Last call. For Roma, forced to win in order not to lose further ground from Juventus, for Inter, even more greedy by the defeat of Napoli, and if we like also for Milan, who don't want to detach themselves too much from the Europa League area. In short, Sunday in the championship promises entertainment and skyrocketing tension, especially in the postponement of the San Siro (20.45 pm). The clash between the Nerazzurri and the Giallorossi is already one of the highest peaks in our Serie A in itself, it becomes even more so today that it is really worth a lot. “It's a very important match but I wouldn't speak of a playoff – commented Pioli. – This is usually said when two teams are level on points, but here we are chasing each other and we know that we can't make a mistake. There isn't much distance between us and them in terms of values, if we play as a team we are able to put them down”. The Nerazzurri coach is charged as never before, on the other hand the almost perfect cycle implemented up to now (9 victories in the last 10 games) was aimed precisely at presenting himself in the best possible way for this challenge. On the other hand, however, there will be a Roma determined to win for two reasons: to continue the hunt for Juventus and to detach Inter, perhaps definitively, from the race for the podium. “They are strong, they have imagination, quality and a good coach – said Spalletti. – They've been winning for a long time now, so we're ready to face a tough and healthy opponent. It will be a man-to-man duel on the whole pitch, but between my and their players I always choose mine”. In terms of formations, Roma would seem to be better off, which apart from the long-term patient Florenzi can count on all the men available, while Pioli, on the other hand, while recovering Icardi, will have to do without a very important player like Miranda. But the Nerazzurri coach won't change the system even like this, so the 3-4-2-1 in Bologna will be reviewed with Handanovic in goal, Murillo, Medel and D'Ambrosio in defence, Candreva, Gagliardini, Kondogbia and Ansaldi in midfield, Joao Mario and Perisic on the trocar behind the lone striker Icardi. The module is not accidental: in fact, Spalletti too has been using the same one for some time now.
The Giallorossi coach will play the duel with Szczesny between the posts, Manolas, Fazio and Rudiger in the back, Bruno Peres, De Rossi, Strootman and Emerson in the midfield, Salah and Nainggolan in support of Dzeko. The scent of Europe, however, will already begin in the afternoon (15 pm), when Montella's Milan will visit Di Francesco's Sassuolo in Reggio Emilia. So far the Mapei Stadium has been a minefield for the Rossoneri: in the previous 3, in fact, it has always been the Neroverdi who have come out on top. But Milan, in addition to the one relating to the standings, has one more reason to dispel the taboo: today's match, barring sensational twists, will in fact be the last match under Berlusconi's management. The next one (Saturday 4th March against Chievo) should have already seen the handover to the Chinese consortium, expected on Friday 3rd for the final act of closing. However, Montella is concentrated only on the pitch and on a match to be won at all costs, otherwise the victory over Fiorentina and, perhaps, even the hopes of the Europa League will be frustrated. “We care a lot about this match, we've now entered the phase where points matter the most – confirmed the Rossoneri coach. – Sassuolo has recovered, has found important players and results, but we want to win and dispel this taboo ". After so many weeks of emergency, the Rossoneri will finally be able to count on a large number of players, with the exception of Romagnoli, who is still in the pits and therefore unavailable. Montella will field the usual 4-3-3 with Donnarumma (by the way, he turned 18 yesterday) in goal, Abate, Gomez, Paletta and De Sciglio in defense, Kucka, Sosa and Pasalic in midfield, Suso, Bacca and Deulofeu in attack . Di Francesco, reassured by the victory in Udine last Sunday, will try to confirm himself as Milan's bete noire with the same system as his rivals, with Consigli between the posts, Gazzola, Acerbi, Peluso and Dell'Orco in the back department, Pellegrini, Aquilani and Duncan in the midfield, Berardi, Defrel and Politano in the offensive trident.
