A shift from other times. The calendar, thanks to international commitments, brought together Inter, Milan, Juventus and Napoli on the same day, giving us a Sunday of great emotions. The highlight match is definitely that of Torino between the black and whites and the blues, even more so after the sentence of the Coni Guarantee College, which returned the 15 penalty points, albeit awaiting a new judgement. Difficult, in the light of the device (substantially confirmed the allegations of the Court of Appeal) and the convictions of the managers (Agnelli, Paratici, Arrivabene and Cherubini) that this is the definitive scenario, in the meantime, however, Allegri's team is minus two from Lazio by Sarri, surprise defeat by Turin (0-1, goal by Ilic) and this, at least psychologically, changes things. Inter and Milan they are thus forced to win against Empoli and Lecce, because the current Champions League stimulates a lot, but participating in the next one is worth (at least) 50 million.
Juventus – Naples (20.45 pm, DAZN)
The big match on Sunday, as previously mentioned, is that of the Stadium, where the Juventus of Allegri will receive the Napoli by Spalletti. It's not a game like any other and not just because of the very strong rivalry that divides the two clubs: this, in fact, is the first with the black and whites once again on 59 points, albeit with a rather large asterisk. The decision of the Coni Guarantee College can give new stimuli to the Lady, lately more focused on the cups than on the championship, but the curiosity also concerns the Azzurri, called to redeem the elimination from the Champions League and, more generally, a period far from the glories of the recent past. Both are returning from European fatigue, but the bianconeri, in addition to having played two days later, also have the semi-final of the Italian Cup with Inter just around the corner. On the other hand, however, there are reasons and if it is true that Spalletti wants to win to bring the Scudetto closer, it is also true that Allegri has not forgotten the 5-1 victory in the first leg, perhaps the lowest point of his season.
Allegri: "Points are scored on the pitch, now let's think about second place"
“We're not looking for redemption, but we want to beat the first in the standings which has shown its strength in Italy and in Europe, maintaining an impressive schedule – explained Allegri in the press conference -. We face an opponent who is on the verge of winning the Scudetto at the end of an extraordinary championship. It will be a tough match against a tough team, eliminated from the Champions League despite playing well and who will want to score points to win the Scudetto as soon as possible. We have to try to stay in the top four and our goal is ithe second place, we had to reset everything thinking about the 15 penalty points and readapt ourselves to the standings to get back on top. What has been done has been done well, but now we have to do better because we can try to finish second, in the final of the Italian Cup and the Europa League".
Juventus - Naples, the formations: Allegri chooses Vlahovic and Milik, Spalletti relies on Osimhen
The Juventus coach must dose his energies in view of the next matches, the blue one instead has only the championship to think about, but he is dealing with four important injuries. What is certain is that the duel Vlahovic-Osimhen he will be there, even if with different premises compared to the beginning of the season: if the Nigerian, in fact, has even gone beyond expectations, the same cannot be said of the Serbian, who is struggling with a fast in Serie A that has been going on since 7 February (brace at Salernitana). Allegri will opt for a 3-5-2 with Szczesny in goal, Gatti, Danilo and Alex Sandro in defense, De Sciglio, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot and Kostic in midfield, Milik and Vlahovic in attack. Spalletti, forced to do without Mario Rui, Politano and Simeone, will respond with a 4-3-3 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Kim, Juan Jesus and Olivera in the back, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in the midfield, Lozano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia in the offensive trident.
Milan – Lecce (18pm, DAZN)
A match to be won at all costs for Pioli's Milan, who after the joys of the Champions League must also get up again in the league. TO San Siro Lecce arrives in great difficulty, fresh from a draw and six defeats in the last seven games and closely followed by Spezia (1-1 in yesterday's advance against Sampdoria) and Verona, so the Rossoneri must take advantage of it and try to get closer to the Champions League area , vanished after the points were returned to Juventus. The Diavolo, moreover, has collected only one success in six championship races, a marching trend to be speeded up at all costs, on pain of risking definitively leaving the lot of the first four. Today's match, in the usual setting of a packed San Siro, would seem to be the right one to resume the race, provided however that we face it with the same nastiness as Naples and not with the phlegm of the last matches against Empoli and Bologna.
Pioli: "We'll think about the Champions League ahead, we need to improve the standings"
“It is important to finish the championship well, there are only eight games left and we will play five at the San Siro. The team is in form and can return to winning ways, the goal is to have the right approach, even if it would be presumptuous to think of closing it immediately. We play a lot and Lecce too, the approach must be confident and must be carried through to the end: the next two league games will be fundamental, we must start to do well against an opponent who put us in difficulty in the first leg. At the Champions we'll only think about it in twenty days, for now we've locked her up in an armored room. Now we need a head in the championship, we have to push hard, we don't want this ranking position".
Milan – Lecce, the formations: Giroud not called up, Ibra back on the bench
Compared to Naples there will be some changes, but nothing compared to the maxi turnover in Bologna. This time, moreover, there is no midweek commitment to preserve, but a game to be won at all costs. Proof of this is that the substitutions will essentially be forced, in light of Giroud's calf problem and Calabria's disqualification. The 4-2-3-1 the Rossoneri will thus see Maignan in goal, Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori and Hernandez in defence, Krunic and Tonali in midfield, Messias, Diaz and Leao in the trocar, Rebic in attack. Classic 4-3-3 instead for Baroni, who will respond with Falcone between the posts, Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti and Pezzella in the back department, Blin, Hjulmand and Oudin in the midfield, Strefezza, Ceesay and Di Francesco in the offensive trident.
Empoli – Inter (12.30, DAZN and Sky)
The speeches made for Milan also apply to Inter, indeed the Nerazzurri, having two points less in the standings, have even more urgency for points. Empoli's away match cannot have failed, not after the four defeats in the last five in the championship: the last victory dates back to March 5th, which explains Inzaghi's troubles. Of course, Europe is giving great satisfaction and allows him to remain firmly in command, but the club has been clear in repeatedly reiterating the absolute importance of Serie A: at stake are the 50 million for the next Champions League, absolutely vital for the coffers in viale Liberazione. In short, in Empoli there is only one result available, also in the light of a calendar which, from now to the end, will see direct clashes with Lazio, Rome, Naples and Atalanta, with very heavy points up for grabs.
Empoli - Inter, the formations: Inzaghi chooses Lukaku and Correa, Calhanoglu is back in the starting lineup
Inzaghi too, just like Pioli and Allegri, will rotate a few men, also thinking about the semifinal against Juve on Wednesday. The turnover will affect all departments, but the attack will suffer the most, with cup holders Lautaro and Dzeko on the bench. The Nerazzurri 3-5-2 will consist of Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, De Vrij and Acerbi in defense, Bellanova, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Gosens in midfield, Correa and Lukaku in attack. And the most sensational news of Saturday comes from the Belgian, namely the "pardon" received by Gravina on the disqualification in the Italian Cup against Juventus: the president of the FIGC canceled the expulsion (confirmed on Friday by the Sports Court of Appeal) with an unprecedented measure, motivated by the "principle of the fight against all forms of racism". However, we will only return to talk about this from tomorrow because first there is the match against Zanetti's Empoli, who will attempt the coup-bis after the first leg with Perisan between the goalposts, Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto and Parisi in the department back, Fazzini, Marin and Bandinelli in the midfield, Baldanzi behind the offensive duo made up of Caputo and Cambiaghi.
