The Europa League calls, Milan must respond. Saturday with a continental view for the nerazzurri and rossoneri, even if with very different perspectives. In fact, a win against Empoli (at 18 pm) will be enough for Inter to secure fourth place, a minimum objective (and below initial expectations) but still sufficient to enter Europe without preliminaries. Opposite situation instead in Milan: not even a success in Bologna (at 20.45) would guarantee the sixth position in the standings, currently occupied by Sassuolo (on stage tomorrow in Frosinone). In short, even if without excesses, it is the Nerazzurri who are better off, provided that the fool with Lazio is canceled out by a good performance today. “We want to win and finish fourth place – confirmed Mancini in the press conference. – You always start out to do your best and get as high as possible, at the end of the journey you look at the positive and negative things so as not to make the same mistakes”. Positive results, therefore, at least for the coach from Jesi. The fans, on the other hand, are divided: those who are "pro" Mancini underline the improvements compared to last season, those who are "against" underline the points lost in the second round, which actually cost a lot. “We still lack something to have continuity – the analysis of the person concerned. – This was our limit otherwise we would have achieved third place, unfortunately that's how it went. Now let's think about closing the season in the best possible way, then we'll see what to do on the transfer market". Against Empoli, 3 points will be needed both for the standings (fourth place must be secured) and for morale, which dropped not just after the bad defeat in Rome. Mancini will focus on 4-2-3-1 in an attempt to attack the opponents, therefore Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, Miranda, Juan Jesus and Nagatomo in defense, Medel and Kondogbia in midfield, Brozovic, Jovetic and Perisic on the backs of the lone Icardi striker. Giampaolo will respond with the usual 4-3-1-2: Pelagotti between the posts, Bittante, Costa, Tonelli and Mario Rui in the back, Zielinski, Dioussé and Croce in the midfield, Saponara in the trocar to support the attacking couple Pucciarelli- Maccarone.
If Inter have an obligation to win, Milan is certainly no less. On the contrary, according to the standings, the Rossoneri cannot do otherwise, otherwise the only chance to enter the Europa League will be linked to the Coppa Italia. But the away match in Bologna is also intriguing for other reasons, above all the confrontation between Brocchi and Donadoni: the former was on the Rossoneri bench without paying his dues, while the latter, despite many combinations, has always stayed away from it. “I will gladly say goodbye to him, he made me debut for the national team – the current Milan coach glossed over. - For the rest I have nothing to say, often the rumors that go around are false. And then I don't have time to think about these things but only about the match." Which promises to be rather insidious and not only for the value of the hosts, authors of an excellent championship and already capable of winning in the first leg against Mihajlovic's team at the time. The current Milan, in fact, is its own first enemy, as demonstrated by the disconcerting results with Carpi, Verona and Frosinone. “This week the boys trained well and showed great desire – replied Brocchi. – I got the answers I wanted, the hope is that they will show me the same things even in the game. I'm not the only one who is playing something important, many have contracts to win even if this counts relatively: if you're a real player you put everything into it regardless”. A heartfelt defense that of the coach, tonight we will see if the team will respond properly. Brocchi, despite the bad results obtained so far, will confirm the presidential 4-3-1-2 with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Mexes, Romagnoli and De Sciglio in defense, Kucka, Montolivo and Jose Mauri in midfield, Honda in the frontline behind the attacking couple Bacca-Balotelli. Donadoni, one of the special scouts of the match, will reply with his classic 4-2-3-1: Mirante between the posts, Rossettini, Oikonomou, Gastaldello and Masina in the back, Brighi and Diawara in the midfield, Mounier, Brienza and Giaccarini behind to the sole Floccari tip.
