Welcome back Championship! With yesterday's matches (Turin-Parma 1-1, Verona-Cagliari 2-1) Serie A officially reopened its doors and today is ready to really get going. Inter-Sampdoria (21.45) in fact can have a very important impact on the Scudetto race, as well as on that salvation: this is why the match at San Siro, with all due respect for the others, certainly has a greater weight. Conte's Nerazzurri, after the disappointment of the Coppa Italia, are the ones who play the most, aware of having to win at all costs to cling to the leading duo Juventus-Lazio.
“We have to do it to go within 6 of the first – confirmed Conte. – At that point, with another 12 games to play, the gap would certainly not be abysmal, we want to play the championship finale to the maximum, without limits or foreclosures. Our margins of error are smaller compared to those in front of us, but I have positive perceptions and a lot of confidence for both the present and the future". The Nerazzurri coach therefore does not hide behind the standings, on the contrary he uses it as a stimulus for him. A victory would effectively put Inter back on track, vice versa the gap would be too big and only a miracle could change things.
In short, today's game it has all the air of an in or out, also because Sampdoria, fifth last with only one point over Genoa and Lecce, certainly cannot afford gifts. The Nerazzurri seen in Naples, apart from the result, have nonetheless left a good impression, both physically and in terms of play. If anything, the problems come from the infirmary, which after having embraced (so to speak) Sensi again (distraction to the right hamstring, 30-40 days off) and Vecino did the same with Brozovic, who was also struggling with a muscular problem that it will cost him a detention of at least a week.
Eriksen and Barella will thus have to prepare for overtime, in defiance of a very busy calendar and an almost physiological turnover. And then there is the unknown Lautaro Martinez, grappling with a desire for Barcelona that is inevitably distracting him: the Bull in Naples was the worst on the pitch and Inter cannot afford to lose him even before having actually sold him ( provided that this happens, given that the negotiation is struggling to take off). In any case, Conte will confirm it again tonight, in the hope that a goal will help him shake off market tensions, although the empty stands of the San Siro cannot give him the boost he needs.
The Nerazzurri 3-4-1-2 will therefore see Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defence, Candreva, Barella, Gagliardini and Young in midfield, Eriksen in the frontline, Lautaro Martinez and Lukaku in attack. Classic 4-4-2 also for Ranieri, who will respond with Audero in goal, Bereszynski, Yoshida, Tonelli and Murru in the back, Ramirez, Ekdal, Linetty and Vieira in the midfield, Gabbiadini and Bonazzoli as an offensive duo.
