Roma take the Champions League, Milan stay away. A different Sunday for the Giallorossi and the Rossoneri, with the former able to beat Spal and get to +11 on Napoli, and the latter stopped instead on the draw by De Zerbi's Sassuolo. Fonseca's success is a strong and clear message to all the competitors, starting with Cagliari and Lazio, who will compete this evening on the Monday night of the Sardegna Arena (20.45 pm). Yet the evening at the Olimpico had started rather badly, with Semplici's team good at closing the spaces and restarting, until they found the advantage at the end of the half with Petagna, this time cold from the penalty spot (44').
It could have seemed like the prelude to a sensational surprise, but instead Roma didn't get anxious and resumed the match in the right way, crushing their opponents and leading them to make a mistake, albeit an involuntary one. Thus, as well as with a good dose of luck, Pellegrini's equalizer is explained, on which however the complicity of Tomovic is evident, decisive with his deflection in beating Berisha (53 '). Once parity was restored, the Giallorossi continued to grind play and chances, finding the episode that led to the 65-2 in the 1th minute: a foul by Vicari on Dzeko and a penalty converted by Perotti, for the longed-for overtaking.
From then on, there was no more game, because if it is true that Spal gave shivers at the Olimpico with Murgia (tiraccio out of an excellent position), it is also true that Roma had many more chances . Mkhitaryan then took care of closing the match by placing Florenzi's assist on the net (82 '), thus saving the 3 points and putting good pressure on Lazio and Cagliari: whatever happens tonight, in fact, Roma will be able to smile.
“It was important to win today, all the boys had a good attitude and this is the team spirit you must have – commented Fonseca. – We had a good first half, missed many chances but played with intensity and speed and the result at half-time wasn't right. In the second half the team created more chances and this makes me happy: my Roma must always be ambitious and courageous, we must always play to win."
Misstep instead for Milan, unable to go beyond the 0-0 home draw against Sassuolo. The Rossoneri, on the day of the celebrations for the 120th anniversary, thus miss the opportunity to shorten the standings and give new life to the hopes of Europe. It must be said that bad luck also weighed on the final result, as demonstrated by the two woodwork hits by Leao and the long series of saves by Pegolo, who was decisive in various circumstances.
“We had 8-10 clear chances, we had to win and instead we didn't succeed – Pioli's bitter comment. – This time too we made some good plays but we lacked the determination and quality to score goals, which means we still have to work hard. A small positive streak remains, the best of the season, but now we need to think about the next race".
The Rossoneri coach wanted to win in front of so many glories, which lit up the 60 at San Siro in the awaited half-time save. What mattered most, however, were the 3 points and those, as previously mentioned, remained between the posts of the Curva Sud and Pegolo's boxing gloves, making his seasonal debut and author of a great performance. Numerous decisive saves: on Calhanoglu, Bonaventura, Piatek, again Chalanoglu and Bonaventura, finally Paquetà. Where he didn't arrive, Leao's woods took care of it, even two, a crossbar and a post, in less than 20 'played and the laxity of Bennacer, unfortunate in missing the winning goal with a practically empty net.
Also noteworthy is a goal disallowed by Hernandez due to hand ball by Kessié and some opportunities also for Sassuolo, however author of a test of personality. The one that Milan lacked on the day of the celebrations to sink the blow and really relaunch its European ambitions. To complete the AC Milan bitterness, the market: according to Maldini and Boban, in fact, the arrival of Ibrahimovic is increasingly complicated. We'll know soon whether it's the truth or simple pretactic, but there were certainly better ways to celebrate 120 years...
