Naples is back! The home draw with Palermo seemed to have undermined the certainties of a group that has been tested for years, and perhaps still inexperienced to really aim for the championship podium. Instead, Sarri's men responded well and took a good revenge on the criticisms of the press and fans, as well as a new advantage over their pursuers. Now the Azzurri are second and will be able to enjoy the matches in Rome (at home against Fiorentina) and Inter (in Turin against Juve) with the utmost relaxation, aware that they have done their duty to the fullest.
In the 7-1 in Bologna there is all the technical superpower of a team who, when he manages to express himself to the maximum, is practically unplayable: the problem is managing the down moments which, however, have not been seen in the Dall'Ara bowl. Not even 10' and Napoli were already up by two goals: Hamsik first (4') and then Insigne (6') had, in fact, directed the match. In the 26th minute Destro had the ball to reopen any discussion (penalty by Callejon) but had it saved by Reina, and so the Azzurri literally spread. Mertens found the 1-3 (33'), Bologna had a surge of pride (Torosidis in the 36') but the Belgian himself silenced everyone at the end of the first half (43').
The second half served only to give further polish to Napoli, who scored three more times: two with Hamsik (70' and 74') and once with Mertens (90'), now the new league top scorer with 16 goals (1 more than by Higuain, Icardi and Dzeko). “I'm happy for the victory but if I think that with Palermo we had created even more, I regret it – Sarri's analysis. – This team is doing very well, now Milik is back but it doesn't necessarily mean that he has to change the interpreters of the attack”. The message is loud and clear: those three up front, at the moment, are not touching, pace De Laurentiis who in addition to the Pole (in any case to be managed in the best possible way) has also made Pavoletti available to the coach.
The championship Sunday will start from San Siro, where Montella's Milan will host Giampaolo's Sampdoria (12.30). This is a very delicate match for the Rossoneri, returning from a black January that gave only one victory (against Cagliari with time almost up) against 3 defeats and 2 draws. Nothing is lost, God forbid, but the bonuses have all already been used and there is the feeling of being faced with a crossroads: on one side passes the road to Europe, on the other that of an unthinkable downsizing until a few weeks ago and today more than possible. Beating Sampdoria and Bologna (Wednesday in recovery) would restore the shine to the standings, any other type of result, on the other hand, would create confusion and worries.
“In football, points count and unfortunately we are lacking those – explained Montella. – In terms of performance, however, we have grown and it is right to take this into account too, after all football is beautiful because it is illogical and the best man doesn't always win. Now let's think about Sampdoria, a good team built with logic that we can only beat with speed and patience".
The real problem for the Rossoneri coach is undoubtedly the infirmary, increasingly crowded especially in defence, where De Sciglio, Calabria and Antonelli will be missing. To remedy this death of full-backs, Milan are thinking of Martin Caceres (he was offered a contract) and, more immediately, of Romagnoli, who will move to the left to stop the emergency.
The other trouble concerns the attack, orphaned for the whole season of a fundamental player like Bonaventura, one of the few to guarantee changes of pace and quality. Montella will have to make a virtue out of necessity, therefore 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Abate, Paletta, Zapata and Romagnoli in defence, Kucka, Sosa (favorite over Locatelli, who has appeared decidedly tarnished in recent times) and Pasalic in midfield, Suso, Bacca and Deulofeu (his debut at the San Siro) in attack.
Giampaolo, confident after last Sunday's good victory over Roma, will respond with the usual 4-3-1-2 with Viviano between the posts, Bereszynski, Silvestre, Skriniar and Regini in the back, Barreto, Torreira and Praet in the midfield, Bruno Fernandes behind the offensive duo Quagliarella-Muriel.
