L'Inter he falls back. TO La Spezia, just like in Udine, Monza, Genoa and Bologna, the Nerazzurri throw away important points, confirming that they have now chronic travel sickness, but also personality problems that lead directly to the coach. This is how the landlords smile, who jumped to +6 on Verona (with one more game) and also the opponents in the race Champions, which could even push it to fifth place over the weekend. Napoli-Atalanta e Bologna-Lazio today, therefore, they become even more important, for the teams involved and all the pursuers, determined to take advantage of this "gift" in Ligurian sauce.
Spezia - Inter 2-1, Inzaghi makes the mea culpa: "A defeat that hurts, I take full responsibility"
Creepy scenario, the result of an obviously unexpected defeat on the eve, so much so as to push Inzaghi to make some at least questionable training choices. Inside Handanovic in place of Onana, as well as D'Ambrosio for Dumfries and Brozovic for Calhanoglu, demonstrating a mind focused above all on Porto and not on the challenge of the Peak. However, the match would have turned out well if Lautaro hadn't missed a penalty in the 13th minute, moreover after "snatching" him Lukaku (Where was Inzaghi?), allowing Spezia to stay in the game, despite the hyper-defensive attitude chosen by Semplici. The first half continued with many potential Nerazzurri chances, but also with the usual problem of making them come true, however, in the second half the pace slowed down and in the 55th minute the Ligurians struck, ironically, with Daniel Maldini, Milan supporter on loan and executioner of Handanovic. However, the fireworks arrived in the final, first with a penalty from Lukaku (83', this time he went on the penalty spot), then with one from Calm down, which later proved decisive for the final 2-1 (87'). "A defeat like this hurts, even if it came in a different way than the others: we put everything on the field, we probably needed more malice in looking for the goal - he sighed Inzaghi -. In the first half you didn't have to go to the locker room 0-0, then we know that football doesn't give discounts. We don't like Inter losing against Spezia, but we have a duty to move forward. As for the defeat, I take responsibility, there is disappointment, this will be a bad night but on Tuesday we have a round of eight, we will have to react ferociously”.
Naples–Atalanta (18pm, DAZN)
The 26th day will continue today with three more matches, among which one stands out Napoli-Atalanta really interesting. The Azzurri must make up for the defeat against Lazio to resume the Scudetto race, but above all to better prepare for Wednesday's Champions League match, when the Germans of Eintracht from Frankfurt will arrive at Maradona. The Goddess, on the other hand, needs to win again, otherwise the dream of fourth place, already gone after the defeats with Lecce e Milan and the draw with Udinese would risk disappearing definitively. But beyond the rankings, the match promises to be beautiful and hard-fought, because two of the teams that have expressed the best football in Italy will face each other, albeit with different continuity.
Spalletti: "Important match, but let's not talk about reaction: we didn't do anything wrong against Lazio"
"It will be an important match that we will face in the correct way, but it's not true that we have to react, we have to react when we are at fault, but we haven't made a mistake with Lazio in terms of attitude, then it's clear that we need to make some things in a better way and the result was missing – he pointed out Spalletti -. These guys don't need any motivation from me, they are aware of the prestige of the shirt and of the city. We always talk about future matches, but I've already said it many times that it doesn't work like this for us: we face them one at a time and the focus is all on the match against Atalanta. We don't have the presumption of being able to manage a championship as if it were a formality or an obstacle to other more important races, it will only be possible to think so when there isn't another team in a position to take us. We still have to play many level matches, we've seen what quality there is in Italy, despite what they say in comparison with European teams”.
Gasperini: "We are having an extraordinary championship, we are fighting with those who have a billion in debt..."
We always want to be able to attack and score, but we don't play alone, in certain moments we also have to suffer – the thought of Gasperini -. It's already prestigious for us to be able to measure ourselves against an extraordinary team even in their Champions League run, where they have great chances and in any case I'm not saying that we have nothing to lose, because points can be taken everywhere. In terms of resources, Atalanta cannot be compared and compared to other clubs, because they have to build them in-house in order to be able to invest. We, with hundreds of millions of profits, are forced to compete with people who have a billion in debt, with the difference of a billion and a half, being up there makes me very satisfied. This is why I say that we are having an extraordinary championship."
Naples – Atalanta, the formations: Spalletti does not make a turnover, Gasperini relaunches Zapata
Spalletti won't think about Eintracht, also because the result of the first leg allows him not to do so much. The focus is all on Atalanta, to face with the best training possible, except for the disqualified Mario Rui and Anguissa, in the odor of rest. The blue 4-3-3 will be composed of Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim and Olivera in defense, Ndombele, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia in attack. Gasperini, looking for a victory that has been missing for exactly one month (2-0 over Lazio), will try to shuffle the cards a bit, especially up front, where Hojlund and Boga, who appeared to be in decline, will start from the bench. His 3-4-1-2 will thus see Musso between the posts, Toloi, Djimsiti and Scalvini in the back, Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson and Maehle in the midfield, Pasalic behind the offensive duo formed by Zapata and Lookman.
Bologna – Lazio (20.45 pm, DAZN and Sky Sport)
The other challenge with a view on Europe of the day is that of the Dall'Search, where the Lazio of Sarri will visit the Bologna di Thiago Motta. The Biancocelesti want to defend that Champions League area conquered with the coup in Naples, but also to react to the KO with AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday, especially as Thursday will see the return leg and getting there with another misstep would certainly not be ideal. The rossoblu, on the other hand, are paired with Juventus and are dreaming of a placement in the Conference which would mean Europe after 23 years of waiting: the last time, in fact, dates back to the 1999/2000 season, with Gazzoni as president, Guidolin as coach and people like Signori and Pagliuca in field. In short, there is no shortage of ideas, as well as the need to score points for both: their respective dreams, in fact, also come from this game.
Bologna – Lazio, the formations: Sarri still without Immobile, Thiago grappling with the Arnautovic case
It could have been the match between Arnautovic and Immobile, but it won't be like this due to the umpteenth injury of Cyrus (at risk also the Derby next Sunday), but also for the choices of Thiago Motta, reluctant to relaunch Marko after the stop of the last few weeks. Sarri, in spite of him, has now become accustomed to playing without his striker, but it is clear that Lazio, not having a real alternative role, are at least weakened. The coach will thus rely on a 4-3-3 with Provedel in goal, Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli and Hysaj in defense, Milinkovic-Savic, Vecino and Luis Alberto in midfield, Pedro, Felipe Anderson and Zaccagni in attack. Classic 4-1-4-1 also for Thiago Motta, who will respond with Skorupski in goal, Posch, Soumaoro, Sosa and Cambiaso in the back, Medel in the midfield, Aebischer, Ferguson, Schouten and Barrow behind the lone striker Ziekzee , with Arnautovic ready to take over from the bench.
