A poker to remind everyone that there is also Juve. The 4-0 in Parma is the best message that the bianconeri could send to the big names in the championship, none excluded: from leaders Milan, engaged this afternoon with Sassuolo (15 pm), to Conte's Inter, expected from the home match against Spezia (15), passing through the Romans, Napoli and Atalanta, who will cross gloves this evening in two really interesting direct clashes. Pirlo needed to win and he did, but, more importantly, he has also convinced and now he can sit back and enjoy Sunday in the championship, with the hope of maintaining his current second place, on a par with Inter and minus 1 from Milan.
The fact that one of the best games of the season coincided with a great performance by Ronaldo and Morata is obviously not a coincidence, but a logical consequence. The Portuguese, eager for redemption after Wednesday's bad performance, unleashed panic in the Parma defense right from the start, closing the match with goals of 2-0 (26', splendid header) and 3-0 ( 48', surgical left foot at the far post from close range), before the Spaniard put the exclamation point with the imperious detachment of 4-0 (86'). However, it was Kulusevski (23') who opened the match, finally lined up as a starter against his former team: if Pirlo wanted an answer, the Swede gave it, yes he did.
In general, however, he had it from everyone and it doesn't matter that Parma experienced a bad night: his Juve, after many stammering games, finally offered a performance worthy of the tricolor he wears on his chest. “We weren't happy with the result against Atalanta despite the good performance, we had to make up for the lost points straight away and we did it in the best possible way – commented the Juventus coach with satisfaction -. Are we favorites for the Scudetto? The important thing is to have this attitude in every game, whether it's Barcelona or Parma: we must always be in control of the games." The spotlight thus shifts to the Milanese, engaged in a distance duel that is worth the first place.
The most difficult match is undoubtedly that of Milan, awaited by the insidious away match in Reggio Emilia against Sassuolo. An already complicated match for him, but made even more balanced by the absences of the Rossoneri, who will have to do without Ibrahimovic, Kjaer, Gabbia, Bennacer and, yesterday's news, Rebic, who stopped due to a foot problem. A big problem for Pioli, who until Friday had high hopes of at least embracing the Swede, now close to returning. But then came the cold shower, or the new muscle problem (this time in the soleus) which will cost him another month off.
“Before training we were convinced that he could be available for a part of the match, everything was going well, then there was this hitch – Pioli said -. I'm sorry for him, he really wanted to come back and help the team before the break, but we still have alternatives. We will face Sassuolo with great respect, we know we have important absences but we have already shown that we are tough and prepared". The feeling is that this could be a watershed match for Milan's season: should he be able to return to victory, in fact, would give a very strong signal to the opponents, vice versa, he would risk losing his primacy, giving strength to all those who consider his squad inadequate for certain goals.
Compared to Genoa, however, Hernandez will be available again, so Pioli will line up a 4-2-3-1 with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Kalulu, Romagnoli and, indeed, Hernandez in defence, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Hauge on frontline, Leao in attack. An important absence also for De Zerbi, who will have to give up the suspended Locatelli: his 4-2-3-1 will see Consigli between the posts, Toljan, Chiriches, Ferrari and Rogerio in the back, Bourabia and Magnanelli in the midfield, Berardi, Djuricic and Boga behind Caputo. Interested spectator of the challenge will certainly be Inter, who dreams of a gift from Sassuolo to take first place. In addition to this, however, it will be necessary to beat Spezia, up to now capable of playing openly with everyone.
Conte, yesterday in press silence, knows well that these apparently easy matches can hide various pitfalls, but also that the 3 points must be won at all costs. Here because today he will not indulge in a wild turnover, but only with some small inevitable adjustments after the midweek efforts. His 3-5-2 will be made up of Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Vidal and Perisic in midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack. The Italian, on the other hand, will attempt a historic feat relying on the usual 4-3-3, therefore Provedel between the posts, Ferrer, Terzi, Erlic and Bastoni in the back department, Deiola, Ricci and Pobega in the midfield, Gyasi, Nzola and Farias in the offensive trident.
