A hat-trick with a view to the eighth-finals. Tuesday of Champions almost perfect for Italian football, in light of the victories of Inter, Atalanta and Milan (in strict ranking order) against Leipzig (1-0), Young Boys (1-6, a sensational performance with braces from Retegui and De Ketelaere and goals from Kolasinac and Samardzic) and Slovan Bratislava (2-3). Nothing sensational, mind you, but definitely important for our European path, present (the eighth finals become more than plausible, while the playoffs are almost certain) and future (last night we overtook Portugal in the seasonal ranking: if we continue like this we will have five teams in the Champions League next season too). Today we will see if Juventus and Bologna, engaged against Aston Villa and Lille, they will be able to maintain the level, but already like this the balance is certainly positive.
Inter – Leipzig 1-0: Lukeba own goal sends Nerazzurri to first place
Let's start with league leaders Inter, who have jumped to the top of the table thanks to their win at San Siro over Leipzig. A victory marked by concreteness, just like the previous one against Arsenal, so few glitters and a lot of effectiveness. At this point, after all, what counts most are the results and the Nerazzurri continue to get them, while also keeping a clean sheet. Up to now, in fact, no one has managed to score against Sommer and the list, after Manchester City, Red Star, Young Boys and Arsenal, has also been joined by Rose's Germans, unable to sting despite a good finish. Inzaghi has certainly had better nights in his four years at Inter, but he still has good reasons to smile, starting with a classic that sees him in command of the entire Champions League, at least until tonight. Only Liverpool, engaged in the super challenge against Real Madrid, could overtake him, with all due respect to the many big teams forced to look up at him. Once again, the management of the forces was optimal, given that seven players have changed since Verona, allowing for a decidedly positive mass playing time in view of Florence. The only negative note is Pavard's injury, a big blow for a department that has already lost Acerbi: in the next few hours there will be the usual tests, but the feeling is that the Frenchman will not be seen again until a few weeks. The joy remains for the fifth victory in as many Champions League games, the third in a row for 1-0. This time it was not even a Nerazzurri player who scored, but the clumsy Lukeba, author of an own goal in an attempt to deflect a cross from Dimarco that was wrong-footed by De Vrij (27'). Leipzig, inexplicably with Sesko on the bench (Rose preferred André Silva, as impalpable as in his Milan days), tried to get back on their feet in the second half, but without finding the right spark capable of chipping away at Inter's lead.
Inzaghi doesn't hide: "The goal is to return to the final"
“There is satisfaction because we knew the importance of this match against a valuable team,” Inzaghi exulted. “We played a great game, maintaining balance and playing well technically despite their aggression. Not scoring the second goal kept the game open, but apart from a save by Sommer we didn’t concede anything. Reaching the final? This is the objective of all the great teams and also of Inter. There is clearly satisfaction, but to reach the top eight we still have a big step to go: the next one in Leverkusen is very difficult, then in January we will have Sparta Prague and Monaco. Four wins in five games without conceding a goal give satisfaction, the clear step forward has been made, but something is still missing and it is early to make calculations. I was very afraid of this challenge, playing every two and a half days is a lot, but I am lucky to have extraordinary guys who are very available.”
Slovan Bratislava – Milan 2-3: the Devils struggle, but pass with Pulisic, Leao and Abraham
A very important victory also for Milan, who jumped to 9 points and are increasingly in contention for a direct qualification that would be sensational. It should not be forgotten, in fact, that the Rossoneri had started their journey in the Champions League very badly, losing the first two with Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen and finding themselves at the bottom of the standings, far even from the playoffs. Now instead they gravitate to 14th place together with the group composed of Dortmund, Bayern, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid, but only one point behind fifth-placed Leverkusen. The problem for the Devils is the goal difference, the first criterion in the event of a draw, and the fault certainly does not lie with the attack given that three goals were scored yesterday, moreover for the third consecutive match after Club Brugge and Real Madrid. The defensive phase, on the other hand, continues to betray, so much so as to put at risk even matches like yesterday's against a clearly inferior opponent, not coincidentally second to last with zero points. Milan started strong, but already in the 15th minute they risked conceding a goal from Strelec, launched towards goal and stopped only by a great save from Pavlovic. Shortly after Pulisic scored the 1-0 (21') and many thought that the match was easy, but in the 24th minute came the second glaring defensive error, this time punished by a soft touch from Barseghyan. Everything to be done again, moreover with very little space and the growing fear of wasting the opportunity. Fonseca was thus convinced to throw Leao into the fray in place of the evanescent Okafor and the Portuguese repaid him with the goal of 2-1 (68'), before Abraham took advantage of the incredible back pass from Strelec to also score the third goal (71'). The match is over, or rather not. Slovan made it 2-3 with a splendid long-range shot by Marcelli (born from an obvious, uncalled foul on Leao) and forced Milan into a breathless finale, despite not creating any other noteworthy occasions.
