Where were we? The championship had stopped for the break with the couple Inter-Juventus in command, a humiliated Milan in Bergamo, a thrillingly victorious Naples in Reggio Emilia, a devastating Rome in Florence and, above all, a Lazio "super champion" of Italy. And it is precisely from the Romans that we start again, with the curiosity to understand if they will be able to fight only for the Champions League or aim for something greater. In this sense the key match is certainly that of the biancocelesti in Brescia and not just for chronological reasons (15 pm): in fact, they are the closest to the leading pair, also because, it should be remembered, they still have the match against Verona to make up for. But woe to forget about Roma, also author of a truly spectacular 2019 finale: should they beat Turin at the Olimpico (20.45 pm), next Sunday's match against Juve would really take on the contours of the Scudetto match.
In short, the Capital has returned to the top but does not yet know how much, and in this sense today's day can give you some rather important answers. We start, as previously mentioned, with the challenge of Rigamonti, where Simone Inzaghi will go in search of the ninth consecutive victory. A prestigious objective, achieved only in the 1998/99 season by Eriksson's squadron: it is no coincidence that Lazio fought for the title with Milan until the last day, to then win it the following year. “We must be aware of our strength, but humble at the same time – warned the Biancoceleste coach. – The latest successes, especially that of the Super Cup, have increased our self-esteem, but pitfalls are always around the corner. Brescia will need the real Lazio and maximum commitment from everyone, we need to immediately plug it back in, also because we are facing a team that now has certainties, led by a good coach".
The choice of the low profile is also explained by the absences of Luis Alberto and Lucas Leiva, both disqualified during the battle of Riyadh. Heavy names, to which must be added the lackluster conditions of Cataldi and, above all, Immobile: both will grit their teeth but it is clear that Inzaghi is right to be worried. His 3-5-2 will see Strakosha in goal, Patric, Acerbi and Radu in defense, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Parolo, Correa and Lulic in midfield, Caicedo and Immobile in attack. All available, except for the long-term patient Dessena, instead for Corini, who will respond with a 4-3-1-2 with Joronen between the posts, Sabelli, Cistana, Chancellor and Mateju in the back department, Bisoli, Tonali and Romulo in the midfield , Spalek behind the offensive duo made up of Balotelli and Torregrossa. In Brescia there are heavy points up for grabs as well as in Rome, where in the evening Fonseca's team will receive Mazzarri's Turin.
A few months ago the challenge would have been presented almost like a big match, but now, thanks to the opposite moments of the two teams, it is the Giallorossi who are clearly favourites. In fact, the numbers are all on their side and not just for the 14-point advantage in the standings: in the last two months they have had the best defense in the championship, not surprisingly the third overall behind Inter and Lazio, on a par with Juve who , in exactly one week, he will visit you at the Olimpico. It could be a sensational stepping stone towards a dream of the Scudetto, but only in the event of a victory over Toro: something that, in the Trigoria area, risks appearing too obvious. “I have already said that it is not right to create this pressure on the team – replied Fonseca. – We have started a new process and changed many players, now the lads just have to think about the next match: we have to win against Torino and it won't be easy, it's always complicated to deal with”.
To distract the environment, moreover, there are the corporate events, which see the handover between Pallotta and Friedkin increasingly hot, not to mention the market, much more lively than on the other side of the Tiber. In short, Fonseca will have to be good at isolating his own and to face the grenade in the best possible way: to do so he will choose a 4-2-3-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Florenzi, Smalling, Mancini and Kolarov in defense, Veretout and Diawara in midfield, Zaniolo, Pellegrini and Perotti behind of the lone striker Dzeko. On the other hand, there will be an opponent hurt by disappointing results, the last one being the pre-Christmas one against Spal, costing two weeks of criticism and protests. Above all, Mazzarri is in the dock, called to a prestigious result to strengthen his position in the eyes of Cairo. The coach, forced to give up the unavailable Iago Falqué, Lyanco and Baselli and the suspended Bremer and Ansaldi, will try with a 3-4-2-1 that will see Sirigu in goal, Izzo, Nkoulou and Djidji in the back, De Silvestri , Lukic, Rincon, Laxalt and Berenguer in the midfield, Verdi and Belotti in attack.
