Conquering the Champions area. The results of the last day, in addition to sanctioning the escape from Naples, they created a real tussle among the other big players, all attacked (Juventus aside) looking for a place in the Europe that counts. From the Milan according to at Atalanta sixth, in fact, there are only 3 points, with in the middle Lazio, Inter e Roma: the margin of error has narrowed so much that anything can happen, also that the Milanese, until a few weeks ago fighting for the Scudetto, find themselves even outside the top four. That's why today is becoming very delicate, with the Champions League fight intertwined with that salvation: Cremonese-Inter and Atalanta-Sampdoria might seem obvious, yet recent events have taught us that they are not at all.
Cremonese – Inter (18pm, Dazn)
It starts with Cremona the return round of Inter, who finished the first leg in fourth place with 37 points, 9 less than a year ago. Negative balance, although Inzaghi justifies himself by saying that the others, with the exception of Napoli, are also following more or less the same path. The "mal common, half joy", however, cannot be enough for the Nerazzurri, just like the Super Cup won a few days ago: the club's primary objective, in fact, is to stay permanently in the first four and Inter seen so far does not guarantee it 100%. What was more annoying, however, were the almost schizophrenic ups and downs, which gave very high-level peaks (see the victory over Napoli, as well as the one over Barcelona and in the Riyadh derby), but also disconcerting slip-ups, the last Monday against Empoli. The Inter fans would like more stability and Inzaghi has a duty to give it to them, starting with Cremona: on the field of the last in the standings, still without victories, there is only one result available.
Inzaghi: "We want revenge, but now we need more regularity"
“Thank goodness we'll be back on the field immediately, I'm convinced that the group has great desire for revenge – the thought of the Nerazzurri coach -. Aside from Napoli who play a separate league, there are five teams enclosed in a few points: more regularity will be needed, always thinking about match after match because they will be played often. The calendar is busy, now our focus is on Cremonese, knowing that we will have many games ahead of us with the hope of recovering the injured players to have more rotations available. They're bottom of the table, but they've played well in the championship, coming from qualifying for the Italian Cup by beating Napoli away and from a draw against Bologna, so they're in an excellent moment. And then I know Ballardini because I had him as a coach, he is very well prepared”.
Cremonese - Inter, the formations: Skriniar and Barella disqualified, Brozovic still injured
It will be true Inter in short, even if injuries (Brozovic) and suspensions (Skriniar and Barella) will force Inzaghi to review the starting eleven. If the Croatian's absence, in fact, is no longer a novelty (just think that he hasn't played from the first minute in the league since 18 September), those of the captain (now close to saying goodbye) and the blue midfielder mess up the coach's plans , however faithful to the usual 3-5-2. At Zini we will thus see Onana in goal, Darmian, Acerbi and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Gagliardini, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Lautaro and Dzeko in attack, with Lukaku ready to take over from the bench. Ballardini, author of two consecutive useful results which have restored some confidence in the environment, will attempt the coup with a mirror game system, with Carnesecchi in goal, Ferrari, Chiriches and Vasquez in the back, Sernicola, Castagnetti, Meité, Benassi and Valeri in the midfield, Okereke and Dessers as an offensive pair.
Atalanta – Sampdoria (20.45 pm, Dazn and Sky Sport)
In the evening, however, will touch at Atalanta by Gasperini, engaged in the home match against Sampdoria. La Dea is currently out of the Champions League area, but is perhaps in the best shape (together with Lazio) of the teams involved: the 3-3 draw in Turin confirmed the newfound offensive vein of a team different from the past, yet still very dangerous and competitive. Today's match sees it clearly favored, but the Sampdoria is desperate for points and he will sell his life dearly, which is why an attentive and concentrated Atalanta will be needed to take a very heavy victory, also considering the commitments of the competitors (above all Roma, engaged in the extremely difficult away match in Naples).
Gasperini doesn't hide: "The goal is to return to the Champions League"
“Sampdoria is always difficult to face, our confidence must not lead to euphoria – warned Gasperini -. Let's remember the Cremonese, last hosted when we were first without being able to go beyond the draw, the matches must all be played. I don't think I'll let anyone rest in view of the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia with Inter: five substitutions are worth half the team, when one is tired he leaves. I would like to achieve the maximum this season: the way we are now, the goal is to return to the Champions League”.
Atalanta - Sampdoria, the formations: Zapata and Muriel called up, but Gasp does not make a turnover
The stakes are very high and the Nerazzurri coach, despite the imminent quarter of the Italian Cup against Inter, has no intention of making a turnover. At the Gewiss Stadium we will therefore see the Atalanta of the last few weeks, designed with a 3-4-3 with Musso in goal, Toloi, Demiral and Scalvini in defence, Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners and Maehle in midfield, Boga, Hojlund and Lookman in attack. Stankovic, desperate for a spark to rekindle hopes of salvation, will respond with a 3-4-1-2 with Audero between the posts, Murillo, Nuytinck and Aimone in the back department, Leris, Winks, Rincon and Augello in the midfield, Djuricic behind the offensive duo made up of Lammers and Gabbiadini.
