The watershed has arrived. Fiorentina – Inter represents a fundamental junction for the championship of both teams. Viola and Nerazzurri are playing for Europe, as well as credibility, and they will do so in a match that promises to be highly spectacular. Above all, it is Inter who take the risk, because, with the derby just around the corner, a misstep could cost very dearly. It is no coincidence that Massimo Moratti, usually reluctant to follow the team away, even left by train with the technical staff and players, testifying to how much the challenge is felt.
“As a type of race it is one of the most difficult in the championship – admitted Stramaccioni in the press conference. – Playing against Fiorentina in Florence was not easy for any of the greats. It's a direct match for us, it's a race with a high degree of difficulty”. The Nerazzurri coach is worried and thus replies to anyone who talks to him about Fiorentina in crisis: “We'll find them angry and hungry after the match in Turin, they haven't played during the week and due to inertia they can get better. Compared to the first leg, there will be one more quality midfielder in midfield, Aquilani, and Toni has become a strong point of the Viola team over time".
In short, maximum attention, also because the Nerazzurri's eve was quite eventful. In fact, the focus of attention was Diego Milito, the victim of a very bad injury to the anterior cruciate and, above all, to the external collateral ligament, which will force him into the pits until the end of the season. The Prince underwent surgery yesterday at the San Matteo Polyclinic in Pavia, a perfectly successful operation, which however does not mitigate Appiano Gentile's sadness. “We are with him, we are all waiting for him – Stramaccioni heartened him. – There is no Inter next year without Milito. I think he will come back stronger than before, I know his character qualities, after the sadness of the injury it is already the dawn of his recovery ”.
Now, however, there are a whole series of problems in attack that are difficult to solve; discarded, at least for the moment, the idea of buying a free agent (Van Nistelrooy had also proposed), Inter will have to rely on their own strengths. “Our attack already had atypical characteristics before Diego's injury, given that we played with a centre-forward and two second strikers. Not having offensive extremes, the solutions are a little more limited, but we will continue with three offensive players who will alternate in front while maintaining front traction. The road remains this, but we have lost an absolute protagonist. we should all aim for something more, now more than ever we need the contribution of those who have been behind so far, not only Rocchi, but also Alvarez".
Al Franchi, however, will still be the turn of the couple Cassano - Palacio, with the support of Guarin, who should act as attacking midfielder. The 4-3-1-2 (or 4-3-3 depending on the interpretation) will again be based on Kovacic, making his debut as a starter in the league after an excellent performance in the Cup. He is entrusted with the keys to the Inter of the future. That, if he wants to participate in the Champions League, he will have to overcome the Fiorentina obstacle unscathed.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Fiorentina (3-5-2): Vivian; Tomovic, Rodriguez, Savic; Cuadrado, Aquilani, Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual; Jovetic, Ljajic.
On the bench: Neto, Lupatelli, Compper, Roncaglia, Migliaccio, Sissoko, Romulo, Llama, Wolski, Larrondo, Toni, El Hamdaoui.
Trainer: Vincent Montella.
Unavailable: Camporese, Mati Fernandez, Rossi, Hegazi.
Disqualified: nobody.
Inter (4-3-1-2): Handanovic; Zanetti, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Nagatomo; Cambiasso, Kovacic, Kuzmanovic; Guarin; Cassano, Palacio.
On the bench: Carrizo, Belec, Silvestre, Jonathan, Pereira, Schelotto, Stankovic, Alvarez, Gargano, Rocchi.
Trainer: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Unavailable: Castellazzi, Samuel, Mudingayi, Obi, Milito, Chivu.
Disqualified: nobody.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Bologna).
Line Assistants: Marzaloni-Padovan.
Port Assistants: Romeo-Velotto.
Fourth official: Dobosz.
