The three-way fight begins again. While therethe Guardia di Finanza extends the investigation into capital gains to Inter as well (yesterday the headquarters were searched to verify the movements of the 2017/19 three-year period, the club said it was calm and uninvolved in any accusation), the club is preparing for the last match of the 2021 calendar year with Napoli and Milan, with the knowledge that the balance, after the last day, has completely changed. To begin with, the Nerazzurri already have the certainty of being winter champions, a "title" that is worth nothing at the bulletin board level but which in 66,7% of cases, since the 3-point rule existed, has brought then to the Scudetto proper.
Inzaghi, however, knows well that this is a very important moment, given that after the break an iron cycle will arrive with Lazio, Juventus in the Super Cup and Atalanta which could slow down his run. In short, the match against Turin (20.45 pm) must be won at all costs, also to take advantage of the extraordinary moment of form, best expressed by the 6 consecutive victories, in which 5 without conceding a goal. However, the opponent is of a higher level than the last two, which leads us to keep our antennas straight: in fact, a distracted Inter could find it difficult against Juric's team, the fourth defense in the championship with just 18 goals conceded. It will take the right head, without thinking about the 4-point advantage over Napoli and Milan or, even worse, the Christmas holidays, which have always been a factor in disturbing the coaches.
Precisely for this reason Inzaghi seems oriented towards limit turnover to a minimum, except for the forced choices, such as the disqualified Barella. His 3-5-2 will see Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Vidal, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Perisic in midfield, Dzeko and Lautaro in attack. Juric, forced to give up the injured Praet, will respond with the usual 3-4-2-1 with Milinkovic-Savic between the posts, Djidji, Bremer and Rodriguez in the back, Singo, Lukic, Pobega and Vojvoda in the midfield, Pjaca and Brekalo behind the only tip Sanabria.
Behind there are many who hope that the Bull can do the coup, Napoli and Milan above all: both will take the field with the result of the San Siro already acquired, which could be a double-edged sword. In fact, if Inter were to win, the Azzurri and Rossoneri would face Spezia and Empoli (20.45) at minus 7 in the standings, with the absolute obligation to win in order not to sink.
The most insidious match is certainly that of Milan, who will have to face the Tuscans, already executioners of Juventus, Fiorentina and Naples, away, moreover in a very complicated moment in terms of injuries. Yesterday, Ibrahimovic was added to the long list, who stopped with a knee overload, which forces Pioli to make the 3 points without the best man than him. “The number of muscle problems was too high, in the long run you can pay for it – he sighed Pioli -. We'll get over it after the Christmas break, now we have to think about beating Empoli, if we succeeded we would close the first round with 42 points, it would be a good result, even if we know we have to do even better in the second leg. I read that we would have run out of petrol, but it's a hoax: we played a good match against Napoli, but we need to improve in terms of quality".
The feeling is that the Rossoneri need to stop and recharge their batteries a bit, but first they have to deal with the away match at Empoli, regardless of training problems. Pioli will once again rely on the 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, Florenzi, Tomori, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Messias, Diaz and Saelemaekers in the trocar, Giroud in attack. Classic 4-3-1-2 also for Andreazzoli, who will respond with Vicario in goal, Stojanovic, Romagnoli, Luperto and Parisi in the back, Henderson, Ricci and Zurkowski in the midfield, Bajrami behind the offensive duo formed by Cutrone and Pinamonti . The other match of the evening is between Naples and Spezia, with the Azzurri determined to give continuity to the victory in Milan, which is fundamental for both the standings and morale.
“It will be a difficult race, we absolutely have to follow up on the success at San Siro – he confirmed Spalletti -. I'm sorry for the players who won't be there, but whoever goes on the pitch must clearly know the behavior to adopt: I'm confident, but I want to see the right attitude from the first minute."
The last defection in chronological order is that of Insigne, tested positive for Covid and therefore in isolation home: the captain, already absent against Milan, will thus return in 2022. For the rest, the formation should follow that of San Siro, therefore 4-2-3-1 with Ospina in goal, Malcuit, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus and Di Lorenzo in defence, Anguissa and Demme in midfield, Lozano, Zielinski and Elmas behind the lone striker Mertens, who started again after taking the bench on Sunday. Thiago Motta knows he is facing a very high mountain and will try to climb it with a 3-5-2 with Provedel between the posts, Amian, Erlic and Hristov in the back, Gyasi, Kovalenko, Kiwior, Maggiore and Reca in the midfield, Manaj and Strelec up front.
