There will be only one left. The Italian derby number 242 in history (204 in Serie A) promises to be a real in or out, between two teams forced to chase the top of the standings, currently occupied by Milan at an altitude of 25, 8 more than the Nerazzurri and 11 than the Bianconeri. Mind you, nothing can be considered decisive on October 24, but it is clear that whoever loses will find themselves in huge trouble, as well as being forced into a really complicated comeback.
Of course, Inter have 3 points more and therefore start from a better situation, but the last few games have seen them down, unlike a cynical and winning Juventus like his coach. It is therefore difficult to find a favourite, also because this is not a normal match, but a cauldron of rivalry and incendiary controversy like few others in the world.
“It will be a good match between two important teams, in my opinion Inter are still the favorites to win the Scudetto – Allegri's analysis -. In my opinion it's not decisive, but it would allow us to extend this streak of results, the one against Roma was much more important for our ranking. We can't think that in one match we can win or lose the championship again...".
"I am pleased that Allegri still considers us the strongest team, but I could very well say the same thing for them, for Milan, for Napoli or for other teams - he said retorted Inzaghi -. Let's say it's a fight that is worth more than the three points at stake. We will have to be good at making it ours by trying to express our football and always trying to be balanced. Juventus has recovered everyone and comes from very good results, a lot of attention will be needed ".
Both come from two European victories which brought smiles and morale, but in the championship it is the black and whites who have the best streak, thanks to the four consecutive victories obtained with Spezia, Sampdoria, Turin and Rome, the last two (which double also considering the Champions League) without conceding goals. Inter, on the other hand, is back from the defeat against Lazio, who, net of the controversy over Felipe Anderson's famous goal with Dimarco on the ground ("in the light of what happened we have decided that we will no longer throw the ball out" thundered Inzaghi), highlighted i team defensive problems, already partially emerged with Fiorentina, Atalanta and Sassuolo.
Summarizing everything, one could say that tonight, in front of a sold out San Siro (60 spectators, the maximum considering the 75% capacity), they will face two opposing philosophies: Inzaghi's playfulness, always looking for the extra goal and Allegri's short-sightedness, master of the 1-0. “
I've always seen my team well on the pitch, even in matches that went badly – continued the Nerazzurri coach -. The path is good, Saturday's defeat slowed down our rankings but the group is aware of its strength, it's normal that we need to improve and be concentrated at every moment of the match".
“It's not that Juve are more at ease when they don't have to play a match, but in football you need above all to be able to block and pass the ball well – confirmed the Juventus colleague -. We will need great defensive attention and a technical game. We will have to be lucid and killers when we have the ball, as well as battling on a physical level, especially at the beginning”.
In short, the tactical script of the challenge can already be guessed with a good dose of security, now all that remains is to see who will prevail on the field. Inzaghi will have to do without Correa, for the rest he will have everyone available and will therefore be able to field a decidedly competitive 3-5-2 with Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu (ahead of Vidal) and Perisic in midfield, Dzeko and Lautaro in attack.
Allegri finds Dybala again, back in the squad after the pre-break injury, and is ready to respond with a 3-5-2 that will see Szczesny in goal, Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini in the back, Cuadrado, Bentancur, Locatelli, Bernardeschi and Alex Sandro in the median, Chiesa and Morata as an offensive couple.
The referee of the match will be Maurizio Mariani, called to direct a very complicated match, with the task of making himself almost invisible: if tomorrow we could only talk about the pitch, in fact, one of the winners par excellence would certainly be him.
