Forbidden to think about the derby. At Milan, everyone's mind is on St. Petersburg's commitment, which could already prove to be decisive for the passage of the group. So far both teams have disappointed in their respective leagues and things have also gone pretty badly in the Champions League. The Rossoneri drew at home against modest Anderlecht, while the Russians received a resounding blow in Malaga.
In short, tonight's match (18 pm Italian time, 20 pm local time) has all the air of a qualifying playoff. “This match counts more than the derby – Allegri admitted in the press conference – We and Zenit are the favorite teams to advance to the round, but the group is balanced and will only be resolved on the last day. We have to do well against a team built to win the championship, but our goal here is the three points." A victory would be godsend for a group that has not yet managed to recover from the quicksand of the crisis and that in a few days will be at stake for its future. In particular, it is Allegri who is at risk, who in the event of defeats against Zenit and Inter would really end up on the gridiron.
The technician knows it well, even if he flaunts confidence: "The rumors about my future no longer make me feel hot or cold, I'm only interested in the team playing well, we need to have serenity and eliminate inattention: we conceded too many goals from set pieces". But Berlusconi's latest statements also demonstrate that the atmosphere at the Rossoneri is far from serene: “I take this opportunity to reiterate my total faith in Adriano Galliani, one of the top football managers in the world to whom I am bound thirty years of friendship and unconditional professional esteem”.
A thought of love that smacks of reconfirmation, even though no one had ever really questioned the CEO's permanence. But the environment is in full turbulence (the pre-sale of the derby is slow and the risk of the San Siro being half empty even on Sunday is concrete) and convincing results are never needed as today, starting immediately. It won't be easy, because Luciano Spalletti's Zenit will be up against it, promising battle. “It will be the match of the year – said the former Roma coach. – The defeat against Malaga complicated our plans, if we don't manage to do well today, the path in the Champions League will become more complicated”. A speech that doesn't make sense and that finds many points in common with Milan. The Rossoneri have to get a result, otherwise they will continue to sink.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Zenit St. Petersburg (4-3-3): Malafeev; Lukovic, Bruno Alves, Lombaerts, Anyukov; Fayzulin, Denisov, Shirokov; Bystrov, Kerzhakov, Hulk.
Coach: Luciano Spalletti.
Milan (4-3-3): Have you; Abate, Bonera, Mexes, Antonini; Montolivo, De Jong, Nocerino; Boateng, Pazzini, El Shaarawy.
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri.
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
