Whoever wins raises, whoever loses… well, let's say he won't have a quiet break. Challenge number 77 (at San Siro of course) between Milan and Naples (70th in the league) is worth a lot, indeed a lot. Question of classification, ambitions and morale, all essential elements for two new teams and still without solidity and certainties. The speech, of course, also applies to the coaches who, ironically, could have challenged each other on reversed benches. In fact, last spring Sinisa Mihajlovic, then at Sampdoria, seemed destined to lead Napoli and Maurizio Sarri, coach of Empoli, the chosen one for the new Rossoneri course. It ended differently and who knows if the two, between one training session and another, had the opportunity to regret the choice they made.
Tomorrow, for both of course, it would be very important to win but even more not to lose. In fact, a knockout, with a ranking to go up and ambitions to maintain, would create discontent that would be difficult to remedy. The same goes for Mihajlovic, so far unable to convey the "growing up" spirit to the group, but also for Sarri, whose stock market is on the rise but not yet completely stable. With 9 points collected, no objective is precluded, but certainly the margin of error is narrow, if not zeroed. Bookmakers see Napoli as favorites and it's hard not to agree with them.
The Azzurri are objectively better off (two victories in their last three games, to which we must add the two successes in the Europa League), they also love performing on big stages and San Siro is. The problems for Sarri arrived above all in the provinces (2 points collected between Sassuolo, Empoli and Carpi), against the big teams instead things have always gone swimmingly (5-0 against Lazio and 2-1 against Juventus) and this authorizes a some optimism.
Even more fluctuating the path of Milan, not surprisingly considered underdog despite the friendly stadium. Three victories (Empoli, Palermo, Udinese) and as many defeats (Fiorentina, Inter, Genoa), a game that doesn't take off, a fluctuating defense (9 goals conceded, 2 more than Napoli) and an environment that starts to grumble louder and louder . During the week, Adriano Galliani reminded the group of the summer investments: in fact, if someone landed from Mars and saw the Rossoneri on the pitch, he would never think of a signing campaign worth almost 90 million. "You will see a great team" said captain Montolivo, a promise that will have to be followed by an equally great performance.
Logic would say Napoli or draw (with goals), the numbers instead wink at Milan. In the 76 previous meetings in Milan (69 in Serie A) the Rossoneri have won 36 times, against the Azzurri's 14 and 26 draws and even last year, despite the technical difference, they were the ones to smile (2-0 signed by Menez and Bonaventure). However, Napoli broke the San Siro taboo in 2013 (1-2 with goals from Britos and Higuain) and aim to repeat themselves right away. The guard is high, tension skyrocketing, the show an impending "threat": tomorrow evening it is better to keep free...
