A hot night. Italy is preparing for the first big cold of the year, but the same thing doesn't apply to Milan and Lazio, dealing with two Champions League challenges which are worth a good chunk of the season. The scenarios are less apocalyptic than 20 days ago, when beating PSG and Feyenoord meant staying alive, but the matches with Borussia Dortmund and Celtic remain fundamental, under penalty of throwing away what was done in the previous round.
Milan – Borussia Dortmund (21pm, Canale 5, Sky, Now and Infinity +)
The discussion applies above all to the Rossoneri, whose qualification hopes they move on from a positive result against the Germans. Dortmund, in fact, leads Group F with 7 points, while the Devil is in third place with 5 points, one less than PSG and one more than Newcastle. In short, a victory would not close the game, but it would allow Pioli to overtake Terzic's team and go to England with two results out of three available, taking advantage of the clashes of the opponents (tonight there is PSG-Newcastle).
The Rossoneri coach would have liked to play his cards with the typical formation, but instead he will have to do without Leao again, still dealing with the muscle injury suffered before the break. Compared to Saturday, however, he will find Giroud and Loftus-Cheek again at full capacity, which should guarantee him greater weight in the attacking phase, which is fundamental against a physical team like Dortmund.
The Germans, fourth in the Bundesliga (10 behind leaders Leverkusen) and fresh from the victory over Moenchengladbach (4-2 comeback), could also play for a draw, but they are unlikely to do so: their characteristics do not include managing the match and Milan will have to be good at taking advantage of it, but raising the level exponentially compared to the match against Fiorentina.
Pioli: “Match that can turn the group around”
“It's a very important match, almost a turning point for the group – confirmed Pioli without mincing words -. We know that Borussia is strong and will create difficulties, but he can also suffer them, we will have to be attentive and concentrated. We in Dortmund had prepared ourselves with the Yellow Wall, while they don't know what the environment at San Siro is like in the Champions League, the fans have helped us reach very high peaks and will do the same this time too. Borussia is a very versatile team that builds the game differently from us, we will have to be good at picking them up without exposing the flank, looking for the right way to hit them in attack. The team is focused and prepared, they worked aware of the importance of the challenge, but with the usual serenity. The goal is to be competitive everywhere and moving forward in the Champions League is very important."
Milan – Borussia Dortmund, the lineups
Compared to Saturday, as previously mentioned, the emergency is less evident, even if Pioli will still have to do without Leao (but this had already been understood for several days) and the disqualified Musah. However, the coach will be able to count on Giroud and Loftus-Cheek, so propose that again 4-2-3-1 which checked PSG, albeit without a key element like Portuguese. The anti-Dortmund eleven will therefore see Maignan in goal, Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori and Theo Hernandez in defence, Krunic and Reijnders in midfield, Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic in the attacking midfield, Giroud in attack. Same game system for Terzic too, who will respond with Kobel between the posts, Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck and Bensebaini in the back department, Emre Can and Ozcan in the midfield, Reus, Brandt and Gittens behind the lone striker Fullkrug.
Lazio – Celtic (Sky, Now and Infinity +)
Very delicate evening also at the Olimpico, where Sarri's Lazio must necessarily beat Celtic to get back up after the bad fall in Salerno. The Arechi blackout has exposed all the fragilities of a team that is struggling to rediscover the spirit of last season, when it even managed to finish second: it seems like a lifetime has passed, but only a few months have passed.
The paradox is that in the Champions League things are definitely better, so much so that this evening, in the event of a victory over the Scots, the discussion could already be mathematically closed, provided that Atletico Madrid manages to beat Feyenoord. Conversely, everything would be postponed until the last day at Simeone's home, a terrible scenario that no one really wants to take into consideration: the match point (Dutch permitting) is within reach and must be exploited now, also to shake up a divided environment and pessimistic, still dazed by the very harsh considerations from Sarri, even going so far as to fear the possibility of resignation. It must be said that Celtic are almost left out (they are last with one point) and that they are decidedly less performing away than in Glasgow, but Salerno's Lazio does not allow anyone to be fooled, much less on a stage like that of the Champions League. .
Sarri chases away the clouds: "I only think about the match"
“What does a coach do in a difficult moment? He prepares the match, it's time to get together hoping that the atmosphere of the Champions League will give us something more – explained Sarri in the press conference -. After the retreat something changed, the atmosphere was excellent despite the latest results. Did I speak to the team after the defeat against Salernitana? Director Fabiani did it in a tough manner and I'm happy about it, it was needed: he made a nice speech, I liked it. We need to reset, there is no longer the old guard to cling to here. We lost a race due to superficiality and lack of determination, badly: now the team must respond, not in words but on the pitch against Celtic."
Lazio – Celtic, the lineups
The infirmary did not bring good news, since in addition to Romagnoli (already unavailable in Salerno due to a calf problem) will also be missed Weather in Zaccagni (sprain) and the disqualified Neighbour. Sarri also hopes to be able to field Provedel, struggling with a strong state of flu that prevented him from training: the coach will thus have to grit his teeth and rely on some second lines, aware that the turning point can come first and foremost from the "old" Immobile and Pedro, confirmed above all due to a question of experience. The technician will aim for a 4-3-3 with Provedel (or Sepe) in goal, Lazzari, Patric, Gila and Marusic in defense, Guendouzi, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in midfield, Felipe Anderson, Immobile and Pedro in attack. Mirror game system for Rodgers, who will respond with Hart between the posts, Johnston, Carter Vickers, Scales and Taylor in the defensive department, O'Riley, McGregor and Turnball in the midfield, Yang and Kyogo and Forrest in the attacking trident.
