The last effort before the break. There Serie A is about to stop for the national teams, but first there is still a championship weekend to experience, waiting for the long build-up to Juventus-Inter on November 26th. The twelfth day, which began yesterday with the Genoa's victory over Verona (1-0) and pareggio between Sassuolo and Salernitana (2-2), comes alive with Lecce-Milan (15 pm) e Juventus-Cagliari (18), therefore with a mix between Scudetto fight and salvation that can always provide surprises.
Juventus – Cagliari (18pm, Dazn)
Let's start with Allegri's Bianconeri, who became his Inter's official challengers after the results of the last few weeks. Today's match against Cagliari could give us first place alone, obviously waiting for Inzaghi's response (tomorrow against Frosinone), but above all warm up the atmosphere in view of the direct clash after the break. A false step, on the other hand, would leave the bitter taste of a wasted opportunity, giving the Nerazzurri a sensational chance for their first real escape of the season. In short, the match at the Stadium will be a good test to understand the mental state of the Lady, because if it is true that the results of the last period have been decidedly constant, it is also true that the greatest efforts have come against the small ones. The reason is easy to understand: one purely defensive team how Juve finds it more difficult against closed opponents, especially when they fail to break the deadlock in the first half. Ranieri, as an old (and very good) craftsman, could leverage precisely this, giving rise to a duel with Allegri in the name of the beloved "short-face".
Allegri: “Inter? The most important match is this! We want to maintain our lead in fifth."
"Cagliari is very dangerous, Ranieri on the bench does not give you advantages and this is no small thing – confirmed the Juventus coach -. It will be difficult, we will need to have a lot of patience and play a technical match, but above all not to lose the most important thing: the unity of the team. The mistake around the corner is to overdo it, instead we have to chase normality and bring home the three points. We are coming from a period of important results, the risk is that attention and energy could be lowered. It's an important match of the championship, must be faced with serenity, humility and respect, without thinking about what will happen in 15 days, so as not to waste the good done so far and maintain the lead in fifth place".
Juventus – Cagliari, the lineups: Gatti starter, run-off between Kean and Vlahovic
The mega turnover hypothesized in recent days will not happen, because Allegri has made it clear on several occasions that Cagliari must be faced in the best possible way. Furthermore, the absence of the suspended Rabiot already creates enough difficulties, in light of a midfield that has lost Pogba and Fagioli for well-known non-football reasons, so there is no point in exaggerating and playing with fire. The black and white 3-5-2 will thus see Szczesny in goal, Gatti (suspended booking), Bremer and Rugani in defence, Cambiaso, Miretti, Locatelli, McKennie and Kostic in midfield, Kean (ballot with Vlahovic) and Chiesa in attack.
4-3-1-2 chameleonic for Ranieri, who will look for the fourth consecutive useful result between the championship and the Italian cup with Scuffet between the posts, Zappa, Goldaniga, Dossena and Augello in the defensive department, Makoumbou, Prati and Jankto in the midfield, Viola behind the offensive pair made up of Petagna (favourite on Lapadula) and Luvumbo.
Lecce – Milan (15pm, Dazn)
A delicate match also for Milan, called to provide continuity after the splendid victory over PSG. The inside or outside of San Siro showed a ferocious and determined Devil, in total contrast to the soft and confused one seen against Udinese. Which the true face of the team of Pioli? Lecce could provide some answers, also because the need to score points is great, both to avoid increasing the distance from those in front and to avoid letting the pursuers get dangerously close.
In many, in the hours immediately following the hangover-Psg, they spoke of a "turning point evening" and in fact the trappings are all there, which is why failing at the Via del Mare trip would be downright unforgivable. Pioli, on the most important night, received answers first and foremost from his leaders, starting with Leao, author of an amazing match (perhaps the best of his career) and called to repeat himself, at least in his attitude, but the same goes for his teammates too : waiting forarrival of Ibrahimovic (only the details are missing), the Rossoneri have found each other and no longer want to lose themselves.
Lecce – Milan, the lineups
Pioli, in press silence yesterday, will re-propose the 4-2-3-1 on Tuesday, identified by many as the move that sealed Luis Enrique. Compared to the Champions League, however, he will have to do without Pulisic (the tests have ruled out muscle injuries, but there is some fatigue) and give Musah a rest, at least from the start. The anti-Lecce Milan will thus see Maignan in goal, Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori and Theo Hernandez in defense, Krunic and Reijnders in midfield, Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek and Leao in the attacking midfield, Giroud in attack.
Classic 4-3-3 instead for D'Aversa, who however will not be able to count on Almqvist, who is in the pits due to a muscle problem that will keep him sidelined for at least two weeks. The Giallorossi coach will rely on Falcone between the posts, Gendrey, Pongracic, Baschirotto and Gallo in the defensive department, Kaba, Ramadani and Rafia in the midfield, Strefezza, Krstovic and Banda in the attacking trident.
