A Sunday at high altitude. After yesterday's advances, it's time for the leaders Milan, engaged at the San Siro against Fiorentina (15 pm), but also for a creepy Naples-Rome (20.45) and a decidedly interesting Lazio-Udinese match (12.30). These are challenges, standings in hand, which can greatly direct the fight for the Scudetto, starting with that of Milan, where the Rossoneri will try to defend the top without Ibrahimovic. In fact, the great unknown is represented by the Swede, whose absence inevitably reduces the offensive weight of Pioli's team, who is also still in the pits due to Covid.
“Zlatan is in a good mood, we await his return but in the meantime we want to win and stay at the top of the standings – explained Bonera in the press conference -. A difficult match awaits us because it comes after the Europa League, and it's always been a fascinating match against Fiorentina, to which we arrive in good form. They are going through a not too positive moment, but we know the value of their squad”. Milan are undoubtedly favourites, but Ibrahimovic's absence and post-Cup fatigue could narrow the gap with Viola, who are also in a big crisis of play and results.
The exam is important and Pioli will face it with a 4-2-3-1 that will see Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Brahim Diaz in the frontline, Rebic in attack. Prandelli, fresh from his victory in Udine in the Coppa Italia, will respond with a 4-3-1-2 formation with Dragowski in goal, Caceres, Milenkovic, Pezzella and Biraghi in the back, Amrabat, Pulgar and Castrovilli in the midfield, Bonaventura behind the offensive couple composed by Ribery and Vlahovic. The big match on Sunday, however, is that of the San Paolo, where Naples and Rome will compete to establish who, between the two, can really aspire to a top championship.
On the race then, in addition to the points, the memory of Maradona weighs so much, very strong in what, together with Buenos Aires, was his home. An emotion that Roma, still unbeaten this season, will try to exploit to their advantage, to definitively enter the category of contenders for the Scudetto. “I expect a difficult match, Napoli for me are the strongest team in this championship – thought Fonseca -. Even when they lost they didn't lose, it's a courageous team that plays good football. But we always want to be strong and play with courage, after all, we haven't lost 16 league games...".
Important absences for both teams, with Rome that embraces Dzeko again but Smalling and Kumbulla lose, while Napoli have to give up the injured Osimhen and the suspended Bakayoko. However, the blue coach will not deviate from the now canonical 4-2-3-1 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly and Mario Rui in defense, Demme and Fabian Ruiz in midfield, Politano, Zielinski and Insigne on the trocar, Mertens in attack. Classic 3-4-2-1 also for Fonseca, who will respond with Mirante in goal, Mancini, Cristante and Juan Jesus in the back, Karsdorp, Pellegrini, Veretout and Spinazzola in the midfield, Pedro and Mkhitaryan behind the lone striker Dzeko .
An important day also for Lazio, which just like Naples and Rome have the possibility of appearing from the top parts of the standings: in case of victory against Udinese, in fact, Inzaghi's team would hook Juventus at 17 points. “I'm used to being considered outside the grids of favourites, but we have the duty and potential to have our say with the very first – confirmed the Biancoceleste coach -. We have played the last two games in the best possible way, we had already closed well before the break. We have to be ready for the next test benches”. Today's one is decidedly indicative: it arrives between two Champions League matches, and it also represents the classic trap of the Italian championship.
Inzaghi will face him with a 3-5-2 formation that will see Strakosha in goal, Patric, Acerbi and Radu in defense, Lazzari, Akpa Akpro, Leiva, Luis Alberto and Fares in midfield, Immobile and Correa in attack. The same system also for Gotti, who will attempt the coup with Musso between the posts, Becao, Nuytinck and Samir in the back, Stryger Larsen, De Paul, Arslan, Pereyra and Zeegelaar in the midfield, Okaka and Pussetto as an offensive duo.
