Napoli launches the challenge. To Juve, who will show up at San Siro with only a 3-point lead and to Inter, who are forced to win in Bergamo in order not to lose ground from second place. A very important success for the Azzurri in Genoa and not just for the match itself: in Marassi, in fact, it also took the weather to mess up the cards and that's why winning, especially by comeback, is even worth double. Yeah, because when the abyss referee (nomen omen) he stopped the match due to a storm that was making it impossible to continue, Genoa won 1-0 and Napoli risked drowning all their Scudetto ambitions on an anonymous Saturday in early November. But then all the ductility of a team capable not only of changing men but also the way of playing came out, as confirmed by Davide Ancelotti, son of the much more famous Carlo, who managed to turn over even in the press conference.
“He too needed rest, that's why I came – joked the deputy blue coach. – The weather perils were an additional problem but we were good at adapting and dealing with them in the best possible way. We are leaving here with great satisfaction, we managed to play a great game”. So much joy, however understandable: when the referee stopped the match (58') there were just over half an hour left, Genoa were leading 1-0 (Kouamé on 20') and Napoli seemed destined to surrender to adversity. But then, thanks to 10' in the locker room to sort things out (in the meantime the rain had clamorously subsided), the Azzurri found the crux of the matter, first equalizing through Fabian Ruiz (62'), then with Biraghi's own goal propitiated by a poisonous free-kick by Mario Rui (86').
Today, however, it will be the turn of Inter and Roma, the great protagonists of an afternoon that promises to be very entertaining. The match between the Nerazzurri in Bergamo (at 12.30), for example, is a rather interesting way to start Sunday football, with an Inter very excited after the draw with Barcelona and an Atalanta back to the standards of recent years. “A very difficult race awaits us – admitted Spalletti. – Our morale is good but we need to restart without giving up an inch, this is an opportunity to see what level of maturity we have reached. In fact, even in past years it happened to get good streaks of results, but then you have to be constant". And so we need a victory today too, to close an already excellent month regardless and which, at that point, would even become extraordinary. Watch out for Atalanta and Gasperini though, someone who has the same reaction when he sees Inter as a bull in the arena: his team, back from three consecutive victories, has no intention of stopping right at the climax.
“It will be a different match from the others played in Bergamo, Inter won't come here to defend themselves – warned the Nerazzurri coach. – We will play without making too many calculations, even if it will be important to be able to get a result”. Spalletti will play with the system of the last few matches, a mix between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 that allows his team to realize a lot and suffer little. In defense, in front of Handanovic, space for D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda and Asamoah, with Gagliardini, Brozovic and Joao Mario in midfield and the Candreva-Icardi-Perisic trident in attack. Usual 3-4-1-2 also for Gasperini, who will respond with Berisha between the posts, Toloi, Bettella and Mancini in the back department, Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler and Gosens in the midfield, Gomez behind the offensive couple Ilicic-Zapata. Immediately after the match in Bergamo the spotlights will turn on the Olimpico in Rome, where Di Francesco's team will receive Giampaolo's Sampdoria (15pm).
Very important test for the Giallorossi, who after having mortgaged the round of XNUMX of the Champions League by winning in Moscow they must repeat themselves today, worth putting into big discussion those of next year. Yes, because fourth place is starting to drift dangerously away and just a little perseverance could put things right. “We have to improve our performance, especially at home – confirmed Di Francesco. – We need mentality, physique and technique, in short, everything: I constantly repeat to my parents that you only return to the Champions League if you do well in the league. I almost feel like putting on the little music…”. The coach's joke gives an idea of how much this match counts, to be faced with the best possible formation. The Giallorossi 4-2-3-1 will see Olsen in goal, Florenzi, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Kolarov in defense, Cristante and Nzonzi in midfield, Under, Pellegrini and Schick in the trocar, Dzeko in attack. 4-3-1-2 by order for Giampaolo, who will attempt the coup with Audero between the posts, Bereszynski, Andersen, Tonelli and Murru in the back department, Linetty, Ekdal and Praet in the midfield, Saponara in support of the Defrel-Quagliarella couple .
