Verdict Sunday. The last act of the championship offers two places in the Champions League, as many in the Europa League (but those, obviously, will be consequential) and one for salvation. And so, as logic dictates, the games that count will all take place at the same time (20.30 pm), for an evening that promises fire and flames from the beginning. Main fields Milan (Inter-Empoli), Reggio Emilia (Atalanta-Sassuolo), Ferrara (Spal-Milan), Rome (Roma-Parma) and Florence (Fiorentina-Genoa), in a sort of "All football minute by minute" night version. It is impossible to separate the objectives: those who pursue Europe, in fact, will necessarily have to deal with those who fight for survival, just like every self-respecting last day. In this sense, the most delicate match is certainly that of San Siro, where Spalletti's Inter will face Andreazzoli's Empoli.
The friendship between the two coaches, dating back to the 90s (the two took the Coverciano course together), risks being put to the test by a fundamental match for both, unless favorable results for all arrive from the other fields and two. “This match has the same importance as last year's against Lazio, it's a decisive confrontation from inside or outside and waiting becomes the maximum to obtain the expected result – the words of the Nerazzurri coach. – The stakes cancel out all values, there is an important emotional load but we are used to it”. The reference to the Curva Nord press release ("Sunday will be a party or war") is quite clear, as is the desire to leave the club with a success, which will serve Conte but also and above all the continuation of his career. The atmosphere at Empoli is much more serene, where the mere fact of still being in the running (and ahead of Genoa) is already a success.
“It is a challenge that we must face with the right attitude, without anxiety but with the pleasure of going to play a match to remember” confirmed Andreazzoli, before adding a decidedly important “we hope to be able to celebrate both”. Yes, because a lot will depend on the result in Florence, where Fiorentina and Genoa will compete for the most sensational and unexpected salvation clash in recent years. In fact, no one could have imagined that the Viola and Rossoblu risked even relegation, but that's exactly the case: Montella (40 points) and Prandelli (37, one less than Empoli) are facing a real crossroads. Vincenzo, for obvious ranking reasons, is much better off than Cesare, even if the news from the USA (Rocco Commisso, writes the New York Times, would buy the club for 135 million), rather than reassure spirits, add further uncertainty to a square definitely in turmoil.
Obviously, a Viola victory would calm Empoli's spirits, which at that point would be safe even in the event of a defeat, all for the joy of an Inter who could thus play more easily: inevitable but also dangerous calculations. In fact, no one can put their hand on the fire on how the other matches will go and this also applies to the other Champions contenders, engaged in less convincing challenges (but only because the opponents are already calm) but still insidious. Atalanta and Milan, for example, will have to face Sassuolo and Spal: on paper everything is calm, yet the prize for tenth place (6,3 million) is tempting and risks creating more than one headache. “These guys have done a great, important thing – Gasperini explained proudly. – It is nice that the championship ends with this uncertainty in the last 90 minutes, what is certain is that against Sassuolo we will have to play our best to win”. The Nerazzurri coach, forced to play the last one at home… away (Reggio Emilia is Sassuolo's pitch: was Percassi too hasty, determined to redo the Bergamo stadium as quickly as possible?), knows he has the fate in his own hands, unlike Gattuso, forced to win and hope for a stoppage from Inter or Atalanta itself.
His Milan will go to Ferrara with his fingers crossed, aware that a victory (anyway to be achieved on the field) might not even be enough. “The club has never forced me to go to the Champions League, they asked me to try and we are here – the Rossoneri coach said. – We'll see the future later, now I'm only thinking about Spal: it will be a real battle”. His heart at peace (so to speak of course) instead in Rome, where only mathematics keeps the dream open. The Giallorossi, in addition to beating Parma, should then hope for the triple defeat of Atalanta, Inter and Milan, a condition that would allow them to qualify for the separate classification. Probability of 1,2%, not exactly ideal to really believe in it: better concentrate then on the farewell of De Rossi, who risks monopolizing the Olimpico much more than the various calculations. To make this Sunday even more special there is the fact that the teams in question, none excluded, will undergo real summer revolutions, with the coaches in the lead, ça va sans dire. Spalletti, Gasperini, Gattuso, Ranieri: many of them, or perhaps all of them, albeit for different reasons, will pack their bags in a few days. However, we will only think about this from tomorrow, because first there is a championship to close and a final day that could prove to be truly unforgettable.
