THEInter continues his triumphal ride towards the second star, the Juve finds victory again, Milan e Atalanta they don't get hurt, the Napoli brake again. The very rich Sunday in Serie A confirms the unstoppable strength of the league leaders, capable of winning in Lecce even by making a turnover, but also the second place of the Bianconeri, who returned to +4 on the Devil who in turn was held to a 1-1 draw by the Goddess. The draw at San Siro, in addition to certifying Allegri's position, also weighs on the Champions League zone, given that fourth place is now the prerogative of Bologna, fourth alone with 48 points. Roma e Lazio, in today's postponements, will necessarily have to beat Torino e Fiorentina to shorten the distances and stay in the race.
Lecce – Inter 0-4: Lautaro makes 101 in Serie A, Inzaghi dominates at Via del Mare with the turnover
Slow down? Not a chance. L'Inzaghi's Inter only knows how to win, even when he relies on a massive dose of turnover, confirming himself as the absolute steamroller of the championship. Scudetto number 20, that of the second star, no longer seems to be in question, but given that mathematics is involved between saying and doing, here he is grinding out point after point, without knowing any stops of any kind.
The trip to Lecce could have been a trap and the other big names probably would have stumbled into it, but Inter instead did what they wanted, even allowing themselves the luxury of changing six members of their eleven. Pioli did something similar a week ago in Monza, but this time the result was decidedly different. The 4-0 final, however, first of all brings the signature of Lautaro Martinez, reached 101 goals in Serie A. Only one was missing from the third figure and the Toro he had his tooth removed after just 15', taking advantage of a ball in the open field by Asllani, who was deployed in place of the injured Calhanoglu. From then on, Lecce, who initially appeared toned and determined, melted away like snow in the sun, even if it was in the second half that the league leaders took off. To the 54' Frattesi he doubled the lead by taking advantage of a nice assist from Sanchez, then two minutes later Lautaro, he again, scored the 3-0 with an assist from the same former Sassuolo midfielder and when The free, in the 68th minute, he punched his card for the fourth time taking advantage of a corner from Dimarco, Inzaghi raised his fists to the sky, both for the victory and for the enormous satisfaction of coaching such a strong and hungry team (starters and reserves) .
Inzaghi doesn't lower his guard: "We have to stay focused even when we sleep"
“We know that 3 months left, many matches – he glossed over Inzaghi -. At home, Lecce is having a quiet championship, building their points here, it was an away match 72 hours after the Champions League which takes away a lot of energy, the boys were very good. There team can still improve, it's right to be happy with the beautiful journey, but we shouldn't look at the numbers, the most important months are still missing: on Wednesday we will have Atalanta, then there will be many other matches. Lautaro? I was in doubt whether to start with him or with Arnautovic. Then, after the match against Atletico Madrid, Marko had some problems with some fever and I decided to leave with Lauti. Match point with Atalanta? Absolutely not, it's not like that: we have to stay focused even when we sleep."
Juventus – Frosinone 3-2, Rugani in the 95th minute gives the Bianconeri a comeback
Sigh of relief for Juventus, who wins again after more than a month since the last time. The 3-2 over Frosinone, however, it was anything but simple, in fact the decisive goal actually arrived in the 95th minute with Rugani, who was very good at pouncing on a push from Vlahovic and transforming the corner of desperation into the highlight of the match. First it had been a roller coaster, with Juve unfortunate in not taking advantage of the immediate advantage Vlahovic (3'), being put back first by the header of Cheddar (14'), then from the shot of Brescianini (27'). Moments of absolute panic at the Stadium, at least until the 2-2 draw for the usual Serbian striker, who reached 15 goals in Serie A in 23 games (32').
In the second half, however, Juve, despite risking very little, was unable to find the right play to complete the counter-comeback, also due to some rather serious waste in front of goal and the match seemed to slip away towards a sensational draw. But al 95' here is Rugani's strike to sweep away all the negativity and secure the precious second place: no small feat given the team's bad moment, further burdened by the injuries of McKennie (dislocated shoulder) and Rabiot (bruised foot).
Allegri: "Important victory, but we need to find defensive solidity"
"Was It's important to win again, because when results are lacking the pressure rises – theAllegri's analysis -. This group has done well so far, they scored 57 points which is a lot, this was a good test because of the pressure and the boys did well. Too many goals conceded? We need to find solidity and look only at the present, the company will take care of the future, as it has always done. We have put Bologna back on 9 points, but there are still many games and many direct clashes to go. We won't fall into limbo, second place would still be an important result for our growth, plus there's the semi-final of the Italian Cup."
