Atalanta makes history, while Inter loses yet another big match of the season. Tuesday in the Champions League proves to be a mixed bag for the Nerazzurri: Palladino is happy, beating Chelsea (2-1) to move up to 13 points, while Chivu is decidedly bitter, defeated by Liverpool (0-1) with a questionable late penalty and forced to face the spectre of the playoffs. There's plenty of excitement tonight, with Juventus and Napoli looking to win against Pafos and Benfica (21 p.m.): both Spalletti and Conte must earn points, otherwise their European future will truly hang in the balance.
Inter Milan 0-1 Liverpool: Szoboszlai's penalty decides the match, making the round of 16 more complicated.
Inter Milan fell to Liverpool at San Siro, suffering their second consecutive Champions League defeat, drawing level on 12 points against the Reds. A late penalty converted by Szoboszlai proved decisive, one of those "modern" whistles that make many turn up their noses, but there it is: the Reds, who arrived in Milan in a state of crisis, took the three points, condemning the Nerazzurri to at least four between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund or risk being in the playoffs. A night that started badly ended even worse: after a dominant English start, the Nerazzurri lost Calhanoglu after 11 minutes and Acerbi on the half-hour mark, both sidelined by muscle problems. Liverpool grew, created opportunities, and even scored in the 32nd minute through Konaté, but VAR ruled it out for Ekitiké's handball on Van Dijk's header. The narrow escape from danger awakened Inter, who first struck with Bisseck, then with a Barella free kick, and finally with Lautaro's header in stoppage time, scaring Alisson, who did well to keep the score at 0-0. In the second half, Chivu's team returned to the pitch with good intentions and high volume of play, but lacked the necessary clarity. Inter built, often reaching the edge, but they miscalculated their decisions, timing, and finishing, constantly keeping a Liverpool side that relied primarily on counterattacks alive. The Reds, in fact, came close to scoring first with Ekitiké (anticipated by a timely Sommer in the 77th minute), then with Bradley, who was denied in the 80th minute by a prodigious save from the Swiss goalkeeper. The turning point came in the 88th minute: on a ball into the box, Bastoni held Wirtz, and VAR called Zwayer, prompting him to award a truly severe penalty: Szoboszlai made no mistake, scoring the 1-0 that decided the match. The Nerazzurri's final push yielded nothing, and Liverpool took three crucial points, drawing level with Inter in fifth place. A defeat that stings given the way it unfolded, with injuries, missed opportunities, and a bitter end that weighs on both the league table and the morale of a team clearly unable to win a direct match.
Chivu: "A draw would have been fairer! The penalty? We must fight injustice."
"It was fair to draw given the way things were going. We were under their pressure early on, but then we found the key and the right plays," Chivu commented bitterly. "Then came an incident late in the match, the second in the last two Champions League matchdays, and we didn't take anything away. We expected their pressure, their intensity, but we started a bit intimidated. We found some patterns, and in the second half we expected to continue with that energy, and we tried to do so, but when the energy waned, we dropped a bit too low. The penalty? I don't comment much on refereeing decisions; I talk about manners and what we need to teach. The referee had interpreted it well on the pitch, but when VAR intervenes, you have to understand the dynamics and accept the referee's decision, even though we have to fight against injustice and think about what we want to do right."
Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea: Scamacca and De Ketelaere battle back, making it to the round of 16.
