Inter enjoys, Rome and Milan sink. This is the synthesis of the championship Saturday, which was giving away heavy points for the race to Europe. As mentioned, the only ones who can smile are the Nerazzurri, now 4 points behind sixth place (waiting for Fiorentina-Cagliari, 18pm), while the Giallorossi also see third place at risk. Yes, because if Napoli beat Sampdoria tonight (20.45 pm) they would move to just two points in the standings. Other than head-to-head with Lazio (expected from the match against Chievo, 15 pm): Garcia risks being sucked into the Europa League area, which, given the premises at the beginning of the season, would be a real failure.
Separate chapter for Milan, who came out with broken bones from the confrontation with Udinese. The Rossoneri have nothing more to say and the punitive retirement imposed by Inzaghi (until Wednesday, the day of the match against Genoa) smacks of a duty towards the fans. But let's go in order and let's start from the match at San Siro. Opposite were Inter and Roma, until a few years ago rivals for the Scudetto.
Long gone times because today the scenarios are very different, yet the show was not missed. Thanks also to the two coaches, enthusiasts of offensive football and devoted to the search for goals: Mancini chooses Hernanes playmaker behind the Palacio-Icardi duo, Garcia responds with the trident Ibarbo-Totti-Gervinho. It was Inter who got into the game better and were rewarded in the 15th minute. Hernanes, a former Lazio player with a poisoned tooth, controls from the edge of the area and, with his left foot, sends behind De Sanctis, for the splendid goal to make it 1-0. Roma tries to react and a few minutes later they would have the equalizer, but Ibarbo's right foot hits the post.
The match, although plagued by technical errors on both sides, is fun but to see another goal you have to wait for the second half. In the 62nd minute Ranocchia loses a dangerous ball outgoing, Pjanic thanks and serves Nainggolan in depth: the Belgian shoots with first intention and Handanovic cold with an unstoppable right foot. Half an hour to go and, now more than ever, both teams want to win. Mancini first inserts Kovacic in place of Brozovic, then Shaqiri for Guarin, thus switching to an offensive 4-2-3-1 which becomes even more front-wheel drive with the entry of Podolski for Gnoukouri. Garcia, who had already replaced Totti, replies with Iturbe, who takes Pjanic's place. It was Inter who benefited most from their coach's moves: in the 88th minute Podolski served Icardi, the Argentine circled around Manolas and beat De Sanctis with a close low shot (2-1).
In added time there would even be room for a third goal, but Podolski wraps himself up thus wasting Shaqiri's assist. However, the result does not change: theInter beat Roma, with inevitable ranking consequences for both. “I don't reproach my team for anything, we could have even won – Garcia's words. – We pay for some defensive mistakes, but the performance was good, nothing to do with last Sunday's against Atalanta. I don't want the team to break down, the standings are not compromised. Now we just have to win against Sassuolo on Wednesday." Opposite tones at Inter, where after weeks of darkness we finally see some light. “We played a good match, it wasn't easy to beat Roma – Mancini's analysis. – The standings have improved but regrets remain for the points lost against Cesena and Parma. However, I think this could be an important week."
The Nerazzurri's race for Europe will start again from Udine (Tuesday evening), right on the pitch that decreed Milan's bankruptcy. Friuli's 2-1 was embarrassing, not so much for the result as for the performance, perhaps the ugliest of the whole season. The Rossoneri suffered Udinese from start to finish, showing an apathetic and irritating attitude, far from the proclamations launched by Inzaghi on the eve. And it is no coincidence that the coach, usually very "understanding" with his players, has decided to send everyone to retreat until the match against Genoa.
“We got it all wrong, I apologize to the fans and the president – his words. – I'm very angry and disappointed with my parents' attitude, but when a team plays like this, the first culprit is the coach. I never expected such a drop in desire and strength, we were playing for Europe and dignity but only Udinese was seen on the pitch. Luckily we play on Wednesday and we will be able to redeem ourselves, only those who show attachment to the shirt will go on the pitch".
The outburst is all there because in Friuli we saw a truly disastrous Milan, so many that the 0-0 at the end of the first half was already pure gold. But the impasse couldn't last long and in fact, in the 58th minute, Pinzi gave Udinese the lead following developments from a corner. Inzaghi tried to wake up his players by inserting Cerci but the Friulians doubled up with Badu, good at taking advantage of Guilherme's assist and beating Diego Lopez (75'). Pazzini's goal (88') was just for the statistics: in fact Stramaccioni was celebrating, returning to victory after 4 draws and 2 defeats.