Milan – Atalanta 1-1: Leao's magic deceives the Devil, Koopmeiners equalizes from a penalty
Il big match at San Siro promised goals and entertainment, instead it ended with a 1-1 interlocutory that leaves everything unchanged in the Champions League fight. Milan loses two points compared to Juve in second place, but all in all they archive a difficult match without damage, Atalanta sees themselves overtaken by Bologna in fourth place, yet returns home with the feeling of having gained a point. Opportunities in hand, in fact, it was the Devil who deserved something more, but in the end the result reflects what was seen on the pitch, with two teams that ended up canceling each other out.
The great mutual respect feared by the two coaches was transferred onto the field, despite the splendid play by Leao after just 3': sharp dribbling on Holm and Scalvini and the ball in the seven behind Carnesecchi, breaking a fast (in the league) that had lasted since September 23rd. The goal seemed to be able to uncork the match in Milan's favor, also because Atalanta chose an unusually defensive approach, based mainly on counterattacks. At the end of the first half, however, here is the episode favorable to the Goddess: "televised" contact between Giroud and Holm and penalty for Gasperini's men, promptly transformed by Koopmeiners (42 ').
At the start of the second half, Atalanta played the Lookman card, but it was the Rossoneri who had the most important opportunities: one with Calabria (rejected by Carnesecchi), the other with Pulisic, whose shot actually went out by a whisker compared to the Nerazzurri goal. As the minutes passed, the match settled into a draw, certifying a result that suits both, in the knowledge that the season is still long and that a defeat, numbers in hand, would have been really difficult to manage.
Pioli: “We deserved to win! The penalty wasn't there and Gasp's complaints bother me."
“If there was a team that deserved to win it was ours – he explained Pioli -. It's a shame, we played the best match against Atalanta since I've been there. We didn't let them shoot on target, playing with personality and quality, we could have scored a few more goals but we didn't succeed: it's the best performance of the week, we wanted and deserved the victory. I believe that lately we have had this approach very often here, except in Monza where we got everything wrong. I also heard a lot of negative comments about Thursday, we had to manage a clear advantage and I think we did it well. Leao? He had the best performance of the season, but he must always play like this, he has the means to do it. The penalty? Giroud does nothing, well done to them: if Holm hadn't thrown himself in with his hands on his head, Orsato would never have gone to the On Field Review. Gasperini says he has an arbitration claim against us? Some things bother me, but they really, really bother me."
Gasperini: “Penalty? It's like this with VAR, but we are in credit with Milan."
“We conceded a goal in a situation we worked on all week, I was disappointed to have conceded the goal so quickly – the words of Gasperini -. Milan often plays with a three-man midfield, we had time to switch positions to sort things out. The Rossoneri put in an excellent performance and we struggled to get a point, even if it was the most difficult performance in recent months. The penalty? Orsato went to the Var to see it and gave it. This year they give penalties like this with technology, I've never been in favor of this, but against Milan we have a lot of credit to burn on this topic. I agree, however, that in this football some penalties are given that are perplexing, I don't like it very much. Sometimes the episode is for, other times against...".
Cagliari – Napoli 1-1: Osimhen deceives the Azzurri, Luvumbo mocks them in the 96th minute
Another black Sunday for Napoli, forced once again to postpone the appointment with the victory. L'1-1 in Cagliari it is very different from the one on Wednesday against Barcelona: there, in fact, the Azzurri had managed to come back, but here they were mocked in full injury time, throwing away two points that now seemed to be in the bag.
Yesterday's match, if there were still any need, confirms the bad mood of this season, given that Calzona's team, which took the lead first with the usual osimhen (65'), had numerous opportunities to double the lead with Politano, Simeone and Lobotka, before collecting the sensational 1-1 with the match now over. Napoli was guilty of not closing out the match, but also of not knowing how to defend itself in one of the rare scoring opportunities left to Cagliari: Juan Jesus' mistake on the goal Luvumbo it's a red pencil, although it is right to give credit to the Angolan striker, who was very good at turning and beating Meret despite a muscle problem (96'). Angry celebration for Ranieri, who gains an unexpected point in the key to salvation, much regret for Calzona, further and further from the Champions League goal. Now the distance from fourth place is 9 points and a possible victory on Wednesday in injury time against Sassuolo, however fundamental (without victory it will be a definitive white flag), would not particularly change things.
Calzona: “It would take time, but there isn't any. Champions? We will do everything possible"
"The created and wrong opportunities weigh, the management of the advantage was discreet but we could have done better, however let's start from here - the comment of Calzone -. She is a mental issue because the physical condition is good, I can only criticize something in the management of the race, which we knew would be dirty with tall grass and wind. I had individual and group interviews, the team made themselves available immediately but it takes time. We have to make an effort because we have little, but I am surprised in a positive way, even if unfortunately we are all tied to the results. There Champions zone? It's useless to make plans, we look game by game, but as long as mathematics doesn't condemn us we'll aim for the maximum."
