And now it's a real tussle! Roma's knockout against Fiorentina risks widening the Champions League race, which is now truly devoid of certainties. In fact, today Inter and Lazio could respectively override and grab the Giallorossi, all with the derby of the Capital at the door (next Sunday) and a Milan ready to have their say again. First of all thanks to Pioli's team, capable of imposing themselves at the Olimpico with a clean 2-0 (7' Benassi, 39' Simeone) which takes them into the full Europa League area and which creates several problems for Di Francesco's team, forced to lick wounds again after the beating in Barcelona. “Nothing happened, they made 3 shots and 2 goals – sighed the Giallorossi coach. – I am angry because we spent so much without bringing home anything, in these moments we need more malice on a mental level, we need to hold on and react ”.
The result at the Olimpico therefore offers various possibilities to aspiring pursuers, Inter above all. The Nerazzurri will be the first to take the field in the lunch match against Turin (12.30), in an away match which, at this point, could represent the turning point of the season. “I've always had difficulties against them, they're used to fighting by tradition and therefore it won't be easy – Spalletti analyzed. – In this moment, however, we met again, I like coaching Inter more. We are a total team, it's something that gives me joy." The desire to win again after the draw in the derby is great and the Nerazzurri coach will try to satisfy it by confirming the usual 4-2-3-1, so Handanovic in goal, Cancelo, Miranda, Skriniar and D'Ambrosio in defence, Gagliardini and Brozovic in midfield, Candreva, Rafinha and Perisic behind lone striker Icardi. A great desire to win also for Mazzarri, formerly with a poisoned tooth: but the coach, in addition to personal issues, also has reasons for trying to stop the Nerazzurri (this, in fact, is the last call for the Europa League) .
The grenades will try with the 3-4-1-2 already seen with Cagliari and Crotone: Sirigu between the posts, Burdisso, N'Kolou and Moretti in the back, De Silvestri, Baselli, Obi and Ansaldi in the midfield, Ljajic in support of the forward duo Iago Falque-Belotti. In the evening, with the results concluded (including Lazio, engaged at 18 pm in Udine), it will be up to Milan, called to beat Sassuolo at San Siro (20.45 pm) to find the thread with victory. If this can then serve to hope even in the Champions League will also depend on the others, but certainly the Rossoneri can't be wrong otherwise the Europa League would also be at risk again. And then there's Gattuso's contract to celebrate, one more reason not to miss tonight's appointment. “Now I feel more pressure than before – the words of the Rossoneri coach. - Until mathematics condemns us we will always take the field to believe it, woe to give up. We have to respect Sassuolo, they can put us in difficulty."
Milan will have to try without Cahlanoglu (called up but not at his best), however the system will still be 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Bonucci, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defence, Kessié, Biglia and Bonaventura in midfield, Suso, André Silva and Borini in attack. Usual 3-5-2 for Iachini, who will attempt the coup with Consigli between the posts, Dell'Orco, Acerbi and Peluso in the back, Lirola, Missiroli, Sensi, Mazzitelli and Rogerio in the midfield to support the Babacar-Politano offensive duo.
