It's all about winning. For Inter, who don't want to lose further ground from leaders Juve, For the Rome, determined to bring the Champions area closer, for Milan, called to start the Pioli era in the best possible way. On Sunday, therefore, the three points are required for the Nerazzurri, Giallorossi and Rossoneri, but it is a pity that they will face insidious and far from compliant opponents such as Sassuolo, Sampdoria and Lecce. Conte's team will be the first to take the field in the lunch match in Reggio Emilia (12.30), against those neroverdi who have become a real taboo. And to think that the first time, way back in 2013, had ended with a bombastic 7-0 for Inter, a result almost repeated the following year (7-1): since then, however, Sassuolo have definitely taken measures , so much so that the last five matches have rewarded him with four wins and a draw.
It is urgent to reverse course, also because Inter, in case of victory, would score a consecutive poker away only succeeded her four other times in its history: it would be a nice way, no doubt about it, to dismiss the Derby d'Italia and get back on the hunt for Juve. The problem, however, is that the break certainly didn't help recharge the batteries, indeed the Nerazzurri lost important men like Sanchez, D'Ambrosio and Sensi, thus finding themselves with a rather short blanket. “There is a lot of regret especially for Alexis, he was working hard to get back to the player we know – commented Conte. – But now we have to think about who is there, I have great faith in every single one of this squad. The team then worked very well and when you train like this you can only be satisfied".
The coach wants to pick up the thread with the victory interrupted by Barcelona and Juventus, therefore without thinking in the least about Wednesday's Champions League "play-off" against Borussia Dortmund. At the Mapei Stadium we will see the best Inter possible, obviously net of the injuries, therefore a 3-5-2 with Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Candreva, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Barella and Asamoah in midfield, Lautaro Martinez and Lukaku in attack. An orderly 4-3-3 also for De Zerbi, who will try to continue the positive tradition of his team relying on Consigli between the posts, Muldur, Marlon, Peluso and Toljan in the back department, Traoré, Obiang and Duncan in the midfield, Berardi, Caputo and Defrel in the offensive trident.
Having filed the early lunch, it will be time to concentrate on Sampdoria-Roma, weather permitting (15 pm). In fact, the municipality of Genoa has decreed the orange alert due to the rains expected between today and tomorrow: at the time of writing the game will be played, but it's right not to take it completely for granted. In any case, Roma have a duty to prepare themselves in the best possible way and not only because Claudio Ranieri's Sampdoria will be up against them, called to lift them from the last place in the standings. The draw between Lazio and Atalanta allows Fonseca to forcefully approach the Champions League, a goal declared by the club in the summer, provided however that he wins the entire stake.
“They've changed coaches, plus there's the uncertainty of the weather, all things that make this game difficult – the Portuguese coach analyzed -. But we prepared well, working above all on offensive solutions: we need to improve a lot in the goal area". Actually the amount of opportunities created does not correspond to the finalisations, also because the injuries have certainly not helped: today, for example, Roma will have to give up, at least at the start, Dzeko, who underwent surgery on his cheekbone and is therefore far from the best form. Fonseca will therefore field a 4-2-3-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Spinazzola, Mancini, Smalling and Kolarov in defense, Cristante and Veretout in midfield, Florenzi, Zaniolo and Kluivert behind the lone striker Kalinic.
Ranieri, in his first time on the Sampdoria bench, will be looking for precious points with his classic 4-4-2, therefore Audero between the posts, Bereszynski, Colley, Ferrari and Murru in the back, Rigoni, Ekdal, Vieira and Jankto in the midfield, Gabbiadini and Quagliarella in attack. In the evening, however, the spotlights will all be on San Siro, where Pioli's Milan will face off against Liverani's Lecce (20.45 pm). A debut certainly not impossible for the former Fiorentina coach, but for this very reason to be won at all costs: a misstep, in fact, would once again unleash the anger of critics and fans, far from convinced by the choice of via Aldo Rossi . Pioli knows well that he is a special observer, and above all that he does not have the time on his side.
In fact, Giampaolo has already played that one, with the result that the ranking is half a disaster and only a decisive u-turn can put it back on its feet. “The days we've been together aren't many, I expected to find attention and availability and I got these answers – explained Pioli. – The most important thing will be the performance against Lecce, demonstrate that you have clear ideas. For the rest, we'll see what happens between now and the next break, these 5 games will give us some more references, but the right mentality is always and only to focus on the next race". And then below with Lecce, an opponent who, numbers in hand, is much stronger away than at home.
The Rossoneri coach on his 54th birthday, chose a 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Kessié, Biglia and Paquetà in midfield, Suso, Piatek and Rebic (favorite over Leao) in attack. Liverani, chasing his third away win of the season, will respond with a 4-3-1-2 formation that will see Gabriel between the posts, Rispoli, Rossettini, Lucioni and Calderoni in the back, Majer, Tachtsidis and Tabanelli in the midfield, Mancosu at shoulders of the offensive duo made up of Falco and Babacar.
