Inter and Roma fly, Milan must respond. Saturday full of smiles for the nerazzurri and giallorossi, both back in the noble areas of the standings, and a consequent Sunday of enormous pressure for the rossoneri, forced to win in order not to lose, perhaps definitively, the train towards the Europe that counts. But let's go in order and start with advances, starting with Spalletti's Inter, now firmly recovered from the difficulties at the start of the championship and back to playing a leading role. A success against Cagliari needed the air not to call everything into question and the Nerazzurri found it, moreover by resting several key elements in view of the away match in Eindhoven, another key appointment of the week. In short, mission accomplished in its entirety, with the added satisfaction of having relaunched important players, above all Lautaro Martinez. El Toro, lined up in place of Icardi, responded with a goal as a true centre-forward, demonstrating his value to the whole world and, above all, that Inter, for the first time, can also give up their captain without necessarily losing value. The winning header already arrived in the 12th minute and steered the match towards a very precious victory, then legitimized by wise management, as a mature, finally complete team. The goal disallowed by Dessena (clear hand ball) was just a thrill promptly thwarted by the Var, for the rest Inter led the match without major problems and Politano's goal (90') only increased the festive atmosphere inside the San Siro. “I'm very happy, we won and I had the opportunity to change players and add fresh strength – thought Spalletti. – We achieved a heavy success for the standings, moreover without conceding anything to our opponents. Lautaro? He's a strong footballer, he has it all: quality, technique, strength and that little bit of selfishness that never hurts”.
A very important victory also for Rome, which in one fell swoop takes city supremacy and, above all, 3 platinum points. In fact, those with Frosinone were not enough to consider the crisis closed, these with Lazio, on the other hand, definitely yes. A derby is not a game like any other, to win it you need above-average grit and courage: in short, everything that the Giallorossi lacked at the start of the season and which yesterday showed itself in a big way, right on the most important day . “I had asked for a men's derby, I was satisfied – commented Di Francesco with satisfaction. – Retreating served to bring out the fears and difficulties, now I want the team to maintain this attitude in the next matches as well". And to say that the match hadn't started well, with Lazio scaring and Roma trembling on more than one occasion. But then, as the minutes went by, the Giallorossi managed to gain meters until the match-breaking episode, a daring situation transformed into a goal by Pellegrini's heel (45'). In the second half, a mistake by Fazio seemed to call everything into question, with Immobile very good at exploiting it and making the momentary equalizer (67'), but Roma had the merit of not losing their heads and regaining the 2-1 at the first useful opportunity. with the most classic goal from the former (Kolarov on a free kick in the 71st minute). And when Fazio redeemed the previously described mess with the house specialty (86', header), Di Francesco understood he had won the derby and could finally breathe again. “We conceded three goals from set pieces but to win a derby you need to do more – sighed Inzaghi. – They were hungrier, meaner, they deserved success”.
Lucid and honest analysis that of the Biancoceleste coach, however forced to deal with the usual problem: his Lazio, in direct confrontations, never wins. On the other hand, Gattuso's Milan does not have these problems but only because, unfortunately for him, the high ranking does not concern him. In fact, the Rossoneri are observing the race for the Champions League from a melancholy 13th place, aware that they can no longer make any mistakes, otherwise their dreams of glory should be postponed until next season. In Reggio Emilia, in tonight's postponement (20.30 pm), Gattuso must necessarily win but the mission, numbers in hand, is anything but simple. In fact, De Zerbi's Sassuolo will be facing them, the true revelation of the championship, ready to take advantage of the opponents' difficulties and fears to confirm themselves in the noble area of the standings. “The fact of not being able to win puts us in great difficulty, makes us waste a lot of both physical and mental energy – Gattuso's analysis. – However, the team is playing well and I am convinced that a victory could unlock us from all points of view". Everyone at Milan wishes it, because the current standings are too far from the expectations of an ambitious club that is ready for anything to return to the Champions League, even considering a change of coach. Gattuso knows it well, that's why he wants to win at any cost but, unfortunately for him, he will have to do it once again without Higuain. The muscle discomfort is still there and the coach doesn't want to risk it becoming something more serious, so he has decided not to call him up for today's away match. And since Cutrone and Borini aren't at their best either, we will see Milan without a striker with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Bonaventura, Biglia and Kessie in midfield, Suso, Castillejo and Calhanoglu in attack. A lot of energy on the Sassuolo front, with De Zerbi who will seek definitive consecration relying on Consigli between the posts, Lirola, Marlon, Ferrari and Rogerio in the back department, Sensi, Locatelli and Bourabia in the midfield, Berardi, Boateng and Di Francesco in the offensive trident.
