Anger Milan, shame Juve. A decidedly black Tuesday for the Italian teams, both defeated in their respective commitments with Chelsea e Maccabi Haifa. But if the Rossoneri's knockout, in addition to not causing particular jolts in the standings (thanks above all to the 1-1 draw between Dinamo Zagreb and Salzburg), finds in thereferee Siebert the main culprit, that of the bianconeri really hurts and almost completely compromises the qualification speech. Hopefully things are better tonight for Inter and Naples, engaged against Barcelona and Ajax, but once again Europe has proved stingy with satisfactions for our football.
Maccabi Haifa-Juventus 2-0, Agnelli: "We must be ashamed, but Allegri stays"
The thud that makes the most news is certainly that of the Juventus, humiliated by the Israelis of the Maccabi Haifa he is now a foot and a half out of the Champions League. In fact, only mathematics still keeps her in the running, but to get to the round of 6 it would take a real miracle, that is to score XNUMX points with Benfica and PSG and hope that one of the two is stopped by Maccabi. Calculations that leave the time they find (in case they will be done at the end), because the Lady seen yesterday (and, more generally, since August) does not give the idea of being superior to anyone, not even the semi-unknown Israeli team. However, yesterday's match is the lowest point of the season, both technically and in terms of character: if you don't find the strength to react even in a European inside or outside, it means that the situation is really serious. Not by chance Andrea Agnell, so far in silence, he has decided to put his face on it, even if not to give the news most awaited by many #Allegriout scattered around the web. “Difficult evening in a difficult period, certainly one of the most complicated since I've been president – the words of the Juventus number one -. I'm here to take my responsibilities because I feel ashamed and angry about what I'm seeing. But football is a team sport, we all play and lose together and we have to start over from this. Trust in Allegri? Absolutely, it's a group issue, not just one man: it can't be his fault if we can't win a tackle. I find it hard to think of a change on the run. He will stay, Juve always do the math at the end of the year."
Allegri brings everyone to retreat and relaunches: "I'm not resigning"
“There's only one thing to keep quiet about, it was a test that wasn't up to par especially from a character point of view – underlined Allegri -. Let's go home, we have to work even harder and keep quiet, now we'll stay in retreat at Continassa until the derby, it's an act owed to the club, the fans and ourselves: Agnelli said he's trying shame and he's right, the first half was one of the worst ever. Am I thinking about resigning? No, when a challenge becomes more difficult it is even more beautiful”.
Milan-Chelsea 0-2, Rossoneri furious at Tomori's penalty and expulsion
Bad evening also a San Siro, at least for the result: the race for qualification, in fact, remains open thanks to the draw in Zagreb between Dynamo and Salzburg, with the Milan still master of his destiny. With 6 points in the next two, the pass for the round of XNUMX would come and this, at the moment, is the best news for Pioli. Compared to the defeat in London, where the Rossoneri were literally outclassed, however, there is one refereeing episode which undeniably conditioned the match, namely theexpulsion of Tomori, with strictness attached, for a alleged foul on Mount. A very questionable whistle that of the German Siebert, especially in a tournament like the Champions League where, legend has it, certain things are not sanctioned. Yesterday however, in general disbelief, a red card was drawn for one slight restraint, plus a rigor that Jorginho he transformed coldly, unlike what he did in the two matches against Switzerland. From then on, the match took a clear turn, also because Chelsea doubled up almost immediately with Aubameyang, thus ending any desire for a Rossoneri comeback.
Pioli doesn't agree: "We could have played a great game, but the episode was decisive"
"I had the feeling we could play a good game, but the penalty and the sending off made it complicated against an already very strong opponent who didn't need numerical superiority - thundered Pioli -. How do I judge the episode? It's too obvious and too easy to judge, I told the referee what I thought at the end of the match, I won't tell you what but I think he understood, despite my fluency in English. It's another negative result, which however doesn't change the development of the group: we have to win the last two, we have the qualities to do it".
