Inter anger, Naples disappointment. Wednesday in the Champions League does not reserve joy for homegrown teams, who have returned home from their respective away games with a defeat and a draw. Paradoxically, however, those who lose come out better than those who scored zero points: the Azzurri's draw in Genk, in fact, leaves more negative sensations than the Nerazzurri's knockout in Barcelona, indeed Conte's group can be proud of a performance of great character and organization tactics, ruined only by the magic of the Blaugrana champions and the referee Skomina. The penalty not given to Sensi after a contact with Arthur deserved at least a review at the Var, especially as Suarez's goal arrived on the next play: when you say a decisive episode…
"The referee warned me that he would send me off at the next protest, respect is written on his jacket and I asked for that, because referees must have it for anyone who comes here to Barcelona to play football - Conte growled in pressroom. – I carry this bitterness with me because we are talking about a referee who has experience and not the latest arrival who can be influenced”.
The offending episode only increases Inter's regrets, up until then the author of a practically perfect match, both in the defensive and offensive phases, moreover from the start. Lautaro Martinez's goal in the 3rd minute had put it downhill and it seemed the prelude to a well-deserved feat. In fact, the Nerazzurri played a sumptuous first half, closing all the spaces on Barça and coming close to 2-0 several times, avoided only by a great Ter Stegen (his save on Lautaro was crazy) and by that pinch of frenzy typical of those who he is not used to certain stages.
However, such a performance forces a great expenditure of energy, and in fact in the second half Conte's team dropped, allowing Barcelona to position themselves definitively in their trocar. And when Suarez, a minute after the offending penalty, invented the 1-1 with a screaming right-footed volley (58 '), the balance was definitively overturned, also, and above all, on a psychological level. Messi, surprisingly deployed by Valverde, lit up just when the match was starting on a draw, finding the right serpentine that the usual Suarez transformed into the 2-1 final.
“I find it difficult to speak in positive terms when you lose, I suffer defeat – Conte retorted. – We don't have to go home happy because we lost and the situation in the Champions League is compromised." In reality, things are not quite like this: the Nerazzurri still have the possibility of qualifying, provided they don't miss the double-header with Borussia Dortmund, the group's true rival and now 3 points behind.
Napoli's situation is certainly better, if only because the victory over Liverpool is not cancelled, but it is certain that the draw in Genk was not needed. The Azzurri had the possibility of directing the qualification seriously, instead they let themselves be harnessed to 0-0 by the Cinderella of the group and now, thanks to the success of the Reds against Salzburg (4-3), the games are definitely reopened. The fault of an unfortunate first half, in which the Azzurri missed some goals scored, just like a year ago against the Red Star.
So that misstep cost qualification, here instead, thanks to a much more affordable group, it is not yet the case to be alarmed, however, it is certain that Napoli, once again, proves unable to exploit the match points, a lack that is anything but secondary when you want to compete at the highest level. Above all, Milik is in the dock, unfortunate as the worst Calloni in at least three scoring situations, sent instead badly on the woodwork or off.
But the 0-0 draw isn't the only negative note of this Wednesday: there is also the Insigne affair, sent to the stands by Ancelotti due to a technical choice. An inexplicable fact, unless there is something behind it that, for the moment, has not yet come out.
“Nothing in particular, I had seen him lackluster in training, so I preferred to keep him fresh and prepare him well for the next match – glossed over the blue coach. – There's no need to worry about the result either, we scored 4 points in two games. Now it's the two-legged against Salzburg, we beat Liverpool, I don't think many teams can do that. We are well positioned."
True, just as this one with Genk is another wasted opportunity just like the one with Cagliari in the league. Not a good encouragement for Sunday's match in Turin, unlike an Inter which, despite the defeat, can look at Juve with the awareness that they are now ready to play it on an equal footing with any opponent.
