Make it or brake it. Inter-Juventus is not only the 233rd Italian derby in history (197 in Serie A) but it is also, if not above all, the match that can decide the championship for both. On the one hand, a scudetto that seemed already in the pocket and which instead has been forcefully called into question, on the other, a qualification for the next Champions League very important, not to mention vital, for the club's future plans.
In short, what will happen this evening at San Siro (20.45 pm) will have consequences, not surprisingly, among the many spectators, there will be those very interested in Napoli, but also Lazio and Rome. The Scudetto-Champions intertwining is made even more interesting by the atavistic rivalry between the two clubs, which adds further pepper to the challenge: because in addition to being able to achieve one's goal, there is also the possibility of making the "enemies" lose everything, a sort of perverse mechanism that raises tensions to the stars and makes this Italian derby a real seasonal crossroads .
“A draw is of little use, both of us is we will play to win them – he admitted Spalletti without compromise. – We're ready, we're fine, it's a game that's worth entering the Champions League and we want to give our fans something great. We will have a full stadium, indeed packed and we will be ferocious, indeed very ferocious”. The battle cry from the Nerazzurri coach doesn't scare Allegri, at least in words. He's the one who plays the most, because if it's true that an Inter without the Champions League would have failed, it's equally true that a Juve without the Scudetto would reach an all-time low in recent years and would in all probability sanction the end of a cycle.
“If it's the worst time since I've been here? No come on, when I arrived it was worse… – the Juventus coach “joked”. - We mustn't be thoughtful, the more we are, the less we play well. In recent days I've heard many things about the fans, about the locker room: all without foundation but that's okay, let's let them slip away serenely. We only want to think about playing and winning, with the knowledge that the championship won't be decided here but between three Sundays". Mathematics proves him right, but of course that leaving San Siro without winning could create huge problems and this, to tell the truth, also applies to Inter. In short, there will be no calculations, only the desire to win, provided that the fear of losing does not play a trick on someone or even both.
Spallettiexcept for the injured person Gagliardini, has the entire squad at his disposal and will field the best 4-2-3-1 with Handanovic in goal, Cancel it, Skriniar, Miranda and D'Ambrosio in defence, Vecino e Brozovic in midfield, Candreva, Rafinha e Perisic on three-quarters, Icardi in attack. Pretactic instead for Allegri, who is undecided between a system that mirrors the Nerazzurri and a more usual 4-3-3: in the first case Douglas Costa o Cuadrado in the field and Matuidi on the bench, in the second the French starter in the middle and total tussle in attack, with the two more wingers Dybala to play for the shirt together with the "safe" Mandzukic e Higuain. Some of the place also Buffon, Barzagli, BenatiaAlex Sandro Khedira e Pjanic, ballot between Howedes (favorite) e Lichtsteiner.
However, matchday 35 will not start at the San Siro but at the Olimpico, where Roma will try to shake off the blow from Liverpool and concentrate on Chievo (18 pm). A far from obvious challenge, partly because the Giallorossi risk having their heads in the second leg against the Reds on Wednesday, partly because the Veronese need to save themselves and they will make life difficult for them. “Those who don't believe it stay at home, I feel like I'm reliving the eve with Barcelona – thundered Di Francesco. – Now we have to think about Chievo, then we will focus on a challenge to be experienced, if only out of respect for our stadium which will be packed". However, we will only think about this from tomorrow, first there are three fundamental points to keep the Champions League area and not be undermined by Lazio and Inter. The Giallorossi coach knows it well, that's why he will limit the turnover to the right by relying on a 4-3-3 with Alisson in goal, Bruno Peres, Manolas, John Jesus and Silva in defense, Pellegrini, Gonalons e Nainggolan in midfield, Under, Dzeko ed El Shaarawy in attack. 4-1-4-1 instead for Maran, who will try to take the safety points with Sorrentino between the posts, Cacciatore, Tomovic, Bani e Jaroszynski in the back department, Radovanovitch supporting a median with Castro, Hetemaj, Rigoni and Jackets, only English as a tip.
