The big break. Inter-Lazio (20.45), thanks to the sensational defeat of Milan against Spezia, it could sanction the overtaking of the Nerazzurri at the top, but also bring the Biancocelesti back into the running. Yes, because if it is true that the fight for the Scudetto, at the moment, concerns Inter, it is also true that, in case of victory, it could also involve Lazio, which would move to just 6 points behind Milan. In short, the Nerazzurri and the Biancocelesti are facing the classic turning point match, not definitive, for heaven's sake, but nonetheless very important for the rest of the season.
“We're facing a team that's doing well, fresh from many victories in a row – Antonio Conte's analysis -. We are talking about a consolidated reality in the Italian championship, with a precise structure and players of great quality and depth. It will be an important test against a strong team, we will have to prepare well. It will be a difficult race, but also a stimulating one”. “We are talking about a great team, the favorite together with Juventus to win the title – retorted Simone Inzaghi – We will find an even more angry Inter after the elimination from the Italian Cup, but we will try to be ready. It's a very important match for us, qualifying for the Champions League would be our Scudetto."
Difficult to launch into a prediction, at least in a clear way. In fact, the two teams are doing well and if in the long run Inter certainly have more arguments, this is not the case in the single match, where Lazio have already shown they can beat anyone. Then both have pressure, even if it is clear that the Nerazzurri have more: the standings and next Sunday's imminent derby require a victory, especially after the recent elimination from the Italian Cup, seasoned with controversies on which Conte he wanted to come back. “I'm sorry because I reacted to a provocation and insults in the wrong way, I want to apologize – the coach pointed out -. In any case, everyone has seen and heard the truth and this is important to me”.
Better to think about the match that Inter will have to face without Vidal, struggling with muscle problems. The Nerazzurri 3-5-2 will therefore see Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defence, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Gagliardini and Young in midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack. The same game system also for Inzaghi, who will respond with Reina between the posts, Musacchio, Acerbi and Radu in the back department, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto and Marusic in the midfield, Immobile and Correa as an offensive couple. But Inter-Lazio won't be the only important challenge for the top rankings: Roma-Udinese (12.30) and Cagliari-Atalanta (15) could have significant implications in terms of the Champions League, with the Giallorossi and Nerazzurri looking for successes that definitively archive the last weekend's missteps.
In Rome, however, there was talk, once again, above all of Dzeko and his possible return to the owners, a topic on which Fonseca, with his usual poker face, did not want to reveal anything. “Edin is training well, like Mayoral, but you will only see my choice at the time of the official line-ups – glossed over the coach -. Now we're only thinking about Udinese, they have the fifth defense in the championship and this makes us understand that it will be difficult to score goals”. The ballot, at the time of writing, sees Borja Mayoral in the lead, but Dzeko's quotations are growing, otherwise the Giallorossi 3-4-2-1 seems decisive with Pau Lopez in goal, Mancini, Cristante and Ibanez in defense, Karsdorp, Villar, Veretout and Spinazzola in midfield, Pellegrini and Mkhitaryan behind the lone striker Mayoral.
An orderly 3-5-2 also for Gotti, who will attempt the coup with Musso between the posts, Becao, Nuytinck and Bonifazi in the back, Stryger Larsen, De Paul, Walace, Arslan and Zeegelar in the midfield, Deulofeu and Llorente in attack . Delicate match also for Atalanta, who after celebrating the Italian Cup final want to repeat themselves in the league on the Cagliari field, thus canceling the misstep against Turin. “There is an objective difficulty in maintaining the same performance, then there are also the opponents who perhaps come from a better preparation than ours – specified Gasperini -. There's a excess of expectations towards Atalanta, then if you ask us to win the treble, we'll try, but we're satisfied with what we're doing".
No one denies yet another incredible season for the players from Bergamo, regardless of a few missteps here and there in the league, but it is clear that the match against Cagliari, without victories even since 7 November, requires 3 points. The Nerazzurri coach will then have a week free from commitments, given that the first leg against Real Madrid will only take place on Wednesday 24 February, which is why will not exceed the turnover, relying on a 3-4-1-2 with Gollini in goal, Djimsiti, Romero and Palomino in defense, Sutalo, De Roon, Freuler and Gosens in midfield, Pessina behind the offensive duo made up of Ilicic and Zapata. The same form also for Di Francesco, who absolutely needs points: Atalanta is certainly not the ideal opponent to find them, but his Cagliari will try with Cragno between the posts, Walukiewicz, Rugani and Godin in the back department, Zappa, Nandez, Marin and Lykogiannis in the midfield, Nainggolan and Joao Pedro in the frontline, Simeone in attack.
