And at the last breath Juventus wins. The bianconeri beat the Fiorentina at the end of a mangy, dirty game, with little show and many individual duels, in which only one episode could lead to the victory of one of the two. Cuadrado found him in the 91st minute, less than a quarter of an hour from entering the field in place of Rabiot: his memory goes back to November 2, 2015, when the same Colombian scored the winning goal against Turin in full stoppage time . At the time it was the beginning of a fantastic comeback that brought an unexpected Scudetto, but here it is probable that none of this will happen, but it can certainly be a good (re) starting point.
Again Allegri Corto Muso wins it, just the way he likes it, even if the feeling is that the match took place in the 73rd minute, when Milenkovic he was sent off for a second bookable offence. Up until that moment, in fact, balance reigned supreme and a 0-0 draw seemed to be the only possible result, but after that everything changed and the bianconeri first came close to scoring with Church, stopped only by the crossbar, then they found him with Cuadrado, also thanks to the decisive deviation of biraghi. “We held up well mentally, with this mentality we would have brought home points also with Sassuolo, Empoli, Udinese and Verona – Allegri's analysis -. We must therefore be happy with this victory, obtained against a Fiorentina team that plays football very well, but angry at what we left behind earlier.
The game? The basis of a team that aims for the top is to make themselves available and run, as well as play well, and in the end the result counts". Here we return to the eternal debate between game players and results players, but it is clear that Juve, especially now, are above all interested in points.
The race Champions, moreover, is more closely contested than ever, with many teams battling for just one place, given that the top three are not currently in the game. The fourth, awaiting today's matches, was taken by Atalanta, capable of conquering Cagliari at the end of a fun and emotional challenge, more than the 2-1 final says.
If anyone thought that the Nerazzurri could be affected by the European efforts, they received an answer as early as 6', when Pasalic broke the deadlock by depositing an assist to Zappacosta's kiss on the net. But the Sardinians, lined up by surprise Mazzarri with a 4-5-1 with the solo João Pedro in attack, they reacted immediately and in the 27th minute they equalized with the Brazilian, good at finishing off a long ball from Godin and beating Musso.
Crackling first half, concluded with the Goddess ahead again, this time with the usual Zapata, who scored with a powerful shot on which Cragno was unable to do anything. In the second half theAtalanta he could have scored again, but first the Var (penalty removed after on field review) and then the rossoblu goalkeeper (great save on Ilicic) prevented him, while the Cagliari, despite suffering, held on to the match, coming close to 2-2 with a header from Pavoletti just wide. “We suffered too much for the type of match that started, for the game we developed and for the chances created, there's always a melee in the final that can ruin everything – commented Gasperini -.
Many away points? There was also a lot of randomness, in many internal games we didn't deserve the negative result. We lost points in painful matches like those against Milan and Fiorentina, or against Udinese in the 92nd minute, we certainly need to win a lot at home too…”.
Yesterday's results put even more pressure on the Romans, who are forced to win in order not to complicate the Champions League race, but also in order not to pass a difficult stop in the capital's media centrifuge.
This is especially true for the Roma, that after the fool-bis with Bodo Glimt absolutely can't go wrong with the away match in Venice (12.30), but also the Lazio he must win at all costs with Salernitana (18 pm), otherwise Sarri would go back to the dock. Where, for the first time since he arrived, sits Mourinho, who has come under the scrutiny of Roman critics, or at least of a part. “Right now we're struggling, not in building situations, but in translating all the actions we create into goals – glossed the Special One -. Now a difficult match awaits us, Venezia play well, have excellent principles and always want to build: I repeat, we absolutely have to score more".
Mou is therefore waiting for answers from some key men such as Mkhitaryan, Zaniolo and Abraham, who have not played for 6 games, but the fans above all observe him, welcomed as the savior of the homeland and instead, at least so far, unable to give Roma that quid in more than in the recent past. In short, today a victory is needed and the Portuguese will try to get it by relying on the usual 4-2-3-1 with Rui Patricio in goal, Karsdorp, Mancini, Ibanez and Calafiori in defense, Cristante and Veretout in midfield, Zaniolo, Pellegrini and Mkhitaryan behind of the single point Abraham.
Zanetti he will try the coup with a 4-3-3 that will see Romero in goal, Mazzocchi, Caldara, Ceccaroni and Haps in the back, Crnigoj, Busio and Ampadu in the midfield, Aramu, Okereke and Kiyine in attack. A decidedly better moment instead for Lazio, who after the bad defeat in Verona reacted by beating Fiorentina and finding two good draws with Atalanta and Marseille. Today, however, the Olimpico arrives Salernitana, for what promises to be the match of Lotito's heart (“but I have nothing to do with the grenades anymore”, the Biancoceleste patron reiterated yesterday), but above all as a match to be won at all costs.
Sarri he knows it well and that is why he will confirm the 4-3-3 type with Reina in goal, Hysaj, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Marusic in defence, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in midfield, Pedro, Immobile and Felipe Anderson in attack. Complicated mission for Colantuono, who however has had a good impact since he took over the Castori bench. The grenade coach will try to stop Lazio with the now usual 4-3-1-2 with Belec between the posts, Zortea, Strandberg, Gyomber and Ranieri in the back, Schiavone, Di Tacchio and Obi in the midfield, Ribery behind the offensive couple made up of Simy and Bonazzoli.
