Roma returns to victory, Milan repeats itself. A sweet Sunday for the Giallorossi and Rossoneri, who came out with 3 points from their respective matches against Genoa and Udinese. Fonseca thus takes fourth place alone, albeit waiting for Atalanta, engaged tonight against Spal (20.45 pm), Pioli goes up to seventh and sees the Europe zone for the first time since the day of his arrival. But woe to think that Milan's afternoon was easy: the 3 points against the Friulians, in fact, were definitely sweaty.
The eyes of the 60 at San Siro were all focused on Ibrahimovic, but it was Rebic who decided the match, author of a truly amazing performance. Until he entered the field, Milan were losing and playing badly, as well as really risking compromising their European run-up. A Udinese on the ball both physically and tactically had already taken the lead in the 7th minute with Stryger Larsen, quick to take advantage of Donnarumma's hasty exit and slot in the net.
The Rossoneri, perhaps weakened by the lunch hour, were unable to react, so much so that they went down by a goal at half-time and practically never made themselves dangerous. In the second half, the change that, on balance, overturned the match: one off Bonaventura, in Rebic. Time 3' and the move paid off, with the Croatian good at entering and making Conti's assist materialize, for the equalizer which called everything into question.
Milan reserved themselves in the Friulian half and found the advantage in the 72nd minute with Hernandez, whose left-footed volley caused the San Siro to explode. But Udinese, anything but passive, continued to create problems and in the 85th minute, after coming close to scoring on at least three occasions, they found it with Lasagna, quick to take time off Conti and head in. All finished? Not a chance. In the 93rd minute, practically on the last action of the match, Rebic made it 3-2 with a nice left foot from the edge, giving Pioli 3 precious points and perhaps himself a new football life.
“It was a tiring match, of great intensity – commented the Rossoneri coach. – Their physicality created problems for us, we were a bit in an emergency but we were still able to make 20 shots on target and create numerous chances. It must also be said that we conceded more than usual, luckily Donnarumma gave us a hand."
Pau Lopez also did his duty on the Genoa field, removing at least two goals from Nicola's team, but the cover of the Giallorossi victory rightfully belongs to Spinazzola and Under, transfer market men until yesterday yet capable of making an impact as if they were fixed points of Fonseca. The Portuguese coach was good at trusting the former Juventus full-back, despite the fact that he spent a week as an "Interista": the choice paid off, just like the one relating to the Turkish player, the first to uncork Marassi's challenge. Cengiz found the goal after just 6', thus allowing Roma to play in the spaces and enhance their characteristics.
Numerous chances were created in the first part, so much so that when Spinazzola propitiated Biraschi's own goal (44') it was thought of a substantially closed match. Nothing could be more wrong, because a minute later Pandev took advantage of an indecision by the defense by calling everything into question, at least in terms of results.
There Pau Lopez took the chair, and with the save on Goldaniga he literally saved the advantage, allowing his team to find peace of mind and get back to grinding chances. Definitely less good Perin, who ruined a good test by missing the postponement which triggered Dzeko's goal (74'): 3-1 and 3 points in the capital.
“Spinazzola and Under had a great game, but the others were good too – Fonseca's analysis. – Especially in the first half we had an almost perfect match, with good offensive quality, even if we shouldn't have allowed Genoa to score. The team is doing well, is confident and deserved this result. Now the derby awaits us but before that Juve, we will fight to win both".
It will be a week of passion, with Milan finally interested, albeit distantly: they are 10 points behind the Giallorossi, but a success in Brescia, combined with a favor from the very fast Lazio, could make things very interesting...
