Even Turin, finally, has a high-ranking derby. For the first time in time immemorial, the derby between Juventus and Toro (at 20.45 pm) will not only apply to the Mole but also to the positions that count: we are only on matchday six, it's true, but the fifth place for the grenade has all the air of not being random at all. And so something unprecedented will be staged at the Stadium, at least in the last 20 years, with Mihajlovic's team able to annoy Allegri's not only in terms of character but also technically. Unusual situation which paradoxically may favor Juve more than Toro: the risk of taking the cousins off guard, now more than ever, would seem averted from the start.
“This derby is worth a lot for us too, it has the same value as a Champions League match – confirmed Allegri. – Last year they already had a very good team, now they have a sixth-place squad, therefore from the Europa League. We are ready, we know that these are 3 heavy points in terms of the championship". A lot of energy from the Juventus coach but nothing compared to that transmitted by Mihajlovic, notoriously a master in presenting challenges of this type. “There is a big difference between the two teams but Walt Disney said: if you can dream of something, it's because you can do it – Sinisa's speech. – This is the clash between passion and reason, between colors and black and white, between the people and the bosses, in short, a unique derby of its kind”.
Tension at a thousand therefore and two teams ready to do battle in the theater of a Stadium that promises to be sold out. Allegri will face him with the typical formation, despite the imminent Champions League match against Olympiacos, therefore 4-2-3-1 with Buffon in goal, Lichtsteiner, Benatia (favorite over Rugani), Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defence, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and Mandzukic in support of Higuain, desperate for a crisis-busting goal and therefore confirmed despite the bad moment in form. The same system also for Torino, who will respond with Sirigu in goal, De Silvestri, Lyanco, N'Kolou and Molinaro in the back, Rincon and Baselli in the midfield, Iago Falque, Ljajic and Niang in the trocar, Belotti in attack.
An interested spectator of the derby will be Maurizio Sarri and all of Naples with him: the Azzurri hope to do their duty against Spal (18 pm) and then cheer on Toro at full blast. In fact this round, at least on paper, seems to be favorable, provided however that we confirm the trend of recent times which sees Napoli concentrated and on the spot against every opponent. If this is the case also in Ferrara, it will be difficult to escape the sixth victory in as many games, vice versa it would be a sensational slip that could weigh heavily on the economy of the championship. Sarri knows it well, that's why he will field the 4-3-3 type despite Feyenoord at the gates, therefore Reina, Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Zielinski, Diawara and Hamsik in midfield, Callejon, Mertens and Insigne in attack. Semplici, determined to stop the points haemorrhage of the last few weeks, will respond with a 3-5-2 with Gomis between the posts, Salamon, Vicari and Felipe in the back, Lazzari, Schiattarella, Viviani, Mora and Costa in support of the offensive couple Antenucci-Borriello.
However, Roma will open the sixth day, awaiting the home match against Udinese (15 pm). Here too the same speech made previously for Napoli applies: three points, as well as giving continuity and morale, would give great substance to the standings, a false step instead would call everything into question. “I think I'm coaching a strong team that can compete with Juve and Napoli – growled Di Francesco -. Until now they have shown that they are more solid but we too, slowly, are recovering ground and awareness. The last victories have been important, we haven't conceded a goal and all this must give us more strength. I am convinced of a growth path and I hope to get closer to the teams that are at the top".
So it's forbidden to make mistakes or think about the away match in the Champions League in Azerbaijan, it's better to concentrate on beating Delneri's Udinese, back from two consecutive defeats. The Giallorossi 4-3-3, after the large turnover in Benevento, will return to the typical one with Alisson in goal, Florenzi, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Kolarov in defense, Nainggolan, De Rossi and Strootman in midfield, Defrel, Dzeko and Perotti in attack. Delneri instead returns to the 4-4-2, in an attempt to find solidity and certainties, as well as heavy points for the standings. The coach will line up Scuffet between the posts, Stryger Larsen, Angella, Nuytinck and Samir in the back, De Paul, Behrami, Barak and Jankto in the midfield, Maxi Lopez and Lasagna.
