It's more and more Atalanta-Champions. With yesterday's victory over Lazio, the Bergamo players become the obligatory favorites for fourth place, especially as Roma did not go beyond a lackluster 1-1 draw against Genoa. Now the ball passes to Milan, engaged in today's postponement against Bologna (20.30 pm), but however it goes to San Siro, the Nerazzurri will keep the last available place for the Champions League area, at least until next week. After all, Gasperini's team is the one that plays best of all, Juventus including the Scudetto, and for some time now they have learned to win even the games that count.
And so, after the 1-2 in Naples, here is yesterday's 1-3 at Lazio (22' Zapata, 58' Chestnuts, 76' Wallace's own goal to overturn Parolo's initial lead) to pronounce a Champions League dream ever closer to reality: Inter are now third only 1 point away, while Roma and Milan are respectively minus 3 and minus 6.
With these premises, there aren't many alternatives to victory for the Rossoneri: either they beat Bologna or their Champions League hopes can be considered concluded. At San Siro, Gattuso's team will have to try to win at all costs, at least to stay in the wake of that fourth place who moved away by 6 points in a rather stormy week. From the post-Turin controversy to the punitive withdrawal decided after Bakayoko's delay, passing through the usual market rumors, it certainly cannot be said that Milan have prepared the match serenely but this, given the last two months, could also turn out to be a good news.
"I'm usually against retirements but in a group there are rules to respect, and then we weren't thinking about it - explained Gattuso bluntly - Now instead I've seen an angry team, I hope they can prove it on the pitch . We must be ambitious even if we are experiencing a negative period, whoever plays for Milan must always aim high. And Mihajlovic's words ("we'll save ourselves on Monday at San Siro" ed) must stimulate us to do even more".
The move to win again, and therefore to hope for the Champions League, will be the transition to a front-wheel drive 4-3-1-2, also because in defence, between injuries (Calabria, Conti and Caldara) and suspensions (Romagnoli) the choices are entirely forced. Gattuso will rely on Donnarumma in goal, Abate, Musacchio, Zapata and Rodriguez in defense, Kessié, Biglia and Calhanoglu in midfield, Paquetà behind the offensive duo made up of Cutrone and Piatek. Mihajlovic, back from 3 wins in the last 4 games, will look for the 3 points that would bring him closer to salvation with a 4-3-3 that will see Skorupski between the posts, Calabresi, Danilo, Lyanco and Dijks in the back department, Svanberg, Pulgar and Dzemaili in the median, Orsolini, Palacio and Sansone in attack.
In case of success, the Rossoneri would hook Roma and, by virtue of the direct clashes in favor, they would overtake them in the standings. Blame the unfortunate draw in Genoa, not because Prandelli's rossoblu didn't deserve it but because of how it arrived. In fact, in the 91st minute the Giallorossi were ahead and were already anticipating 3 very heavy points, which would have projected them in Atalanta's slipstream, as well as at a safe distance from Milan. But Ranieri's team, instead of managing El Shaarawy's goal (82'), collected Romero's equal and, in the continuation of the recovery, even risked losing the game: Mirante was decisive in saving the penalty (which was kicked very badly) from Sanabria in the 96th minute.
"We got caught on a corner kick, we're sorry because otherwise we would have brought home the victory, even if we have to thank our goalkeeper - Ranieri's bitter comment - It's a real shame, we needed these 3 points but we didn't we have to give up, it will be a race until the last day and whoever does better will go to the Champions League”.
Speeches that do not concern Napoli, already sure of its second place for some time, light years away from Juve first but also from all the other pursuers. A scenario that eliminated motivation, causing the team to drag itself wearily throughout the second round, as if it couldn't wait to go on vacation and think about next season. In this sense, the match against Cagliari was the ideal photograph, with the Azzurri protagonists of a lackluster match, at least until the slap they received.
Yes, because Pavoletti's goal (63'), in addition to confirming the Rossoblu's momentary advantage, had the merit of waking up Ancelotti's team, at that point determined at least to avoid yet another embarrassment of this bad period. Mertens' equalizer (85') seemed to bring everyone to agreement, but then referee Chiffi and Var Mariani took care of lighting up the finale, awarding a penalty to Napoli for Cacciatore's arm after Ghoulam's cross. The images confirm the touch but leave many doubts about the position of the same: was it in the area or not? Chiffi, however, pointed to the penalty spot and Insigne was thus able to give meaning to his evening by beating Cragno (98') for the blue 2-1, before the tussle broke out on the pitch with the expulsions of Ionita and Maran annexed.
“So the VAR is a joke, it's an absurd penalty, how do you understand that the arm is inside or outside the penalty area? – thundered the Sardinian sports director Carli – They would never have given it against Napoli!”.
“It's a difficult episode to evaluate – Ancelotti retorted. – We've seen him a thousand times, there's a doubt but I don't think the penalty kick was given to do Napoli a favor. In any case, I'm happy with the win, it's time to think about next season. I really like this team, as well as the environment, I also like the difficulties encountered this season. They have been clear and we will try to file them down to reduce the gap with Juve". the
