History repeats itself. Lazio beat Maradona just like last season, but if that, standings in hand, was a painless defeat, the same cannot be said of this one, which could have important implications for both the Azzurri and the Biancocelesti. Garcia, in fact, stops for the break behind Milan, with the risk of also suffering the extension of Inter, if today he manages to beat Fiorentina and overtake Juve, after victory in Empoli. Sarri, for his part, gets up right on the most difficult night, obtaining a very heavy success that ranks and, above all, morale.
Napoli–Lazio 1-2, Luis Alberto and Kamada score the Biancoceleste coup
Few would have bet on Lazio, but we, on the eve, underlined how this was a far from obvious match, mindful of what happened last season. The events were repeated this time too, confirming Napoli's allergy towards the Biancocelesti, especially when playing at Maradona. It must be said that the defeat is very severe for Garcia, given that his team dominated both in ball possession (61% to 39) and in overall shots (22 to 6), but in football, as we know, you don't win on points, but by inflating the net. This was done better by Lazio, who also had two goals disallowed for offside, ruthless in scoring with Luis Alberto in the first half (30') and with Kamada in the second (52'), after that Zielinski he had found the momentary 1-1 with a right-footed shot deflected by Romagnoli (32'). However, the large amount of play, especially in the first half, was not enough for Napoli to avoid defeat, and thus the first cracks appeared in Garcia's project, already 3 points behind Spalletti. Sarri, on the other hand, can finally smile: his Lazio, which up to now had appeared drained and superficial, found itself in the most difficult night, in which few believed he could go out with a smile.
Garcia bitter: "Unfair defeat, but if we can't win we must at least keep a draw..."
“We deserved to be ahead at half-time, we had an excellent first half – the bitter comment from Garcia -. Then, in the only outing, they scored, showing 100% effectiveness, after which we equalized early, but we weren't good at dribbling in the second half. Lazio deserved it there, but overall a draw would have been fairer. The boys have to understand that when you can't win you shouldn't lose, we didn't manage well, we could have drawn and we were inaccurate. We shot 22 times, zero on target in the second half, so equalizing becomes complicated. We must accept defeat, now there is the break and we hope to recover everyone. There's no time to complain, the marathon continues."
Sarri rejoices: "First half suffered, but in the second we dominated"
“We played a good game, a difficult first half without remaining passive, then in the second half we dominated – Sarri exulted -. Twice we managed to score 3-1, I'm sorry for the disallowed goals: from the field the first looked very good, then they told me that there was a knee in an irregular position of a few centimeters, on the other hand we could discuss it all night long about the second. Our second half, however, certifies that the physical condition is good, as is the mental one. We didn't become disunited and despite the goals disallowed, the team remained focused on the match, I saw a good mentality."
Inter–Fiorentina (18.30pm, Dazn)
But the main dishes of the third day are not finished yet, indeed Sunday will offer two rather delicious ones such as Inter–Fiorentina and Empoli–Juventus. Let's start from the match at San Siro, undoubtedly the most fascinating, given that two teams built to reach the top, as well as devoted to offensive play, will compete. The Nerazzurri started well by beating Monza and Cagliari, but now they find themselves facing the first level test of the season, so they must confirm themselves and close this very first part of the championship at the top of the table, albeit cohabiting with Milan. There will be one in front Fiorentina refreshed from the success against Rapid Vienna and from the latest market events, which saw her able to sell Amrabat well, get rid of Jovic and welcome Maxime Lopez. The match promises to be fun and spectacular, as well as open to all results: last year, after all, there were two victories for Inter (one in the Italian Cup final) and one for the Viola, which was also at San Siro.
Inzaghi warns his team: "Fiorentina are an excellent team, it's always tough with them"
“We started with great determination, the boys were very good but only two games have passed and tomorrow we face another very, very important one – underlined Inzaghi -. Without a doubt we know that we face an excellent team: Fiorentina are trained very well, they have excellent players and the cross-challenges of all these years have taught us that with them it is always difficult matches. We will therefore have to be very good at approaching the race in the best way. This summer a big change was made, we lost very important players but just as many arrived, some of them more experienced who will help the young ones to integrate in the shortest time possible".
Inter–Fiorentina, the lineups: Inzaghi calls Pavard and Klaassen, Italian chooses Nzola again
And then space on the field, with two teams finally free (like all of them, of course) from market issues, although the signings of the last few days are still foreign bodies. To see Pavard and Klaassen from the start, for example, it will still take some time, as well as for Sanchez, who hasn't even been called up given his precarious form. The same goes for the Italian too, especially as Maxime Lopez has to serve a two-match ban after the expulsion (insulting the referee) remedied in Naples with Sassuolo. The formations so they will be quite similar to those of last week, starting with an Inter that will line up a 3-5-2 with Sommer in goal, Darmian, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Thuram and Lautaro in attack. Fiorentina will respond with the usual 4-2-3-1 with Christensen in goal, Dodò, Milenkovic, Martinez and Parisi in the back, Arthur and Duncan in the midfield, Nico Gonzalez, Bonaventura and Sottil behind the lone striker Beltran, this once preferred to Nzola.
Empoli–Juventus (20.45pm, Dazn and Sky)
Juventus will then take care of completing the round of the big teams, taking part in Empoli in the 20.45pm postponement. Game to be won at all costs for the Bianconeri, already forced to chase after the misstep against Bologna, also to erase the poor impression of last May 22nd, when the Tuscans prevailed with a sensational 4-1. Of course, that was the evening of the minus 10 in the standings due to the capital gains, so the match was certainly conditioned, furthermore the Tuscans were much more on the ball than the current situation suggests, which sees them still without points after two days. It is clear, however, that the Lady will have to keep her antennas well raised, otherwise she risks a second slowdown after last Sunday's defeat against Bologna: a scenario to be avoided at all costs, otherwise the break would become really complicated. The question that critics and fans ask themselves, in fact, is always the same: what is the real Juve? The sparkling one from Udine or is the sadder version confusing when seen with Bologna? Empoli will not be able to give definitive answers, but it will certainly help us understand more.
Allegri: "Woe to underestimating Empoli, we want to go to the Champions League"
“In Empoli we will find a team that will try to score the first points of the championship, but we too must give continuity to the results we have achieved – thought Allegri -. We will have to play a solid and technical match, absolutely not underestimating the opponent. We work every day to be competitive and then, as mentioned, there are the opponents; It's a very difficult championship. On December 30th we will have to see where we will be in the standings, with the aim of being among the first, to play for the objectives in the second part and achieve qualification for the Champions League. Scudetto? In my opinion he is at 86/90 points. Napoli and Milan are among the favourites, and there are also Inter, Atalanta, Roma, Lazio and Fiorentina: among these, including us, the top four will emerge”.
Empoli–Juventus, the lineups: Allegri relaunches Gatti, McKennie and Kostic, Zanetti confirms the 4-2-3-1
The bad performance against Bologna left its mark, given that Allegri, beyond the superficial declarations, is oriented towards change several elements of his 3-5-2, opting for Perin in goal (Szczesny is still unavailable), Gatti, Bremer and Danilo in defense, McKennie, Miretti, Locatelli, Rabiot and Kostic in midfield, Vlahovic and Chiesa in attack. Zanetti, still without points after the defeats against Verona and Monza, will confirm the 4-2-3-1 of the first outings with Berisha in goal, Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto and Cacace in the back, Grassi and Marin in the midfield, Cancellieri, Baldanzi and Gyasi behind the lone striker Caputo.
