Champions Leaguepenultimate call. Real Madrid vs Inter (21pm) It's still not an inside or outside night, but it's certainly getting pretty close. In the event of a misstep, there would be the second leg next week, with the risk, however, of getting there without being in control of one's own destiny, also in light of what could happen between Shaktar Donetsk and Borussia Moenchengladbach. The classification of Group B, in fact, is the most surprising of the entire Champions League, with the Ukrainians in the lead with 4 points, the Germans with 2 together with Inter, Real in last place with 1. In short, the match in Madrid is a real play-off to get back into the race between two teams which, on the eve, were candidates to qualify hand in hand and which now, in light of the first few days, risk instead of killing each other.
“It's an elimination group match, not a final, but it's certainly beautiful and important both for us and for them – the thought of Tale – It will be a tough game, against a team equipped to win, as history shows, however we are here to play with our weapons, hoping for a good final result. If I would sign for the equal? I would never do that before a game."
This is a very delicate moment for the coach, perhaps the most difficult since he has been on the Nerazzurri bench, if only in terms of results. The draw against Parma exposed all the problems of a team built to win, yet more fragile than last year. But if there's still plenty of time to make up for it in the league, it's not the same in the Champions League, where time inevitably runs out.
The same goes for Zidane, so far the big disappointment of the entire competition. His Real Madrid, in fact, has only one point in the standings, moreover collected in full recovery in Moenchengladbach: too little for those who rightly had the reputation of Mister Champions and who now, however, see the ghosts of a early elimination. "It's a final and we want to play it as such - admitted Zizou in no uncertain terms - There are absolutely 3 points at stake, my players will have to give everything and demonstrate why they play for Madrid".
In normal times we would talk about the Bernabeu effect, but now, for obvious reasons, home factor is just a detail, so much so that Real have decided to take advantage of the situation to continue with the makeover of the stadium, moving to Valdebebas' field, now renamed Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. Conte must again give up on Lukaku (at risk also for Bergamo), Vecino and Sensi, for the rest he will be able to count on the entire squad and rely on a 3-5-2 with Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Vidal and Young in midfield, Lautaro Martinez and Perisic in attack, with Sanchez ready to take over from the bench. Zidane, struggling with the absence of Militao (positive for Covid), will respond with a 4-3-3 that will see Courtois between the posts, Vazquez, Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo in the back department, Modric, Casemiro and Kroos in the midfield , Asensio, Benzema and Hazard in the offensive trident.
Creepy night also for theAtalanta, albeit with fewer ranking complications. The challenge to the champions of England of Liverpool (21pm), in fact, won't be as decisive as the one in Madrid, but it certainly stimulates the Goddess a lot, eager to add another notch (perhaps the most prestigious ever) to the list of her excellent scalps. A success, as well as for prestige, would be worth a lot in terms of qualification, in a group that sees the Reds in the lead with 6 points, Atalanta second with 4, Ajax third with 1 and bottom light Midtjylland with zero . Presumably to think that the Dutch will have it easy with the Danes, but woe to worry: for the Nerazzurri, after all, facing Liverpool must above all be a dream.
“We want to measure ourselves against one of the strongest teams in the world to see our level – he confirmed Gasperini – Scoring points would be very important, in any case we won't distort ourselves: we've come this far through a long journey, we'll be careful but we won't change our way of playing".
The comparison between the orobic technician and Jurgen Klopp is one of the most exciting themes of the evening, so much so that the German, fresh champion of England, has spared no compliments to his opponents. “Atalanta is an excellent team, well organized and with very intelligent forwards – he thought – I didn't know them much, but now I know well what their path has been: I enjoy watching them, indeed I think we too could learn something from her".
A lot of dialectical fair play must not deceive: at the Gewiss Stadium it will be a battle with no holds barred. However, Gasperini will have to deal with the very heavy ones absences of Gosens and De Roon, as well as with a Hateboer in mid-service: his 3-4-1-2 will still be competitive with Sportiello in goal, Toloi, Palomino and Djimsiti in defence, Depaoli, Freuler, Pasalic and Mojica in midfield, Gomez in the trocar, Muriel and Zapata in attack. Big defections also for Klopp, grappling with a real defensive emergency (Van Dijk, however, will be out for several months): the German will rely on a 4-2-3-1 with Alisson between the posts, Alexander-Arnold , Phillips, Gomez and Robertson in the back, Wijnaldum and Henderson in the midfield, Jota, Firmino and Mané behind the lone striker Salah.
