Milan moves away from Europe, Inter returns to hope in the Champions League zone. Sunday in the championship leaves a bad taste in the Rossoneri's mouth for the draw in Pescara, but also a (small) dream of a comeback for the Nerazzurri against Napoli, stopped at 1-1 by Juventus. Inter will have to take advantage of the draw at San Paolo in the postponement against Sampdoria (20.45 pm) to get within 6 points of the Azzurri, to get closer and continue to hope for third place.
“We have to give our best and try to win all the games until the end – commented Pioli – Let's think about one match at a time, we'll find a Samp in shape and with a prepared coach like Giampaolo who makes his teams play well. Let's not limit ourselves, if we win all nine perhaps third place will be possible”.
An ambitious project that of the Nerazzurri coach, who binds a large part of his future to the realization of the same. In any case, the chances necessarily pass from tonight's game, not to be mistaken for any reason. A Sampdoria will arrive at San Siro without particular anxieties about the standings, and perhaps for this reason even more dangerous.
However, Giampaolo will lack a fundamental man like Muriel while Pioli will be able to count on the entire squad available. The Nerazzurri 4-2-3-1 will see Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, Medel, Miranda and Ansaldi in defence, Gagliardini and Kondogbia in midfield, Candreva, Joao Mario and Perisic in the trocar behind lone striker Icardi.
Classic game system also for Giampaolo, who will field a 4-3-1-2 with Viviano in goal, Sala, Silvestre, Skriniar and Regini in the back, Barreto, Torreira and Linetty in the midfield, Bruno Fernandes in support of the offensive duo Schick-Quagliarella.
Montella will also be cheering on Sampdoria and not only for his past with the Sampdoria. In fact, the draw in Pescara forces Milan to hope for a slowdown of their competitors, and given that Lazio and Atalanta continue to win, all that remains is to cling to Inter. Bad misstep that of the Rossoneri at the Adriatic, a field on which they won practically everything and which instead recorded a sensational (negative of course) 1-1.
A match that started badly from the start, with the Abruzzese taking the lead thanks to an incredible duck from Donnarumma, author of a smooth ball from a back pass by Paletta which turned into the most clumsy of own goals (12'). The Rossoneri seemed to have put things right at the end of the half with Pasalic, quick to score a few meters from Fiorillo (41'), however the second half turned out to be lacking in emotion and the anger needed to win.
Romagnoli's post and the two chances on Lapadula's feet (replacing a spent Bacca) in the final did not erase a bad performance, which ended with a draw that fits everything and which complicates Milan's European race a lot.
“Everything is still possible – ignored Montella – It is clear that he has an advantage ahead of us but I am convinced that we will fight until the end. We only lost a set, not the match." But now the games are no longer in the hands of the Rossoneri, who are forced to make no more mistakes and to hope that the others, on the other hand, will.