Barcelona-Inter (at 21, Amazon Prime)
This evening the spotlights first move to the Camp Nou, where Inter will try the feat against a Barcelona desperate for points, as well as enraged by the first leg. It will take a vigorous test to resist the azulgrana, determined to take the 3 points by any means possible: technical, given the great quality of Xavi's squad, but also environmental, in the light of the continuous appeals to the public that began immediately after the defeat at San Siro . Inter must keep their antennas raised, but also remember that they start from one advantageous positionalbeit small. Last week's 1-0, in fact, allows her to play with two results out of three available, which is very reminiscent of her scenario 12 years ago, when she laid the foundations for the famous treble. The same spirit will be needed, obviously net of the lesser pressure load, because resisting the Camp Nou, as far as possible, is not for everyone.
Inzaghi: "Ready for a game worthy of our history"
"We know it's a very important match in an important stadium, but we are Inter and we will have to do our part, knowing that there will be difficulties during the match – the analysis by Inzaghi -. We will have to be good at suffering together in the worst moment and then put Barcelona in difficulty with what we have prepared. We put in an aggressive, compact performance in the first leg, unfortunately now we're changing stadiums, but we're prepared to play a match worthy of Inter's history”.
Xavi: "For us it's like a final, we'll give our lives"
"For us it's like a final, that's why we will give our lives to stay in the race for qualification – he growled Xavi -. It's certainly not nice to be in this situation, but we have the qualities to do well and get out of it. We are very confident in the thrust of the Camp Nou crowd, it will have to be a volcano. There's a great desire for revenge after what happened at San Siro, there was a certain indignation about what happened, but if we play better we'll win and then maybe we won't need to talk about referees”.
Barcelona-Inter, the formations: Inzaghi plays it with the two strikers
In recent days the idea had spread that Inzaghi could have opted for a very conservative 3-5-1-1, but the latest indications say otherwise: Inter will take the field with two role points, aware that the "bolt" alone would not be enough to save it from the Catalan assault. It will therefore be at the Camp Nou 3-5-2 with Onana in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Dzeko and Lautaro in attack. The Barça of Xavi, however, will opt for a 3-4-3 with Ter Stegen in goal, De Jong, Piqué and Garcia in the back, Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Pedri and Gavi in the midfield, Dembelé, Lewandowski and Ansu Fati in the offensive trident.
Naples-Ajax (18.45 pm, Sky, Now TV and Infinity)
Easier, at least on paper, the task of Napoli, which may also suffice a point to mathematically qualify for the round of XNUMX with two games to spare. A victory, however, would allow him to keep first place, an objective that Spalletti, given the progress of the group, absolutely does not want to give up, therefore it is reasonable to expect a gritty and hungry team, just like in almost all seasonal matches. But there is something in between Ajax, beaten at home e eager for revenge, as well as fundamental points in terms of qualification: underestimating him, despite the evident superiority shown at the Johan Cruijff Arena, could cost dearly. It must be said that up to now, with the exception of the draw against Lecce at the end of August, the Azzurri have never made this mistake, helped by a young and dynamic squad, but above all large, which allows Spalletti to dose his energies without losing quality .
Spalletti doesn't calculate: "We have to win"
"We're playing for qualification against Maradona with a full stadium, we know what their reaction will be after the first leg and we want to interpret the match as if it were a final – also said the blue coach -. We have to put in the desire and hunger without making calculations, we have always reasoned in the same way, so far it has brought us results and it would be very serious to do it differently".
Napoli-Ajax, the formations: Osimhen goes on the bench, Rrahmani stops until 2023
The good news is that osimhen back available after more than a month, fully recovered from the muscle injury remedied against Liverpool. In the past it is probable that Spalletti would have tried to speed things up, but this time Raspadori and Simeone they covered his absence well, allowing the Nigerian to recover calmly: it is no coincidence that he will not be thrown into the fray immediately, but a softer return from the bench will be preferred. Compared to Cremona, however, there will be no Rrahmani, forced to a long break (he will only see himself again in January) due to a tendon injury to his adductor, which will force the blue coach to review the eleven type. The 4-3-3 today will see so Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Kim, Juan Jesus and Olivera in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Lozano, Raspadori and Kvaratskhelia in attack. Same system of game also for Schreuder, who will try to avenge the coat of the first leg with Pasveer between the posts, Sanchez, Timber, Bassey and Blind in the back department, Taylor, Alvarez and Klaassen in the midfield, Berghuis, Kudus and Bergwijn in the offensive trident.
