Napoli keeps the championship alive. His, who thanks to the success against Juve finds at least a sense, but above all that of Inter, who passed within a few hours from regret for the draw with Cagliari to the joy of having even nibbled away at a point. Merit of Gattuso's team we said, even if perhaps it is more correct to point the finger at the Lady. Too bad to be true, Sarri's eleven, the real big loser on Sunday: the draws between Inter and Lazio had given him the chance to extend in the standings, but the fight remains as lively as ever.
The fault of a subdued performance from all points of view, but also of a tactical choice which, on balance, proved to be wrong. The Ronaldo-Higuain-Dybala trident was not seen from the start from the Super Cup: a question of balance, it was said, especially against medium-high level opponents. Napoli in recent weeks had appeared as fragile as a crystal glass, there's no doubt about that, but the match against Lazio suggested not to take it too lightly, or risk ending up in the trap. Sarri on the other hand, probably reassured by the excellent performance with Roma (Douglas Costa had played there) opted for a very unscrupulous formula, however ending up entangled in the web of a finally working-class Naples as per the standings.
And so, after a boring first half without ideas, in the second it was the Azzurri who unlocked the game with Zielinski, quick to take advantage of a revisable rejection by Szczesny on an unpretentious shot by Insigne (63 '). Juve hit and unable to react, despite the inclusion of Douglas and Bernardeschi to make his formula even more unscrupulous. Instead it was the Azzurri who struck again, this time with Insigne (87'), definitely revitalized compared to some time ago. Juve? All in Ronaldo's final ring, but only useful for statistics, bets and fantasy football.
“We were passive throughout the match, playing under the pace and thinking of winning by walking – Sarri's analysis. – We have always been out of time in the pressures, we have played in a bland way even mentally, making mistakes both in terms of approach and in physical interpretation. We can't be these, we lost against a team that did the minimum to win. The trident? All three were doing well and that's why I chose them, even in midfield they all seemed able to support them...".
The feeling is that the "Dygualdo", at least for a while, will go to the attic again, unlike Gattuso's 4-3-3 "sweat-sacrifice", which in a few days has raised a team on the verge of a crisis unstoppable.
“We won against two great teams, but we have to pedal because we've done enough damage in recent months – commented the blue coach. – Big congratulations to the boys for the last two results, but now we have to continue because if we keep the pitch well and fight all together, we have the qualities to do well".
Football Sunday thus gives us a shorter ranking, but this doesn't erase (at least not entirely) Inter's disappointment. At San Siro, Conte's team did not go beyond a 1-1 draw against Cagliari, thus throwing away another two points after those with Atalanta and Lecce. The third draw in a row, ironically, bears the signature of Nainggolan, a former player who was a little too hastily dismissed by the club and coach. The Ninja, instead acclaimed by the whole stadium, served the most classic of revenges with a shot from distance, albeit helped by the unfortunate deflection of Bastoni, thus nullifying Lautaro Martinez's advantage.
And since bad news never comes alone, the Argentine has seen fit to completely ruin his Sunday by getting expelled for protesting after the match is almost over: a direct red that risks costing a lot, given that the sports judge, in addition to making him miss the away match in Udine, it will almost certainly also take away the derby with Milan on 9 February. Scenario that infuriated Conte, who left San Siro without making a statement: a press blackout that, paradoxically, makes almost as much noise as a conference. In fact, it is undeniable that this 1-1 weighs, obviously in the negative.
Difficult to think of the Scudetto at this pace: 2020 for the Nerazzurri, with the exception of the success in Naples on Epiphany day, has only seen draws, and in addition all comebacks (subìta). A matter of episodes, of course, but also, if not above all, of legs that don't move very much and a latent nervousness that is difficult to control. If we add to this that the strikers, compared to some time ago, are no longer able to score avalanche of goals, this explains the decline of Inter, unable to close matches which, punctually, start well.
Yesterday too she was the first to take the lead with Lautaro, good at exploiting Young's beautiful cross and beating Cragno with a header (29'). But in the second half, after having failed several chances to double, here is the mockery signed by Nainggolan (78'), before Martinez completed the disaster by sending Manganiello to hell in full recovery (94'). Today will be Eriksen's day, expected in Milan to kick off his new Nerazzurri adventure: a nice consolation, God forbid, just like the defeat against Juve. Because the championship, despite everything, remains more uncertain than ever.
