzurri. The Biancoceleste coach, forced to give up the injured Radu, could make a bit of a turnover by saving one between Klose and Mauri for Wednesday. To replace the Romanian, there is a ballot between Cavanda (favourite) and Braafheid, in midfield Lulic (absent since January) could start from the start, in attack space for Keita (suspended in the Cup), as well as the essential Felipe Anderson. Zeman will respond with the usual offensive team, in which Farias, Sau and Mpoku will try to snatch precious points for salvation.