It was a historic night for Atalanta, who mounted a resounding comeback to defeat world champions Chelsea 2-1. In Bergamo, the evening seemed to take a turn for the worse in the 25th minute, when Joao Pedro put the Blues ahead with a cross from Reece James, validated by VAR after an initial disallowance. But Palladino's Goddess didn't falter, staying in the game and turning things around in the second half: Scamacca made it 1-1 in the 55th minute with an assist from De Ketelaere, and the Belgian himself, in the 83rd minute, scored the winner with a strike that sent Bergamo into raptures: Atalanta on 13 points and in full contention for the knockout stages, while Chelsea remained stuck on 10. The match heated up immediately: in the 5th minute, De Ketelaere had the ball to break the deadlock following a superb effort from Lookman, then in the 19th minute, the Nigerian himself created chaos, forcing Acheampong into a desperate save after Chalobah blocked Scamacca. Chelsea struggled but took the lead with their first real chance, while Atalanta also had to contend with Bellanova's injury in the 17th minute, a situation that will be assessed in the coming days. The story changed after halftime: the Blues almost doubled their lead, but Lookman's equalizer was disallowed in the 53rd minute, but it was only a matter of minutes. Scamacca struck in the 55th minute to level the scoreline, then came close to a second in the 62nd minute when Djimsiti failed to convert a Sanchez save. And it was Atalanta, more confident and consistent, who deserved the win through De Ketelaere, who capitalized on yet another offensive surge in the 83rd minute to score the goal that sent the New Balance Arena into a frenzy. Carnesecchi proved a superb finish in the closing stages, decisively denying Garnacho in the 90th minute and then again denying Joao Pedro in stoppage time, sealing three crucial points.
Palladino: "Getting into the top eight would be extraordinary, but now we're focusing on Cagliari."
I'm very happy because it was a magical evening in front of our fans; we're truly over the moon. We faced a very strong team: I was genuinely impressed by their technical quality and the performance of their players, which were truly top-notch. But this is precisely what makes our performance even more valuable. As I told the boys in the center circle after the match, we can't afford to be so inconsistent. I like to think that the defeat in Verona was just an isolated incident. We need to bring this spirit, this Atalanta DNA, into every match. The boys played the game perfectly, despite only having had one day to prepare. I thank them, because playing matches like this boosts your self-esteem. Now let's enjoy the evening, but we must immediately focus on Saturday: the important thing is Cagliari, even if qualifying in the top eight would be something extraordinary, something unique.
Juventus – Pafos (21pm, Sky and Now)
Juventus hasn't even had time to digest Maradona's collapse before they're forced to get back on track, because the match against Pafos is worth a good chunk of their European future. It seems incredible, but the Bianconeri and the Cypriots have the same points (6) and Spalletti can't afford any more stumbles: after them there are Benfica and Monaco and getting there without this victory would be extremely dangerous. The problem is that the Juve seen against Napoli didn't just lose, but seemed to go backwards, with tactical limitations and questionable choices that closely recall the Tudor era. Also because, between numbers and signals, the similarities are all there. Vlahovic's absence has opened a hole in the centre of the attack and Spalletti, instead of relying on David or Openda, has opted for an improvised "false nine" with Yildiz. The equalizer came as soon as the Turk returned to the attacking midfield, but it's inevitable that this decision sounds like a dismissal of the new signings, just as it did with Tudor when he spoke of an "inadequate" transfer market. Then there's the numbers, which reveal a Juve with a different style but similar results: 1,6 points per game for Spalletti, 1,5 for Tudor; 1,5 goals scored per game compared to 1,4; fewer shots conceded, but still one goal conceded on average. Against Pafos, however, the formula changes: Spalletti returns to a 3-4-2-1 with Di Gregorio in goal, Kalulu, Kelly, and Koopmeiners in defense, McKennie, Locatelli, Miretti, and Cambiaso in midfield, and Zhegrova and Yildiz behind central striker David. There's some hope from the infirmary: Bremer is back in the squad, and with him, the back four, which until now has remained just a concept hampered by injuries, could finally take shape. Tonight, however, regardless of everything, three points are needed, otherwise the word crisis, cast aside after Tudor's dismissal, will once again haunt the Bianconeri.
Spalletti: "I damaged the team in Naples, now watch out for Pafos."