Fonseca: “Important victory, but we must do better in defense”
“We won the last three games, scoring nine goals and dominating almost always,” Fonseca stressed. “We did a lot of positive things, although the preventive coverage needs to be fixed, as in the first half we conceded two or three important chances to Slovan. These are difficult things to explain, also because we had three players behind. It’s a tactical issue, probably linked to the fact that some defenders hadn’t played much in the last period. It’s a question of reading, not of attitude. When we’re up front, we have to prepare to come back immediately and prepare the preventive marking, otherwise we risk being too far away and allowing them to come out. The choice of Leao on the bench? I always talk to him and he knows why he didn’t play from the start. He understood and when he came on he was decisive: I’m satisfied with his attitude, especially when he stays on the bench and shows that he wants to come on and do well.”
Aston Villa – Juventus (21pm, Prime Video)
Now let's get to today's matches, among which Juventus stands out. A tough and fascinating away game in Birmingham, against an Aston Villa that is launched in the Champions League (eighth with 9 points, currently qualified for the round of 12) and decidedly less so in the Premier League, where it occupies a sad eighth place, 2 points behind leaders Liverpool. The gap is the result of a disastrous autumn, in which the Villans have collected only two draws (the last one was 2-22 last Saturday against Crystal Palace) against four defeats that have tarnished an excellent start to the season. The value of Emery's men remains high, especially in the Villa Park bowl, already fatal for Bologna in the match on 41 October. The only precedent on English soil dates back to 2 years ago, when Trapattoni's Juve were pirates thanks to goals from Paolo Rossi and Boniek (1-3), and then completed the work in the return match (1-XNUMX) with Tardelli and a brace from Platini. Different times and different football, of course, but the challenge still promises a show and intensity worthy of the stage. A full Lady would certainly be favored, this one full of defections instead does not give guarantees, even if its solidity is now a fact. Thiago Motta knows that the qualification, complicated after the defeat with Stuttgart and the draw in Lille, comes from a coup like this, therefore he will try to play the game and conquer three golden points, without thinking too much about the away match in Lecce next Sunday, equally important in terms of the championship. The turnover, after all, comes from the recovery of the injured and this, at the moment, is not a scenario to deal with: the situation, in fact, is getting worse and worse, given that McKennie has also been added to the long list (including Vlahovic, whose return is postponed in Lecce), stopped due to a muscle problem.
Thiago Motta: “The injuries are not accidental, but we only think about Aston Villa”
“We will face a great team that plays well and has earned important points – Thiago Motta thought -. We will have to take to the field humble and respect our opponent, we will give our all to put in a great performance. I want continuity for what we did against Milan, not allowing them to counterattack. Aston Villa are also dangerous on the counterattack, we must be solid defensively and know how to press well without leaving space for their attacking midfield, defend together and manage ball possession as best as possible. Why so many injuries? It is not a coincidence and it does not only happen to us, but coming in today and talking about the why would create a debate that is useless. Our moment and our situation must be faced only by giving something more and thinking of the good of the team, everything else matters little”.
Aston Villa – Juventus, the probable formations
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Mings, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
On the bench: Olsen, Cash, Maatsen, Pau Torres, Duran, Buendia, Bogarde, Kamara
Coach: Emery
Unavailable: Onana, Ramsey
Disqualified: none
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Weah
On the bench: Perin, Pinsoglio, Danilo, Rouhi, Fagioli, Mbangula
Coach: Thiago Motta
Unavailable: Milik, Bremer, Nico Gonzalez, Cabal, Adzic, Douglas Luiz, McKennie, Vlahovic
Disqualified: none
