Cancel Barcelona and resume the race. Juventus wants to go back to doing what they do best, especially in Italy: to win, without ifs and buts. The Sassuolo obstacle (at 12.30) in itself shouldn't be a big problem, however the bianconeri still don't seem to have found the balance of the past seasons and therefore need to confirm. If we add to this some external factors that are anything but secondary (the Agnelli affair could destabilize the environment a bit, and then there are a few too many injuries) we understand how the match in Reggio Emilia hides more pitfalls than we could think. “We have only one result available, victory – Allegri clarified in no uncertain terms. – However, we will have to face the match with great respect and humility, and then we need to go back to playing as a team. We didn't succeed in the second half in Barcelona and this must never happen again. We will have Sassuolo, Fiorentina and Turin, so a mini-cycle of important matches begins to be faced in the best possible way". Compared to the Camp Nou, Chiellini and Mandzukic will be available again, but on the other hand De Sciglio was hurt (there is talk of a microfracture and a month's stoppage) and Khedira and Howedes are still out too. Allegri's 4-2-3-1 will see Buffon in goal, Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini and Asamoah in defence, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Bernardeschi, Dybala and Mandzukic in the frontline to support the lone striker Higuain.
Il Pipita, highly criticized after the bad performance in Barcelona, is called to take back the scene and drag his teammates like any self-respecting top player. On the Sassuolo front, there is a lot of concern for a poor ranking (only one point collected on the first day, then two defeats) and the desire to re-emerge right in the presence of the Italian champions. Bucchi, forced to do without Berardi, will try with a 3-5-2 with Consigli in goal, Cannavaro, Acerbi and Goldaniga in the back, Lirola, Sensi, Magnanelli, Duncan and Peluso in the midfield, Politano and Falcinelli in attack. The premise made for Juventus essentially also applies to Napoli: the defeat in the Champions League must be archived as soon as possible, otherwise the leading role assigned to the Azzurri will be called into question. In this sense, the calendar would seem to give a good hand: Baroni's Benevento arrives at the San Paolo (15pm), bottom of the championship and still dry of points. Sarri is well aware that this game really can't go wrong, which is why despite the imminent big match at Lazio's home in the midweek round, he will propose the 4-3-3 type, albeit with a pinch of turnover. In defense, guarding Reina's goal, space for Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam, in midfield trio Allan-Jorginho-Hamsik, in attack top trident with Callejon, Mertens and Insigne. Baroni will try to snatch the first points of the championship with a solid and compact 4-4-2, with Belec in goal, Venuti, Antei, Lucioni and Letizia in the back, Di Chiara, Cataldi, Memushaj and Lazaar in the midfield, Lombardi and Offensive back pair (absent Ciciretti and Iemmello due to injury).
Sunday in the armchair instead for Eusebio Di Francesco, who can finally relax after the last difficult weeks, spent amidst criticism and controversy in the press, fans and players themselves. A convincing victory was needed against Verona and it has arrived, even if before getting carried away by easy enthusiasm it will be the case to test oneself against more consistent opponents. The Venetians, to date, are the most affordable in the championship: a question of wrong choices on the market (remember the Cassano pantomime?) but also, if not above all, of internal necklines that are difficult to remedy (Pazzini still on the bench shouting revenge) which make Pecchia the most poised technician of all. Roma simply took advantage of it and took it upon themselves to win and have fun at the same time, a nice luxury in these difficult times. Nainggolan (22') took care of opening the ball, then Dzeko let loose and first doubled with a nice header (34'), then tripled with a shot by him (61'). In the midst of a flood of goals for everyone, from the very young Turkish Under to the revived El Shaarawy, passing through Pellegrini, Kolarov and Schick, who took over in the second half for his debut in the yellow and red shirt. “Everything is clarified with Dzeko, his was just an outburst linked to a bad performance – the words of Di Francesco. – I am satisfied with the growth of the team, we have created a lot and totally deserved the victory”. For Verona, on the other hand, it's late at night and it doesn't matter that president Setti has renewed full trust in Pecchia: the next matches with Sampdoria and Lazio will become fundamental, regardless of the words.