"First of all, Pafos are a tough team," Spalletti explained. "They have a lot of Portuguese and Brazilian players on their team. They only performed poorly against Bayern, and then they conceded very few goals despite facing top opponents. They're a tenacious team, eager to push physically. They're very strong in attack, and we need to be good at not being put under pressure by their counterattacks. That's something we need to be careful about; they have the quality to turn the situation around. The defeat in Naples? Of course, I have some responsibility. I didn't put the players in a position to perform at their best, and I damaged the team. The numbers aren't what we wanted at the moment, both in terms of results and individual performance. Now I have a better understanding of the players I have at my disposal, and that's crucial for me. I also see that some things have improved. We're not good at repeating these things they have often during matches, but they're there in a position to be taken advantage of. We need to do more of them and recognize them more. I have the same intentions and certainties as when I agreed to become Juventus coach."
Benfica vs. Napoli (21 p.m., Prime Video)
In Lisbon, the stakes go far beyond just three points. Benfica-Napoli also marks the first Champions League meeting between Antonio Conte and José Mourinho. Although they've faced each other seven times in Italy and England, they've never faced each other in Europe's premier club competition. The record speaks for itself: four wins for Conte, one draw, and two wins for Mourinho. A stormy relationship, from the heated verbal brawls of their English days to a professional truce built over the years, to the current respect. The Special One arrives at the match seeking answers: his Benfica team is third in the league and has just recovered a win in the Champions League after four defeats. Conte, for his part, has regained serenity and confidence after a difficult few weeks, despite the usual injury crisis. And the seven points collected so far aren't enough: more are needed, especially considering the upcoming away match in Copenhagen and the final match against Chelsea. Napoli, however, has already shown clear signs against Atalanta, Roma, and Juventus, taking full advantage and responding in both their play and their attitude. They will therefore go forward with a 3-4-2-1 formation with Milinkovic-Savic in goal, Beukema, Rrahmani, and Buongiorno in defense, Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, and Olivera in midfield, and Neres, Hojlund, and Lang in the attacking trident. The defense has held up in the last two European matches, but one blemish remains: Napoli have always lost away from home. A piece of their European future is at stake at the Da Luz, and Napoli has no intention of slowing down now.
Conte: "Mou is a winner, we can't give up even an inch."
"We're going to face a healthy team, coming off the excellent match against Sporting Lisbon, in a very heated stadium," Conte said. "We're coming off good performances and good energy. But the team's minds are on the eve of the matches against Roma, Atalanta, Juve, and Qarabag. Every match is important for us; we'll need to be focused and motivated. I tried to get the players back to normal after Sunday night. I hope they can do it because it's going to be a very intense, tough match. We'll have to put in a lot of energy, as we've been doing lately, and have the desire to get out there and not give up an inch. We'll have to fight. It'll take courage to leave the pitch without regrets. Benfica only have three points, we have seven, and they need to win at all costs to have any hope, but we need to get points. So far, on our European away trips, we've lost against Manchester City, being reduced to ten men after ten minutes... Mourinho? In the end, it's always a pleasure to meet his teams. He's a winning coach, there's little to say, it will be nice to meet him again and say goodbye to him."
Mourinho: "Napoli is very strong. Their absences? Don't make me laugh..."
"Napoli is a very strong team; they've won two Scudetti in a very short space of time," Mourinho emphasized. "Right now, they're a team that plays differently than they did at the start of the season, unfortunately. I like the way they play now much better than they did before. Conte's teams are complete teams; it's impossible to find anything that makes them weak or not good. Antonio is very demanding in the transfer market; he builds very strong squads with strong players who give him plenty of options; in terms of preparation, he's one of the best. Napoli's absences? Don't make me laugh: if De Bruyne isn't there, McTominay is there... You look at the team playing, who's on the bench, and you forget who's missing. I have some significant absences, but I don't want to cry. As long as the mathematics don't condemn us, we'll be there fighting. Winning would put us in a good position; not doing so would complicate life, but there are still six more points to be gained."
