Two very different draws. Milan e Lazio they begin there Champions League with one point each, but the moods are decidedly opposite: for a Devil who eats his hands for not being able to win, in fact, there is an Eagle who enjoys having avoided defeat right at the photo finish, also thanks to the goal from its goalkeeper. Pioli and Sarri, however, can use these draws as a (re)starting point after the defeats in the championship, even if it is clear that the conditions are decidedly different.
Milan – Newcastle 0-0, Pioli: “Satisfied with the performance, I thank the fans for the applause”
Il Milan finds play and identity, not victory. Pioli's team, expected to emerge after the poor performance in the derby, shows that they have recovered from the blow in terms of performance, but they fail in the most important event, the one with the 3 points. Despite the many opportunities created, especially in the first half, the Rossoneri never managed to break down Pope's goal, thus finishing the match with a draw which smacks of a wasted opportunity. To further sadden the Devil, then, there is the injury of maignan, stopped due to a flexor problem and forced off in the 80th minute: CounterFurthermore, he made the only save of the evening in full stoppage time on Longstaff, avoiding a mockery that would have been truly incredible. Yes, because Milan dominated the match, crushing Newcastle in their half of the pitch and coming close to scoring several times, particularly in the first half with Chukwueze, Giroud, Krunic, Theo Hernandez, Leao and Pobega. Too many unexploited opportunities and so the English, who went to San Siro for the equaliser, gained confidence, also because in the second half the script did not change: Milan attacking and wasting (Leao again), Newcastle keeping the precious 0-0. “I'm very satisfied with the performance, we controlled the game and had a good defensive phase, we were dangerous, but we didn't complete the opportunities that could have unlocked it – Pioli's analysis -. We played against a strong opponent, but we did better than them from all points of view. It's a shame not to have finalized it, it would have been important to start this group off well. I was never afraid that the team wouldn't respond, even if Sunday was a very difficult day. Applause for me? I appreciate them there, just as I understand the whistles. The incitement from the public was unique, they pushed us to the end, but unfortunately the result we all wanted didn't arrive."
Lazio – Atletico Madrid 1-1, Sarri: “A performance that gives confidence, it's a point that could be important”
Draw of opposite tenor for the Lazio, capable of stopping the'Atletico Madrid thanks to a goal from Provedel in the 95th minute. The Biancocelesti managed to catch the Spaniards at the last second, thus avoiding the mockery of losing a match without deserving it, especially given what they did in the first half. The approach, in fact, was excellent, with a short and aggressive Lazio, capable of crushing Atletico in their half of the pitch, even without creating particular scoring opportunities. In the 29th minute, however, here was the conclusion Neighborhoods deviated from Kamada, for the sensational (and undeserved) advantage of the Colchoneros: a bad blow for Sarri's team, who however had the ability to stay in the game until the end, finding the equalizer in full injury time with the goalkeeper Provedel, amazing at heading in an assist from Luis Alberto and send an incredulous Olympian into ecstasy. “Lazio deserved the disadvantage even before the goal – he pointed out Sarri -. The race was in our hands, unfortunately it's a moment where everything is going badly for us, but we didn't give in to the feeling of being unlucky. The performance gives us confidence, we played more than on par with Atletico: if there was a team that deserved the victory it was ours. They tell us that we are in difficulty, but in the last few we have met Napoli, Juventus and Atletico Madrid and we achieved a victory, a draw and a defeat, so we are playing against the great teams. Are there any goals from the attackers missing? We actually could have done more in relation to what we played and created."
Real Sociedad – Inter (21pm, Amazon Prime)
Start with Spain, precisely from San Sebastiàn, the adventure of Inter in Champions League, against a little-publicized but certainly treacherous Real Sociedad. The Nerazzurri then, at least looking at the statistics, do not have a great tradition on Iberian soil, given that the only victory in 13 matches dates back to 2004 (1-5 in Valencia), compared to 10 defeats (but that of Barcelona in 2010 was decidedly sweet) and 2 draws. This time, however, it could be different, both for the objective superiority over the Basques and for the newfound international depth, certified with last season's final. Emotions that Inter want to try to relive again in 2024, which is why it will be important to start well from the start: the away match at San Sebastiàn is not a walk in the park, but Inzaghi's boys, fresh from the overwhelming victory in the derby, have everything to get rid of it and get the 3 points.
