To save the season, or to try to make it memorable. Juventus-Inter is never a match like all the others and this certainly can't be an exception, not with an Italian Cup up for grabs on the stage of the Olimpico stadium in Rome. Furthermore, the two teams arrive at a particular moment and the argument applies to both: the Nerazzurri, despite still being in the running for the Scudetto, risk being left without a mouth, an eventuality which for the Bianconeri, on the other hand, would be a certainty in case of defeat.
Juventus-Inter: 21 pm, Channel 5
In short, more than the desire to win, it seems to be the fear of losing that feeds Inzaghi and Allegri, aware that on certain benches, the results at the end of the season count above all, a sine qua non for continuing the relationship with confidence and serenity, regardless of contracts outstanding.
Here Juventus
At Juventus there is the desire to end a season that is anything but exciting in the best possible way, saved by qualification for the Champions League, all right, but only on an economic level. From a sporting point of view, in fact, the bianconeri were unable to compete for the Scudetto or to advance in Europe, and they also lost the Italian Super Cup against Inter. The specter of "zero titles" hovers menacingly over Continassa, a place where something has always been won for 10 years now, including Pirlo's reign. Allegri certainly doesn't want to be the first coach of the decade to bring nothing to his notice board, especially in a season in which he has received a lot of criticism for his play, even from within. Critics and fans could soften in case of victory, vice versa instead an uproar would be unleashed and Max, as an experienced coach as he is, knows it very well.
Allegri: "The Coppa Italia is not the icing, but the cake"
"It will be a wonderful evening with two very strong teams, we played good games against Inter this year, it will take patience and lucidity - thought Allegri - Then football is strange and after two minutes the whole match plan changes, the important is to be calm. In the past, the Coppa Italia was the icing, now it's the cake, but we already know what evaluations are like: if we win, for someone it will count for little, instead if we lose, it will be a disaster…”.
Here Inter
There is also a lot of tension on the Nerazzurri front, but here the reasons must be sought above all in the championship and in a Scudetto that has become damned complicated. Of course, Inter still has the chance to win it and also add the Italian Cup for the much coveted "treble" (to top it all off there is the Super Cup), but also to get it unstitched by Milan: that's why the Italian Cup , although not the main objective, must be won at all costs, otherwise the risk of being left with nothing in hand would be real.
Inzaghi: "If I think about how we started... we did a great job"
“It's a final and the finals must be played with speed, aggression and determination – underlined Inzaghi – Juve are a very strong, quality opponent, we will have to give 120% to raise the second trophy of the season. There will be a lot of quality on the pitch, the details will make the difference in the match. We are aware of how important this week is, together with the staff we know what we have done so far, we knew where we started from and what we found. Thinking back to July 8, to the presentation, I believe that a great job has not been done, but a great job. We're still playing everything and we're in May, but expectations have grown. Now we have to leave the championship aside, even if it's not easy, then, after the final, we'll think about it".
Juventus-Inter, the formations
But now the word passes to the pitch, therefore to the formations that Allegri and Inzaghi will decide to field.
Kick holder
In this it is the Juventus coach who has the most doubts, both from a tactical and men's point of view, compared to the Nerazzurri, always faithful to his usual 11. Juventus should opt for a 4-2-3-1 with Perin in goal (the he is the goalkeeper of the Italian Cup), Danilo, De Ligt, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defense, Zakaria and Rabiot in midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and Bernardeschi on the trocar, Vlahovic in attack.
Inzaghi recovers Bastoni
On the other hand, there is no doubt for Inzaghi, especially as he also finds Bastoni, able again and enlisted after the injury in the last period. The Nerazzurri 3-5-2 will see Handanovic between the posts, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in the back, Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Perisic in the midfield, Lautaro and Dzeko in attack. Referee of the final, in a sold-out Olympic stadium (but almost certainly without Sergio Mattarella, oriented towards declining the invitation given the delicate international situation), will be Paolo Valeri: given the precedents between Juventus and Inter, even quite recent, it will be a good bench test for him too.
