Lazio and Fiorentina fly, Roma rises. The last three games of the tenth day end with the successes of the Biancocelesti, Viola and Giallorossi at the expense of Como, Genoa and Torino, for a ranking that takes on increasingly sensational contours. In light of these victories, in fact, Baroni and Palladino catch up with Atalanta at 19 points, sending Juve to sixth place and Milan to eighth. Different story for Roma, for whom the 1-0 against the Granata is certainly not enough to get back to smiling: Juric remains in tenth position, but at least gives a jolt in view of the next matches.
Como – Lazio 1-5: the white and blue show is worth the Champions zone
The cover rightfully belongs to Lazio, the most convincing of all in this midweek round. The Biancocelesti not only won like Atalanta and Fiorentina, who were still good at taking three "dirty" points, but they even had fun at the expense of Fabregas' Como, collecting a sensational (for the size, of course) 1-5 on a rather complicated pitch. Baroni, moreover, is demonstrating that he knows how to exploit the entire squad, involving even those players who seemed hidden in the back lines. And so, after Noslin's goal against Genoa, here is yet another super performance by Pedro (four goals between the league and Europa League), the brace by the rediscovered Castellanos and the goal by Tchaouna, without forgetting the two assists by Dia, who started from the bench and proved to be decisive. The toy works well, there's no doubt about it, and the credit goes first and foremost to him: he arrived from Verona amidst general skepticism, but he was able to win over the environment and revive a Lazio that had emerged from last season amidst bad feelings and controversy. It must be said that Como did its part, with individual errors (such as Dossena's wide arm that led to the penalty that broke the balance) and the tactical extremism of Fabregas, very good at attacking and decidedly less so at defending. After Castellanos' penalty goal (28') came Pedro's (31'), then Como got back into the game with Mazzitelli's splendid half-overhead kick (53'). It seemed like the prelude to a comeback, but Lazio did well to immediately score the 3-1 with Patric (71', after the expulsions of Braunoder and Tavares), before flooding into space with Castellanos (81') and Tchaouna (90+5').
Baroni exults: “Ambitious team, we have passed an important test”
“Compliments go to the team that interpreted the match well,” Baroni explained. “The work always improves, when I speak of an ambitious team I am referring to one that wants to grow. This was an important test, against an opponent that plays good football and has technical qualities. We were really good in the first half at taking the ball away from them and doing good quality management, then in the second half they changed the formation, it took energy to press them high up, just before their goal we missed a good opportunity. They applied a lot of pressure and we changed something, I needed to get going, some were struggling. Isaksen had dropped off, Marusic had already told me in the first half that he wanted to try, but he was having some discomfort. We took over the field in an excellent way, then finding the goals. I often tell the team to break through in a chain, on the wing, but then when we can change front and fill the area we do it. We are working on it, the team is very receptive and carries out the work with conviction, I want them to always play good football.”
Roma – Torino 1-0: Dybala saves Juric's bench
A decidedly less glamorous victory for Roma, who settled for Dybala's goal to take three golden points. Those looking for glitter and sequins will have been disappointed, but expecting more was probably wrong: the Giallorossi needed this success like air, so it's time to enjoy it and not be too picky. Of course, talking about a rebirth would be out of place and to consider Juric's team out of the crisis much more will be needed, but in the meantime the machine has started up again, despite the general pessimism (many were ready to hold a funeral for the coach) and the many absences, some forced (Dovbyk, who stopped due to fever), others by choice (Pellegrini, still not at his best, and Cristante). Juric knew he was going for broke and chose to do it with his football: little spectacle and even fewer frills, lots of substance and the certainty that up front, sooner or later, someone would make the difference. Dybala was the prime suspect and lived up to expectations, despite the goal being the result of a terrible mistake by Linetty, who was unfortunate in making a bad back pass to Milinkovic-Savic, on which the Joya pounced for the 1-0 (20'). From then on, the game, if possible, turned out to be even more "sticky" due to the well-known difficulties of the Giallorossi (and perhaps also by choice), but also due to the impalpability of Torino, too timid in the face of an opponent who should have been attacked more. Juric can thus celebrate a victory after the bad defeats against Inter and, above all, Fiorentina, extending his stay in Giallorossi at least until Sunday, when he will have to face another of his teams like Verona.
Juric breathes: “Winning was important, I am very satisfied”
“It was important to get back on the right track and we did it by playing a great game against a team that was difficult to face,” Juric said. “The lads did everything well, the game, the defensive phase and the pressing, I’m very satisfied. In a difficult moment it went well, we need to make our fans rejoice again and only with performances like this can we regain their trust. After Florence there were difficult moments, but now we just need to think about playing, improving our performances and being focused on the ball. The team was focused and conceded very little to Torino, I’m very satisfied. So far I can’t be very happy as a coach, I’ve done decent things, but we can do much better. I hope to regain the public’s trust with my game, with solidity and with ideas. Sometimes heavy arguments are necessary, the worst are the situations of uncertainty: the beating and what happened afterwards were useful, but it mustn’t be a flash. On a human level I hope the problems are solved, the rest should be put aside. We will try to improve our performance and not waste time on other things”
