Escape trials. Milan's draw against Udinese gives Inter, engaged tonight in Parma (20.45 pm), a sensational chance to extend in the standings and fly towards the Scudetto. In fact, the Nerazzurri, in case of victory, would increase the advantage to 6 points, which would then be 7 by virtue of the direct matches in favor. In short, Conte has an extraordinary opportunity to take off, ironically served to him by his Rossoneri cousins, unable to go further against Gotti's team, moreover grabbed in full recovery.
Forget about the bubbly and courageous Devil seen in Rome, yesterday's was much more in line with last month, also due to some absences that proved to be decisive. In fact, against the tough Udinese, the strikers would have been needed, a pity for Pioli that both Ibrahimovic and Mandzukic were sitting in the stands and that Leao, a substitute designated for one night, made both regret one of the worst performances since he has been in Milan. The result was a sticky match, with the Rossoneri attacking with very little conviction and the Friulians closing every space, however without particular effort.
In the second half, however, Gotti, sniffing the poor streak of his opponents, tried to be more daring and his team repaid him first with a near-goal from Nestorovski (saving on Romagnoli's line), then with the "real" one from Becao (68' ), kindly honored by uncertain Donnarumma. If even the best are wrong, it means that it is not the evening, so much so that the 1-1 final, although not very useful for the standings, must be taken at face value: the blatant, almost absurd, hand ball by Stryger Larsen has allowed Kessié to go on the penalty spot and Pioli to at least avoid defeat (97').
“Too bad, we wanted to win – the bitter comment of the Rossoneri coach – We knew that we would find it difficult against a team that closes completely behind, I saw determination but also a lack of lucidity. We lacked quality and rhythm, not anger and grit…”.
The result at San Siro therefore makes it even more important the postponement of tonight between Parma and Inter; even if on paper the ducals, penultimate and with no victories even since 30 November, would not seem capable of creating major problems. But football, as we know, is played on the field and that, more often than not, subverts the predictions: even in the first leg, after all, Conte's team had to win easily and instead ended up 2-2. “In this year and a half that I've led Inter we've only managed to beat them once – recalled the Inter coach at the press conference – We've grown a lot, but between now and the end of the championship we'll have ever greater pressure. We will have to be good at managing them, showing the maturity it takes to win."
Words that are anything but circumstantial, as they demonstrate training choices: the best Inter will take the field at the Tardini, without thinking about the next round against Atalanta, therefore a 3-5-2 with Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defence, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Eriksen and Perisic in midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro in attack. D'Aversa, increasingly plunged into the relegation zone, will respond with Sepe between the posts, Busi, Osorio, Valenti and Pezzella in the back department, Hernani, Brugman and Kurtic in the midfield, Kucka, Karamoh and Mihaila in the offensive trident.
Going back to yesterday, it was an evening full of goals and entertainment, just like any self-respecting midweek match. The big winner is definitely Atalanta, that beating Crotone with the usual feast of goals (5-1) he hooked Juventus back to fourth place. Round and well-deserved success for Gasperini's men, even if Cosmi's Calabrians had managed to bridle them for a long time. After the initial advantage of Gosens (12'), in fact, the equalizer of Simy (23') had arrived; but then, at the beginning of the second half, Palomino's paw (48') uncorked the Goddess, which at that point simply became unplayable. Muriel (50'), Ilicic (58') and Miranchuk (85') signed the very poor Nerazzurri, but above all the fourth place in the standings.
“It seemed like a haunted match with many chances, we took the draw on our mistake – the analysis of Gasperini – But I've seen quality plays and goals, we're in a good moment and the standings are good even if very short: now we'll think about Inter, we'll measure ourselves against the best in the class, a good test ahead of Real Madrid”.
The points ahead of the Roma 2 remain, given that the Giallorossi responded positively in that of Florence. A proof of pride was needed to forget the misstep with Milan and it has arrived, as it proves Diawara's game goal, which came when the draw seemed to be done (88 '). However, Fonseca's team had taken the lead first with Spinazzola (49'), author of a splendid right-footed volley, but then, however, the same winger sensationally deflected a cross from Biraghi into his goal, allowing Fiorentina to find the momentary 1-1 (60'). That seemed to be the final result, but then the Diawara-Karsdorp-Diawara triangle arrived, certified by the Var, which sanctioned a very heavy victory, in terms of rankings and morale.
“We had lost against Milan and we needed a reaction – the words of Fonseca – As I said before the race we had to figure out what was wrong and get back up, the team had great spirit and achieved an important victory”.
The same one he was looking for the Naples, eager to find some continuity after the ups and downs, somewhat disconcerting, of recent times. Mission failed, why the 3-3 in Reggio Emilia it's not enough to restore certainties to the team, especially for the way it arrived. The Azzurri were often at the mercy of Sassuolo, ending the first half 2-1 down (Maksimovic's own goal, Zielinski's momentary draw, Berardi's penalty) and several times risking conceding the third goal, in particular with shots from Berardi and Caputo, stop only by the poles of the Mapei Stadium. But then here is the shock signed by Insigne, who first served Di Lorenzo with a kiss assist for the draw (72 '), after which he made it 3-2 on a penalty kick, obtained by the same full-back (90').
A handful of seconds and Napoli could have celebrated a very important success, instead Manolas knocked Haraslin down in his area, sending Sassuolo to the penalty spot for the second time and thus allowing Caputo to sign the definitive 3-3 (96 '). The consequence is that fourth place, the last goal left, is now 5 points away and the excuse of the down game is starting to no longer hold up (the same goes for Lazio too). On March 17, Pirlo and Gattuso really can't be wrong, as well as in the previous matches, at this point they all become finals.
