Juve is back in the race, but Milan remain first. The bianconeri resurrected precisely on the most important night, that of inside or outside, conquering San Siro with a show of strength and quality. However, the Rossoneri, net of the numerous absences (yesterday, the already known Ibrahimovic, Bennacer and Tonali were joined by Rebic and Krunic, both positive for Covid), come out with their heads held high and, even more importantly, maintain their lead in the standings despite the defeat, by virtue of the knockout of Inter against Sampdoria. Now Juventus is less than 7 from the top with one game less, which sees him forcefully returning to the championship race: even yesterday, despite the absences of Alex Sandro and Cuadrado, the full depth of his squad was seen, which was decisive on the development of the match.
The hero of the evening, however, is undoubtedly Chiesa, author of a splendid brace that annihilated the Milan defense, helpless in the face of the beauty of his shots, but also of Dybala's assists. The former viola and the Argentine made it 1-0 (18') and 2-1 (62'), effectively directing the 3 points towards Turin. In the middle of the AC Milan draw with Calabria (41'), born however from a very dubious contact between Calhanoglu and Rabiot (there was the foul, as well as the second yellow card for Bentancur in the second half), and some flare-ups on both sides, with Donnarumma and Szczesny great protagonists. In the second half, however, Juve, thanks to the substitutions, put the arrow in, so much so that the definitive 3-1 arrived on the Kulusevski-McKennie axis (76'), both substituted shortly before.
"The game was balanced, in some moments they did better than us, just as we did better in others - he sighed Pioli – The 2-1 episode changed the inertia of the match and then we weren't able to get it back: seven absences are a lot, but we haven't lost our identity”.
“It was important for ourselves – he replied Pirlo – we didn't look at the results of those that were above us because we were attentive and focused on what we had to do, and we did it well. We look at match after match, then in a few months we will see where we will be”.
SAMPDORIA-INTER
However, the San Siro result does not change the standings, given that Inter lost in Genoa and failed to overtake sensationally. Strange defeat for Conte's men, capable of creating many chances both in the first and second half, yet beaten by Ranieri's Sampdoria, as usual cynical and organized. And to think that the start had been promising, with the opportunity to take the lead already in the 12th minute: Sanchez however, presented himself on the spot after a touch with Thorsby's arm, it failed badly and from there the match is shot. Sampdoria in turn had a penalty for another handball by Barella e Candreva, unlike his ex-mate, didn't make a mistake, bringing the Blucerchiati up 1-0 (23'). The doubling was signed by another ex like Keita, good at catching Skriniar's time and beating Handanovic for the second time (38'). In the second half, Inter tried in every way to make yet another comeback of the season, but it didn't go beyond the De Vrij network (65') and a series of occasions in which Samp has always been saved.
“It was a bit of a strange game, we went from the missed penalty to conceding a one-two – the bitter comment of Tale – Sometimes it happens that you lose games like this, where you deserve to win instead: in the first half we dominated and we went down by two goals, the Blindfolded Goddess forgot about us ".
Furthermore, the news published by the Corriere della Sera, according to which Zhang Jindong, owner of the club, allegedly pledged the family properties (including Inter, but not the Suning group) to the Alibaba group, a global giant controlled by Jack Ma. "The pledge is a normal business agreement that has no impact on commercial development and normal business", Suning said, but certainly the rumors of a disengagement by the Zhang family after this news (confirmed by the protagonists themselves), take on even more credit.
CROTONE-ROME
Returning to the pitch, it was an Epiphany of smiles for Rome, Atalanta and Lazio, all winners in their respective matches, while the fall of Napoli, defeated at home by Spezia, was sensational. The Giallorossi ended the match in Crotone in just 35': many, in fact, were enough for Borja Mayoral to score a brace (8' and 29') and for Mkhitaryan to make it 3-0 from a penalty, before Golemic made the deficit less heavy with a header in the second half (71 ').
“We played a very serious match, especially in the first half, respecting the opponent who has quality – the analysis of Fonseca – Now we can think about the match against Inter on Sunday, it will be very difficult but we want to win”.
NAPLES-SPEZIA
It makes a lot of noise though the defeat of Naples, capitulated to Maradona against Spezia, moreover in numerical superiority. The Azzurri could have won the match comfortably already in the first half, but Insigne and Lozano devoured scoring chances in the series, leaving everything open. But then in the second half, after the entry of Petagna in place of Politano, Napoli seemed to have found the crux of the matter, unlocking the impasse with a paw from the attacker himself (58'). Nothing more wrong, because Spezia found the draw on a penalty from Nzola (68') and then, despite Ismajli's expulsion, even the advantage with Pobega (82'), inflicting a sensational knockout on the Azzurri.
"It's not just bad luck, I told the team that we're throwing away incredible games this year and it burns me - the words of Gattuso – I'm seeing a schizophrenic Naples, if we get the little arm due to a mistake, it's over. The matches are played to the end, and instead we go into crisis at the first difficulty".
ATALANTA-PARMA
Important successes also for Atalanta and Lazio, with the Bergamo players in ease against Parma (3-0) and the Biancocelesti victorious over Fiorentina, albeit with greater difficulty (2-1). Gasperini has rediscovered the best version of him, so much so that he can even afford the relay in attack: the first half was played by Muriel, the second by Zapata, and both found the goal, the first in the 15th minute and the second in the 49th minute . The result was rounded off by the usual Gosens (61 '), for a 3-0 that does not allow replies and which cost Liverani the bench, exonerated by virtue of D'Aversa, recalled by the new American ownership.
LAZIO-FIORENTINA
At the Olimpico, on the other hand, the usual Caicedo and Immobile were the protagonists, the first with a great right-footed volley at the dawn of the match (6'), the second with the winning tap-in in the 75th minute. However, Strakosha thought of making the Lazio afternoon more complicated, who with his mistake forced Hoedt to foul Vlahovic in the area: the Viola center forward scored (88 '), forcing the hosts into a final in apnea.
Now a couple of days off, after which it will already be the 17th day. A tour de force that takes your breath away, in a championship that is as complex as it is exciting.
