Small steps towards the goal. Inter returned from Udine with a draw which, as they say in these cases, "makes the standings", even if it doesn't definitively close the games in a Champions League key. Furthermore, the 0-0 draw at the Dacia Arena certifies the draw for the nerazzurri, in the fifth no contest of the last six performances: a sign of solidity, but also of a lack of offensive vein and, perhaps, of little courage. Yesterday's success, like against Atalanta, Roma and Juventus after all, could have blocked qualification for the Champions League, while Inter, just like in the clashes just mentioned, preferred to settle for one point, in the "little rather than nothing" series. It should also be said that Spalletti's team hit a great Musso, man of the match against a solid and by no means giving up Udinese, who since yesterday have been much closer to the longed-for salvation. And the technician, in addition to the point we are talking about, has collected something which, if confirmed by the facts, would be worth much, much more.
"We bring the boat to port as soon as possible, then we'll see the future: certainly with Spalletti, but we'll go and organize the programmes" exclaimed Marotta in the pre-match, thus re-launching the good Luciano's prices in an important way. However, everything is linked to qualifying for the Champions League and this, although close, is not yet completely safe. "Fault" of Udinese, author of an intense and courageous match, but also, if not above all, of goalkeeper Musso, unsurpassed in the face of attempts by Nainggolan, De Vrij and Keita and lucky on the post by Martinez. “We had a good performance, this is what counts from my point of view – Spalletti's analysis. – We built many goal chances and we were ordered not to suffer Udinese's counterattack. The ball possession we do is the key to our defensive phase. Keeping the ball and dominating the game a little doesn't let you concede a goal, in addition to the individual quality of the players who know how to mark very well in defense. The only regret is having created so many clean goal chances and not having exploited them”.
The result in Udine makes the matches of the others even more interesting, called not only to chase fourth place but also to undermine third place. Waiting for tomorrow's Milan-Bologna, it will be up to the Romans to make their move, with the Giallorossi involved in Marassi's treacherous away game against Genoa (18pm) and the Biancocelesti in the direct match between the Olimpico and Atalanta (15pm). Very delicate and tense matches, especially after the conferences on the eve which, if possible, made them even more fiery. Ranieri began by answering a question about Lazio-Inter in 2010, when the Biancoceleste people shamelessly cheered for Mourinho's team at the time, in an attempt to thwart the Giallorossi's Scudetto ambitions. The accusation of having "dodged" seemed to have ended up on the back burner until Sor Claudio, evidently still angry (he was, in fact, the coach of that Rome), stated that Lazio, according to him, deliberately lost that match and who knows that he can't do it again today, so as to favor Atalanta in the Champions League race.
“So it was, it was so! – the words of the Giallorossi coach. – But I don't care, the League has to take care of these things. I think about coaching, I've always been loyal, this is important to me." In any case, it seems difficult, not to say absurd, that Lazio, also still in the running for fourth place, could fail to take the match against the Bergamo players seriously just to disadvantage Roma: the rivalry is fine but this would be masochism in the end. pure state. “This match is extremely important for us, it is decisive for our race for Europe – confirmed Inzaghi. – We will face a strong team with respect, but with the knowledge that we are just as strong”. “The target of Ranieri's controversies is actually Atalanta: we're ahead and many are hoping we fall – Gasperini retorted. - We just have to smile and play: we don't mind at all. Everyone hopes for the best possible combination of results for themselves, we don't have time to get into these mechanisms because if we don't make mistakes they won't catch us and we don't need to look at other people's houses”.
In short, everyone promises battle, including Prandelli's Genoa, forced to look for salvation points in the presence of the more popular Rome. Ranieri, who ended his yellow and red adventure on this pitch in 2011 (a 4-3 defeat and subsequent resignation), will re-propose the 4-2-3-1 with Mirante in goal, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov in defence, Cristante and Nzonzi in midfield, Zaniolo, Pellegrini and El Shaarawy behind the lone striker Dzeko. The rossoblu will respond with the usual 3-5-2 with Radu in goal, Biraschi, Romero and Zukanovic in the back, Lazovic, Lerager, Radovanovic, Veloso and Criscito in the midfield, Lapadula and Kouamé in attack. Similar formations also at the Olimpico, where Lazio and Atalanta will face each other in a real Champions League play-off. Inzaghi must give up the suspended Lulic and the injured Milinkovic-Savic, for the rest of the order 3-5-2 with Strakosha in goal, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Bastos in defense, Romulo, Parolo, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto and Marusic in midfield, Caicedo and Immobile in attack.
No problem however for Gasperini, who will be able to rely on the classic 3-4-2-1 with Gollini between the posts, Mancini, Palomino and Masiello in the back, Hateboer, Freuler, De Roon and Castagne in the midfield, Ilicic and Gomez behind the 'single tip Zapata. After the excitement of the Champions League race and waiting for the Monday night at San Siro, the San Paolo will turn on the spotlights for the Sunday postponement of the 35th matchday. To tell the truth, Napoli-Cagliari doesn't offer who knows what implications for the standings, given that the Azzurri have long had control over second place and the Rossoblu are now sure of salvation. The great curiosity, if anything, lies in the welcome that the public will reserve for Ancelotti's men, already contested in Frosinone, in particular in Insigne, who are back on the field after the controversies of the last few weeks. “Never thought of selling him, his will is to extend and we are happy that he stays – glossed over the blue coach. – The malaise of some situations is linked to the weak link with the properties, especially when they are foreign. The case of Roma is emblematic, but the fan must be focused on the shirt and not on the owner's name."
In any case, a possibly convincing success against Cagliari would help a lot to re-establish a good relationship with the square and Napoli will try to get it by relying on a 4-4-2 with Meret in goal, Malcuit, Koulibaly, Albiol (returning from injury) and Ghoulam in defence, Callejon, Zielinski, Fabian Ruiz and Younes in midfield, Insigne and Mertens in attack. Usual 4-3-1-2 for Maran, who will try to celebrate the contract renewal signed this week with Cragno in goal, Srna, Pisacane, Ceppitelli and Pellegrini in the back, Padoin, Cigarini and Ionita in the midfield, Barella in support of the offensive couple formed by Thereau and Pavoletti.