Inzaghi charges his team: "We want to relive nights like those of last season"
“We know what happened in the final of Istanbul, we left something special inside – Inzaghi's thought -. The way our fans responded, it seemed like we had won. This year we start again, against a strong opponent and on a difficult pitch. Of the fourth tier teams, it was one of those that I would have avoided, but we will have to play against them knowing that it will be difficult to repeat ourselves. We had two important years in the Champions League and the last one left us something special, the embrace with the fans is something we won't easily forget, like the matches against Benfica or Milan."
Real Sociedad – Inter, the lineups: Inzaghi loses Calhanoglu, Pavard and Asslani as starters
However, the European campaign begins with a significant training step: Calhanoglu, the absolute leader of the Nerazzurri midfield, stopped due to a muscle strain and will have to miss the Spanish match. Inzaghi, who was already thinking of a decent turnover, will thus be forced to give up a very important element, although he certainly has no shortage of alternatives. The coach, who will also miss Cuadrado (tendinitis), will rely on a 3-5-2 with Sommer in goal, Pavard, De Vrij and Bastoni (favourite over Acerbi) in defence, Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Thuram and Lautaro in attack. Alguacil will respond with a 4-3-3 with Remiro between the posts, Traoré, Zubeldia, Le Normand and Munoz in the defensive department, Merino, Zubimendi and Mendez in the midfield, Kubo, Oyarzabal and Barrenetxea in the attacking trident.
Braga – Naples (21pm, Sky and Now TV)
However, the greatest pressure concerns Napoli, who flew to Portugal with a decidedly different mood from that of Inter. The equalizer in Genoa, which was only achieved in extremis, fueled doubts and controversies over Garcia's management, according to many (even from within) not up to par with his predecessor Spalletti. Doing better than Luciano would be difficult for everyone, but the French coach is doing his part, both at a tactical level (Napoli plays much more individual football than a collective one) and in terms of management (the Zerbin-Kvaratskhelia substitution, with the result being 2- 2, still remains a mystery). In the shadow of Vesuvius, many are wondering if this is the right path and president De Laurentiis, despite living in Rome, is no exception: after all, it was he who chose him to replace Spalletti (even if after receiving so many rejections from other coaches) and now expects positive responses. Getting off to a good start in the Champions League would also be very important for qualification, because then the matches against Real Madrid and Union Berlin will come and getting there with water at your throat would certainly not be positive.
Garcia: “We have to be more effective. De Laurentiis? It seems peaceful..."
The flight delay further complicated the eve, which forced Napoli to land in Portugal only late in the evening. “The important thing is to have arrived – glossed Garcia -. We are only fifth in the standings, but the Champions League is totally different. We want to play all the competitions to the fullest and the Champions League is the queen of the Cups, we must be ready and be aware that tomorrow we have to play a great match. We need to be more effective in front of goal and be able to finish games without conceding a goal, in four games we have conceded five. De Laurentiis? I heard from him on Sunday and also this morning: he seems calm, but you have to ask him...".
Braga – Napoli, the lineups: Garcia launches Natan from the start
The big news compared to Genoa will be Natan, ready to debut with the Napoli shirt. Garcia will finally show the Brazilian defender, purchased to replace Kim and left in mothballs, at least until today. The coach will thus aim for a 4-3-3 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan and Mario Rui in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia in attack. Usual 4-2-3-1 also for Artur Jorge, who will attempt the feat by relying on Matheus between the posts, Gomez, José Fonte, Niakaté and Marin in the defensive department, Vitor Carvalho and Al-Musrati in the midfield, Horta, Pizzi and Bruma behind the lone striker Abel Ruiz.
