Napoli escapes, but Milan stays in the wake. The advances of the 13th matchday certify the dominance of Spalletti's Azzurri, capable of conquering Bergamo as well and earning a point on the second, which since yesterday is no longer Atalanta but Pioli's team, in turn victorious (with great effort) on the Spice. Today's races thus take on an even more important value, because Inter-Juventus e Roma-Lazioinevitably, someone's rankings and perspectives will change, even everyone's if two draws should come out.
Atalanta - Napoli 1-2, Spalletti: "We took three very important points, we are really strong"
The bar of this championship, moreover, is very high, because pulling the strings is a Napoli that doesn't miss a beat. Even yesterday, in the presence of a very good Atalanta and without Kvaratskhelia, the Azzurri were able to come to terms with it, moreover after going behind on a penalty from Lookman (19'). It could have been a blow, but this Napoli he is too self-confident to be intimidated, also because he has players capable of exploiting any situation. Over all osimhen, once again absolute master of the scene: first, in spite of himself, the touch with the arm that sent the Goddess to the penalty spot, but then here is the equalizing header (23') and, finally, the overwhelming ride that propitiated the decisive goal by Elmas (35'). In the second half theAtalanta he had a couple of really big chances (above all Lookman's crossbar), but the Azzurri held up and took a very heavy victory, which is worth first place with 6 points ahead of second-placed Milan. “These are three very important points, it's true, but for what we have to and want to do, they're all like this – he underlined Spalletti -. Atalanta played a great game and we often watch them like Liverpool and Manchester City, because they have clearly visible characteristics. This gives the dimension of what it means to have won on a field like this".
Milan - Spezia 2-1, Pioli: "A painful and fundamental victory"
Paradoxically, however, the tightest match was that of San Siro, where the Milan he managed to win only in the final thanks to a pearl of Giroud. The Frenchman, initially kept at rest and thrown in for the final assault, found the goal with a splendid volley in the 89th minute, taking the chestnuts out of the fire from a Pioli who was beginning to fear the worst. The proof of how much it mattered to solve it and bring home the 3 points was given by Giroud himself by taking off his shirt despite having already been booked, thus making up for a naive expulsion that will cost him the match in Cremona: the joy evidently overshadowed even someone like him, usually very lucid and poised.
The truth is that the Rossoneri were really afraid of not winning, because they did Spice, after a first half in which he could have conceded at least three goals (which ended 1-0 signed by Hernandez), he found an equalizer with Daniel Maldini, author of a beautiful right turn under the eyes of dad Paolo and all his former teammates. It took a great play from the usual Olivier to put things right and prevent Napoli from even running away at +8. "We complicated the match because we could have closed it in the first half, then we conceded a goal and we shouldn't lose our lucidity in this way - the analysis by Pioli -. A difficult but very important success, we know that we have to score many points, then it is clear that if Napoli win them all they will be favorites for the championship”.
Juventus – Inter (20.45 pm, Dazn)
Il Derby d'Italia number 246 (206 in Serie A) is certainly not the most important in recent years, but it still remains a red dot game, capable of directing part of the season for both teams. Is Juventus is Inter they have the obligation to win, even more after the victories of Napoli and Milan, which further lengthen the standings. Points in hand Allegri is playing the most, but the minimum advantage does not leave Inzaghi calm: after all, he too has to chase after the best in his class and certainly cannot afford to slow down right now. For Juve, on the other hand, it is a matter of mere survival in an attempt to reach the break with at least an acceptable gap, and then change gears in January with the permanent returns (hopefully) of Chiesa, Pogba and Di Maria.
Allegri: "We'll do everything to win, but it's not a decisive match"
"Juventus-Inter is always a deeply felt match, high tension and beautiful to play - the words of Allegri -. We will do everything to win it, last year we lost against them 3 times and drew once, we want to try even if Inter are very strong. Having said that, it won't be an inside-or-out game because then there will be another 25 to go, even if it is clear that we have to recover. Overcoming them in the standings would be important, but I repeat that the championship is still very long…”.
Inzaghi: "It's very important for both of us, but there's still a long way to go"
Of the same opinion too Inzaghi, who made very similar statements to his Juventus colleague. “We know well what this match represents, it's the Italian derby and it's deeply felt by the fans and the club – he explained in the press conference-. We will find a healthy opponent who, like us, has won four of the last five races. It's a delicate game, but there are still 25 to go between now and the end, in a week then there will be a break for the World Cup, after which there will be more than one group to play. We know how much it matters, but also how much is missing until the end. Having said that, it is very important for both, yes ”.
Juventus – Inter, the formations: Di Maria and Bremer as starters, Vlahovic and Brozovic on the bench
Training chapter. The most interesting news concerns Juventus, which he finds again DiMaria, Bremer e Vlahovic among the squad, even if only the first two will start from the first minute: the Serbian forward, in fact, is not at his best and will start from the bench. Good news also for Inzaghi who sees Brozovic again after more than a month's absence: here however, just like for Vlahovic, the return will be gradual. Allegri will thus rely on a 3-5-2 with Szczesny in goal, Bremer, Bonucci and Danilo in defense, Cuadrado, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot and Kostic in midfield, Di Maria and Milik in attack. Same game system also forInter, who will respond with Onana between the posts, Skriniar, Acerbi and Bastoni in the back department, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in the midfield, Dzeko and Lautaro as an offensive couple.
Rome – Lazio (18pm, Dazn)
The other big match of the day is that of the Olimpico, where Roma e Lazio they will compete for the 179th time in official matches (159 in Serie A). At stake is the supremacy of the city, of course, but also and above all the noble area of the standings: whoever wins, in fact, remains attached to the train of the very first positions. The derby also comes at a very special time of the season, with Roma returning from qualifying for the playoffs Europa League , Lazio eliminated and relegated to the Conference. It is therefore easy to imagine a climate of great teasing in the stands (hopefully only those), especially since the two coaches, while remaining silent on the eve, have already ignited the challenge in previous conferences. On paper, the Giallorossi seem to be favourites, but the derby, as we know, can confirm the sentence or overturn it.
Rome – Lazio, the formations: Mou focuses on Zaniolo, Sarri on Luis Alberto
Also at the training level Roma appears to have an advantage, if only because the Lazio will have to do without Property e Milinkovic-Savic, the latter booked against Salernitana and forced to miss the derby due to disqualification (non-existent yellow card). Mourinho instead it will be without Dybala e Spinazzola, but the feeling is that Sarri's absences could weigh more. In short, the key men will not be there, which is why the protagonists of the derby will necessarily have to be others: Zaniolo, back from a super game in the Europa League (two penalties and a goal) and Luis Alberto, designated replacement for Milinkovic, are candidates for a leading role. The 3-4-1-2 of Mourinho he will see Rui Patricio in goal, Mancini, Smalling and Ibanez in defense, Karsdorp, Cristante, Camara and Zalewski in midfield, Pellegrini in the frontline, Zaniolo and Abraham in attack. Classic 4-3-3 also for Sarri, who will respond with Provedel between the posts, Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli and Marusic in the back department, Vecino, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in the midfield, Pedro, Felipe Anderson and Zaccagni in the offensive trident.
