Overtaking failed. The eagerly awaited recovery of the 17th matchday between Lazio and Verona finished 0-0, a result that is fine for the guests and much less for the hosts. A victory would have meant second place at the expense of Inter and Juventus by just two points, so instead, despite rising to 50, everything remains as before. Which, it is fair to underline, is in any case excellent for Inzaghi's team, very solid in the Champions League area at +11 over Atalanta and Rome, but since appetite comes with eating, this draw with Verona is seen as a misstep. Only time will tell how much, certainly however, if you want to cultivate even greater ambitions, you have to avoid matches like yesterday's, in which Lazio built a lot without however finding the way to score.
Above all, the two posts hit by Luis Alberto cry out for revenge, also stopped by Silvestri with a splendid save, plus a whole series of chances by Immobile, for once with the powder wet, and Milinkovic-Savic, unfortunate in failing a comfortable connection face to face with the goalkeeper in the excited final. The other problem with this recovery are the bookings taken by the Serbian midfielder himself and by Radu: the two, both cautioned, will miss the away game in Parma, while Immobile, Luis Alberto and Acerbi will bring the sword of Damocles to Parma, in the hope not to miss next week's big match against Inter.
“I congratulated the boys because we had a great match against an excellent team – commented Simone Inzaghi – We didn't have the episode in our favor in 27 shots, we deserved to win. However, we will take inspiration from this race because there have been many positive things”.
It is also right to mention Juric's Verona, author of a performance in line with his championship. The yellow and blues withstood the impact of the Olimpico very well and on a couple of occasions they came close to scoring the winning goal: it would probably have been too much, but certainly Juventus, their next opponents at Bentegodi, would do well not to underestimate them.
Yesterday's result, if possible, carries further meanings the Milan derby on a Sunday, actually already explosive on its own. Matches like this, as we know, live in their own light regardless of the standings, but it is clear that if the points are hot, they become even more delicate. Above all, Inter will not be able to afford missteps, especially since the next round will put them against Lazio, but Milan also have only one result available, otherwise they can say goodbye to the Champions League comeback ambitions. The derby number 225 of the story therefore promises to be full of tension, as well as numerous "sub-themes" all to be experienced.
If in the first leg, in fact, the faces on the cover were those of Conte and Giampaolo (remembering who won is superfluous), this time it is Lukaku and Ibrahimovic who take the spotlight: the match between the two will probably shift the balance of the whole derby. This is the second round for the Belgian (he has already punched in the first with the 2-0 goal, which turned out to be the final result), the Swede, on the other hand, has played nine (five as a nerazzurri and four as a rossonero) but in the end it's a bit like the first one. The years in Paris, Manchester and Los Angeles in fact have watered down the memories of him, even if his six goals (three for each side) are still well impressed in the minds of the fans.
Zlatan, recovering from a small muscle discomfort that caused him to miss Verona, has been preparing for this challenge for some time, perhaps one of the main reasons for his return, Romelu on the other hand has never stopped, because Inter, without his goals, he can't even think about the Scudetto dream. Conte will also have an extra Eriksen from him and the vast majority of fans, Pioli, who is also an ex from the match, the numbers of a Milan who, with Ibra on the pitch, have never lost. Just a few more days, after which San Siro will turn on the lights and the whole world, it must be said, will be able to enjoy the derby della Madonnina.
