Escape trials. Inter opens the 18th day, the penultimate of the first round before the Christmas break, with the aim of beating Salernitana (20.45 pm) and then enjoying Milan-Naples on Sunday, with the certainty of earning points on someone, perhaps on both. The goal seems quite feasible, given that today's opponent, in addition to being last with just 8 points, is going through a period of truly total uncertainty from a corporate point of view.
Of course, what happened yesterday in the Lega assembly (18 votes and one abstention, Lotito, to ensure that the club has an extension until the end of the championship) would seem to guarantee the end of the season, but the prospects are still bleak: who will guarantee, for example, the January market, considered indispensable to attempt salvation? In short, Colantuono's team has very different thoughts compared to Inter, which in any case cannot and does not want to be pityed, given that this shift, as previously mentioned, appears to have been made especially for them. But Inzaghi, who was absent at the press conference yesterday (who knows why?), doesn't want to make the mistake of underestimating anyone, aware that only a mental misstep could create problems for him.
It must also be said that the team, so far, has never disappointed him in this sense, as evidenced by the tests against Venice, Spezia and Cagliari, just to stay at the last: the numbers speak for him, author of an even better score than that Of Tale. A year ago, these days, the current Tottenham coach had 3 points and one position less in the standings, conceded more goals (23 to 15) and, above all, failed to qualify for the Champions League. Inzaghi on the other hand, despite the sales of Hakimi and Lukaku and the loss of Eriksen, he was able to keep the bar straight, gaining from the point of view of the game, much more fun and spectacular than the previous one.
In short, the conditions for closing 2021 in the best possible way are all there, provided that we start tonight in Salerno. The coach seems oriented towards confirming much of the 3-5-2 already seen against Cagliari, limiting the turnover to a couple of men, therefore Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Dimarco in midfield, Dzeko and Sanchez in attack.
Colantunono he knows he's facing an almost impossible mission, but also facing a sold out Arechi, despite the sad corporate events, so he'll try with a 4-3-1-2 that will see Belec between the posts, Veseli, Gyomber , Gagliolo and Ranieri in the back, Kechrida, Coulibaly and Di Tacchio in the midfield, Kastanos behind the offensive duo made up of Ribery and Simy. However, Lazio and Genoa will open the 18th day, expected from the "aperitif" match at 18.30. Here too it would seem to be an unequal challenge, although Sarri's biancocelesti certainly don't have the solidity of Inter. Indeed, it can be said that, at least so far, they have been one of the great disappointments, in the light of the expectations that existed regarding the Commander's arrival.
Points and champagne football were expected, instead Lazio sail sadly in ninth place in the standings, minus 11 from Napoli fourth and also behind Empoli of Andreazzolli. “This team trains well and applies itself at a good level, but the Europa League is grinding us down – replied Mau -. After the cup matches we have a much lower average, we can't handle such close matches and this is a fault, our limit. Having said that, I wouldn't want to exaggerate when talking about the Champions League objective, it happened once in a historical moment in which there was neither Inter nor Milan, now everything is more complicated: I want my players to aim first of all at correcting certain defects".
There will therefore be time ahead for dreams of glory, but now we need points, because making a mistake with Genoa and Venice would be truly unforgivable. Sarri however, he risks having to do without Immobile, affected by gastroenteritis and strongly in doubt, which would greatly weaken Lazio, which has always clung to its bomber par excellence. If Ciro succeeds, he will be the starter, vice versa it will be up to Muriqi to compose the attack together with Pedro and Felipe Anderson, in a 4-3-3 which will then see Strakosha in goal, Hysaj, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Marusic in defense and the Milinkovic trio -Savic, Cataldi and Basic in midfield. Shevchenko, reassured by the victory in the Italian Cup over Salernitana, he will try the coup with a 3-5-2 with Sirigu in goal, Vanheusden, Masiello and Criscito in the back, Ghiglione, Sturaro, Badelj, Hernani and Cambiaso in the midfield, Pandev and Destro offensive couple.
