Two traps on the road leading to the Champions League. After the "easy" victories against Bologna and Benevento for Inter and Roma, a decidedly more complicated turn arrives, at least on paper. The away games at home to Genoa (at 20.45 pm) and Udinese (15) are rather insidious and run the risk of significantly influencing the path of both, in one direction or another. Taking full loot would give a big signal to all the contenders, failing instead would authorize those behind (certainly Lazio, but also Sampdoria and Milan will follow with interest) to dream of comebacks that seemed impossible until a few weeks ago.
Spalletti and Di Francesco therefore cannot slow down and must indeed give convincing answers starting from this Saturday of advances. “If we go there with enthusiasm then we can play the game – thought the Nerazzurri coach. – We face a Genoa in great form but we are able to face and beat them, let's not forget that we are third: woe to let ourselves be dragged into depression". The ranking proves him right, the numbers of recent times a little less but the victory over Bologna could have unlocked a regressive phase that was really starting to worry. A confirmation in that of Marassi would complete the work, but certainly it will not be easy both for the excellent moment of Genoa (two consecutive victories with Lazio and Chievo) and for the absences of two key men such as Icardi, Perisic and Miranda, not even summoned due to physical problems.
Spalletti he will therefore have to change interpreters for his 4-2-3-1 which he will see like this Handanovic in goal, Cancel it, Skriniar, Ranocchia and D'Ambrosio in defence, Vecino e Gagliardini in midfield, Candreva, Borja Valero e karamoh behind the sole point Eder. 3-5-2 on the other hand for Ballardini, who will respond with Perin between the posts, Rossettini, Spoil e Zukanovich in the back department, Rosi, Rigoni, Bertolacci, Hiljemark e Laxalt in the median, Galabinov e Pandev in attack. Inter will take the field knowing the result of Roma, which as previously mentioned will open the day in Udine. A match that hides various pitfalls both for the value of Oddo's team and for the imminent Champions League match, which on Wednesday will face the Ukrainians of the Shakhtar Donetsk.
We would have to think only of the field, instead Di Francesco has to face the usual controversies, this time triggered by some not exactly pro-corporate statements by Strootman. “Here we always get lost in chatter, instead we should do the facts, both me and my players – glossed over the coach. – We have a difficult match against a concrete team well fielded by Oddo, right now we need the points. Let's focus on this, the rest must touch us less ". Let's listen to him and try to talk about the field, which will see Roma confirm last Sunday's 4-2-3-1, net of some inevitable changes with a view to the Champions League.
In defense, in front of Alisson, there will be Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Juan Jesus, in midfield the returning De Rossi will team up with Pellegrini, in the frontline space for Under, Nainggolan and Perotti, as usual in attack Dzeko won the ballot with Schick. Oddo will respond with a 3-5-2 with Bizzarri in goal, Nuytinck, Daniel and Samir in the back department, Widmer, Barak, Behrami, Yankee and Zampano in midfield, De Paul and Maxi Lopez in attack.