Rome – Turin (18.30 pm, Dazn)
To complete the picture of the 26th day, the Roman matches are still missing, as they are busy today after the efforts of Thursday. There Roma, in particular, is fresh from the penalty shootout victory over Feyenoord, which gave her the precious pass to the Europa League round of 16, but also a lot of toxins in her legs. Today the Giallorossi will find each other in front of Juric's Torino, in turn defeated by Lazio in the championship recovery, in a match that they must necessarily win, even more so after the results of the weekend.
The Champions League zone is 7 points away and Roma have the duty to stay in its wake, even more so if the places were to become five: still a hypothetical scenario, but not so far from reality. In Trigoria there is a decidedly positive atmosphere and not only because of the results, which are nevertheless fundamental. L'Era De Rossi brought serenity and a good game, elements almost unknown in Mourinho's time, without however affecting the enthusiasm of the square, which remained as strong as with his predecessor. DDR knows that the iron must be struck while it is hot, which is why he has every intention of beating Toro and continuing the race, for Roma and for himself.
De Rossi: “Satisfaction after the cup? No, every match must be the match of life"
"It will be tough against Torino, but let's not talk about a hangover: if we get in badly it will be my fault – he pointed out The Rossi -. I ask for great intensity, every match here is the match of life. We have to run, we can't stop, if we had already won the cup there would be satisfaction, but we are only in the round of 120. It's nice to enjoy these evenings for a few hours, but now we have to think about the match, if we go onto the field still drunk with happiness it will mean that I will have done a terrible job. Toro has a very precise identity, Juric is a great coach, perhaps one of the first I spied on, with his permission, when he was at Hellas Verona. They are the worst team to face after XNUMX minutes, but we will be ready."
Rome – Turin, the lineups: Lukaku rests, Dybala starts
The midweek efforts could affect the legs of the Giallorossi and the Granata, so it is reasonable to expect some changes compared to Thursday. The most accredited "starter" for a rest shift is Lukaku, who also appeared to be in physical deficit: the Belgian should start from the bench, while Dybala, at least initially, it will be part of the game. De Rossi will start from a 4-3-3 with Svilar, cup hero and now promoted to starter at the expense of Rui Patricio, in goal, Kristensen, Mancini, N'Dicka and Angelino in defence, Bove, Paredes and Pellegrini in midfield, Dybala, Azmoun and El Shaarawy in attack.
Juric, forced to do without Buongiorno again, will try to rekindle European hopes with a 3-4-1-2 with Milinkovic-Savic between the posts, Djidji, Lovato and Masina in the defensive department, Bellanova, Linetty, Ricci and Lazaro in the midfield, Vlasic behind the offensive pair formed by Zapata and Sanabria.
Fiorentina – Lazio (20.45pm, Dazn and Sky)
The other challenge on Monday is that of Florence, where Fiorentina and Lazio will face each other to remain clinging to the Europe area. To tell the truth, the Biancocelesti have already taken a good step forward by winning the injury time against Torino, despite a decidedly lackluster performance. From what we saw on the pitch, in fact, the 2-0 scored by Guendouzi and Cataldi was excessive to say the least, but in the end the 3 points count and those went to replenish the Lazio table. Now the Champions League zone, in light of the weekend's results, is 8 points away, which would become 5 in the event of today's success: Franchi, in short, is a real watershed for the championship white and blue.
However, it was more delayed Fiorentina, thanks to a 2024 so far very stingy with satisfaction. The Viola, in fact, have only collected 4 points in the last 7 days, to which we must add the bad defeat in the Super Cup against Napoli. An unrewarding role and decidedly far from what is needed to go to Europe, but despite this Fiorentina is still in the running and able to change pace, without forgetting the opportunities offered by the Conference League and the Italian Cup.
Fiorentina – Lazio, the lineups: Sarri confirms the Isaksen-Immobile-Felipe Anderson trident
For a Sarri struggling with injuries (Rovella and Patric) e disqualifications (Gila), there is an Italian who was able to work all week and prepare for the challenge as best as possible. The blue and white coach, however, wants to exploit the post-Turin inertia and also win the Franchi: to do so he will rely on a 4-3-3 with Provedel in goal, Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli and Marusic in defense, Guendouzi, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in midfield, Isaksen, Immobile and Felipe Anderson in attack.
Classic 4-2-3-1 also for Fiorentina, who will respond with Terracciano between the posts, Faraoni, Martinez Quarta, Ranieri and Biraghi in the defensive department, Arthur and Duncan in the midfield, Nico Gonzalez, Beltran and Sottil behind the lone striker Belotti.
