Naples and Rome launch the challenge, Juve must respond. There Inter's first fall of the season it means that the hierarchies at the top change and that the championship race, even if still very far from the final sprint, can undergo a big jolt. The Giallorossi's victory over Cagliari has further tangled a skein involving at least 4 teams and which promises to remain so until the end, provided they remain clinging to the train. What is certain is that today Juve must take the 3 points in Bologna (15 pm) to overtake Spalletti's team, but also to stay in the wake of Sarri's and get rid of Di Francesco's team: Dall'Ara in short, it must be conquered, especially with the match against Roma at the door. "That pitch is always difficult for us, we'll need a solid, technical, competitive and tactical match, otherwise we'll throw away what we did with Napoli" explained Allegri, who however has to deal with some important absences and, above all, with the Dybala, now exploded in the sunlight.
The coach, along the lines of what Nedved already did at the beginning of the week, didn't hide himself and indeed admitted that there is a problem, indeed if there is. “It is unlikely that Paulo will play in Bologna, after all in the past champions such as Pirlo, Pogba and Vidal have been out – his words. – He doesn't go through a great period and I evaluate what I see in training: as far as private life is concerned, in fact, I can only say that I am a coach for work, not a watchdog… ”. Second consecutive bench in sight for the Argentine, who, barring sensational twists, will not start in Bologna either. Allegri, who must also give up Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Chiellini and Cuadrado, will field a 4-3-2-1 with Szczesny in goal, De Sciglio, Benatia, Barzagli and Alex Sandro in defence, Khedira, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Douglas Costa and Mandzukic in support of the lone striker Higuain. Donadoni, back from the (undeserved) defeat in Milan, will respond with the usual 4-3-3 with Mirante in goal, Torosidis, Gonzalez, Helander and Masina in the back, Poli, Pulgar and Donsah in the midfield, Verdi, Destro and Krejci in attack.
An interested spectator will be Di Francesco's Roma, who thanks to the victory over Cagliari can afford to study their next opponent without excessive anxieties. Certainly, however, that the risk of missing the train was there and also pretty big. In fact, to get the better of Lopez's team, a goal was needed in full stoppage time, which was also very disputed. Fazio's paw (94') is tarnished by a touch of the arm that forced Damato into a long Var consultation, only to then decide to validate a goal that leaves several doubts, although the rule itself lends itself to a thousand different interpretations . Before the disputed 1-0, Roma hadn't been brilliant, and when Perotti had missed a penalty (52', another episode from Var) the Olimpico had begun to fear losing two very heavy points, especially with the big match in Turin at doors. “We should have been more cynical and mean in front of goal – Di Francesco's analysis. – Having said that, we made the match and the victory is more than deserved”.
However, Milan will open Sunday in the championship, awaiting the away game in Verona against Hellas (12.30). Very important test for Gattuso, who after the two consecutive successes between the championship and the Italian Cup (precisely against Pecchia's team) is looking for the third which, perhaps, would allow the word crisis to be set aside. A negative result, on the other hand, would erase the good done in the last week and would once again open the folder of controversies, an eventuality that the Rossoneri coach would gladly do without.
“I expect a completely different game compared to Wednesday's one – explained the person concerned. – History says that Bentegodi is a cursed field for us and that we always make a crazy effort. We will have to be hungry and mean, just like Cutrone and Suso in the Italian Cup, this is what I want". On the other hand, no mention of the current cases (Donnarumma, but also the rejection of UEFA on the Financial Fair Play issue), demonstrating a Gattuso concentrated solely and exclusively on the match and on those 3 points that would give him much more serenity. To obtain them, the coach will confirm the 4-3-3 of the last few matches with Donnarumma in goal, Abate, Bonucci, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Kessie, Montolivo and Bonaventura in midfield, Suso, Kalinic and Borini in attack. Classic 4-4-2 for Pecchia, who will attempt the coup relying on Nicolas between the posts, Caceres, Ferrari, Caracciolo and Souprayen in the back, Romulo, Zuculini, Buchel and Verde in the midfield behind the attacking duo made up of the former Rossoneri Pazzini and look for us.
