The last effort before the break. One more round of the championship, after which the Serie A will go into storage for a couple of weeks, leaving room for National of Spalletti and the race towards Euro 24. However, we will only think about this from Monday, because first there is a weekend of fire everything to experience, starting with this Saturday full of matches. It starts with Inter-Bologna (15pm), we continue with the Turin derby (18), ends with Genoa-Milan (20.45pm): a nice menu, no doubt about it, especially since the Milanese people could be affected by the European hardships.
Inter – Bologna (15 pm, Dazn)
Let's go in chronological order and leave from Inter, which will open on Saturday by hosting the Bologna at San Siro. Interesting match, because if it is true that the Nerazzurri start as clear favourites, it is also true that Thiago Motta's rossoblu are going through a good period of form, as seen in last Sunday's 3-0 against Empoli. Inzaghi's team then returned from the match against Benfica, which was costly from both a physical and mental point of view, which could further level the match, without prejudice to the difference in value between the two. If Inter repeat Tuesday's performance they will certainly win, but it is clear that playing every three days is tiring, regardless of the opponent. There is a risk of lowering tension, it is no coincidence that the only defeat of the season came in midweek against Sassuolo, but Inzaghi will have to manage to keep his team on track: going to the break with a misstep, in fact, is not liked to anyone, let alone to those who are at the top of the table, albeit together with their cousins from Milan.
Inter – Bologna, the lineups: no turnover for Inzaghi, Thu-La plays in attack
The coach will limit the turnover to the maximum, focusing on blocking the very starting players: even Thuram, initially candidate for the bench, will be confirmed from the first minute with all due respect to Sanchez, ready to take over from the bench. For the rest, nothing new, therefore 3-5-2 with Sommer in goal, Pavard, Acerbi and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Thuram and Lautaro in attack. Problems in defense for Thiago Motta, forced to reinvent the department after Kristiansen's injury: his 4-2-3-1 will thus see Skorupski between the posts, De Silvestri, Beukema, Calafiori and Lykogiannis in the defensive department, Aebischer and Freuler in the midfield, Orsolini, Ferguson and Ndoye behind the lone striker Zirkzee.
Juventus – Turin (18 pm, Dazn)
The aperitif time will be dedicated to the 255th Turin derby, the 185th in Serie A. Juventus, unbeaten in the last 18 matches against the Granata (14 wins and 4 draws), wants to continue their streak and not only to parochial issues: at stake there is a Champions League race to conquer, as well as the train of firsts not to lose sight of. Allegri has a very positive tradition in the Mole derby, despite him being the coach at the time of Toro's last victory (2015), but he is going through a period that is anything but simple, both due to injuries (once again, as we will see will soon have the attack decimated) and for the game, which appeared to be involuted after the encouraging signs of the very first days. Pogba, who was officially suspended after the results of the counter-analysis, which confirmed the positivity to testosterone, also created further problems for him. At this point, Juve can suspend the payment of the salary (the player would only be entitled to the minimum wage of 39 thousand euros gross per year), while for the possible termination of the contract he will have to wait for the sporting trial, where the Frenchman risks up to 4 years of disqualification.
Allegri: “Chiesa and Vlahovic won't be there. Pogba? Sorry for the boy"
“Chiesa and Vlahovic will not be there, we are sorry not to have them available because they were doing very well – confirmed Allegri -. In a year these things happen, we hope to have them back available as soon as possible. Too many muscle injuries? Maybe I should go to school and brush up on Italian because I can't make myself understood. Federico has had an MRI and it's negative, but he feels pain and is worried, so I won't risk it, Dusan on the other hand has a back problem: the only muscle injury is that of Alex Sandro. This will be a very important match for us, we must provide continuity at home, knowing that a difficult and complicated derby awaits us. Technically we will have to do better than in Bergamo, we need to be ready."
Juventus – Turin, the lineups: Allegri thinks about the Yildiz move, Juric with the Vlasic-Sanabria doubt
The simultaneous absence of Chiesa and Vlahovic will force Allegri to reinvent the attack, especially since Milik is recovering from an injury and cannot be at 100%. This is why the coach is thinking of launching the young Yildiz from the first minute together with Kean, for what would be a truly unprecedented pairing: the decision, in any case, will only be taken close to the match, also to better evaluate the conditions of the highest rated Polish. The Juventus 3-5-2 should see Szczesny in goal, Gatti, Bremer and Danilo in defence, McKennie, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot and Cambiaso in midfield, Yildiz and Kean in attack. Offensive doubt also for Juric, undecided whether to confirm the usual one-striker system or risk the heavy pair Zapata-Sanabria. The most probable hypothesis is the first, therefore 3-4-2-1 with Milinkovic-Savic between the posts, Tameze (if Sazanov does not recover), Schuurs and Rodriguez in defense, Bellanova, Ricci, Ilic and Lazaro in midfield, Vlasic and Karamoh behind Zapata.
Genoa – Milan (20.45pm, Dazn and Sky)
Finally, the postponement of Marassi, where Gilardino's Genoa, former par excellence of the match, will receive Milan. Extremely treacherous match for the Devil, partly due to the objective value of the rossoblu (especially at Marassi, where they have already stopped Napoli and roughed up Roma), partly due to the inevitable post-Dortmund tiredness, further exacerbated by the calendar. The Rossoneri, in fact, only returned from Germany on Thursday and then reached Genoa 24 hours later: the preparation for the match, in fact, did not exist, while Genoa have worked hard since the beginning of the week. No official communications have arrived from via Aldo Rossi, but unofficially there is a certain irritation at the time chosen, when Sunday could have been chosen. In any case, Milan wants to win and continue the race in the standings, especially since after the break there will be a week of fire with Juventus, PSG and Napoli in the space of 8 days: failure at Marassi, in short, would weigh twice as much and is a an eventuality that Pioli, in press silence yesterday, does not even want to consider.
Genoa – Milan, the lineups: Pioli focuses on Okafor and Chukwueze, Gila with Retegui in doubt
The match is important, but the difficulties in the Champions League place make the turnover inevitable. The Rossoneri coach will rest Giroud, Pulisic and Calabria, opting for a 4-3-3 with Maignan in goal, Florenzi, Thiaw, Tomori and Hernandez in defence, Musah, Adli and Reijnders in midfield, Chukwueze, Okafor and Leao in attack. Only one doubt for Gilardino, but a big one: Retegui still feels pain in his knee and could be left out, even if the rossoblu coach will wait until the last minute in the hope of getting his striker back, at this point also at risk for the national team Spalletti. The most probable option is a 3-5-1-1 with Martinez between the posts, Dragusin, Bani and Vasquez in the defensive department, De Winter, Thorsby, Frendrup, Malinovskyi and Matturro in the midfield, Messias (another ex) behind the lone striker Gudmundsson, three goals in the last two games with Roma and Udinese.
