An early final and a challenge not to be missed. Inter and Naples are preparing for an evening of great emotions, aware that, once it's over, nothing will be the same again, in one sense or another. It is the Nerazzurri who play the most, there is no doubt about that: the match at San Siro against Borussia Dortmund must be won at all costs, on pain of risking almost completely compromising the chances of qualifying. Even the Azzurri, however, can't go wrong in Salzburg, otherwise the Liverpool effect, already partially faded against Genk, would be completely cancelled.
But if Ancelotti could also be fine with a draw, Conte knows he has to win: conversely, the return match, scheduled for November 5th, would really taste like a last resort.
“It's an important match against a strong team but talking about the final seems exaggerated to me, those come later – retorted the Nerazzurri coach. – We could have done better against Slavia and we deserved more in Barcelona, now another important match awaits us but this doesn't change our mentality. Our idea is to play football, we are not able to wait: we want to impose our idea of football, taking some risks like in Reggio Emilia but without making the same mistakes".
The attempt to defuse the tension, however, risks remaining so. In fact, everyone in the Inter world knows that this is the decisive match, or at least the first of a long series. The bonus has already been used against Slavia, as evidenced by the last place in the standings at minus 3 from Barça and, indeed, Borussia. Conte, net of the absences of Sanchez, D'Ambrosio and Sensi, will rely on the best possible 3-5-2, therefore Handanovic in goal, Godin, De Vrij and Skriniar in defense, Candreva, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Barella and Asamoah in midfield, Martinez and Lukaku in attack.
"We know Inter very well, they're strong, they know how to defend well and they're back from excellent performances against Juve and Sassuolo, but every team has its flaws" commented Lucien Favre, determined to win to cut the Nerazzurri out of the conversation qualification. The yellow and black coach, fresh from Saturday's important success against Borussia Moenchengladbach, will try relying on a 4-2-3-1 with Hitz between the posts, Akanji, Hummels, Weigl and Piszczek in the back, Delaney and Witsel in the midfield , Hazard, Sancho and Hakimi behind lone striker Brandt.
Delicate evening also for the Naples, called to unravel the insidious Austrian trip. The ranking sees the Azzurri still in first place, but the draw in Genk shortened the advantage over Liverpool and, indeed, Salzburg, which is why a negative result could have quite serious contraindications.
“We play a lot – admitted Ancelotti in no uncertain terms. – They have already shown that they can fight for qualification, we will have to take the field with intensity, courage and the will to win, using all the individual and collective qualities we have".
The success against Verona has calmed the environment a bit, but now we need another one to consolidate everything, otherwise the controversies would go crazy again. Carletto, as an "old wolf from the Champions League", knows well that 3 points in Austria would be worth almost double, which is why, after Saturday's turnover, he is ready to launch a 4-4-2 like with Meret in goal, Malcuit, Manolas, Koulibaly and Di Lorenzo in defense, Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz and Zielinski in midfield, Insigne and Mertens in attack.
The same game system also for Marsch, who will respond with Stankovic in goal, Kristensen, Onguene, Wober and Ulmer in the back, Minamino, Junuzovic, Mwepu and Szoboszlai in the midfield behind the offensive duo made up of Haaland and Hwang.
