They all win. Atalanta, Juventus e Rome they give each other a gift Sunday of smiles beating Empoli, Monza and Parma and conquer heavy points for their respective objectives, waiting for today's races to complete the picture. In fact, at the roll call, Inter-Como still missing (20 pm) e Fiorentina-Udinese (18:30), but one thing is certain: Gasperini's team will celebrate Christmas at the top of the table, regardless of the results of others. The race for the title is exciting, as is the one for the Champions League zone: Thiago Motta, thanks to the victory in Monza, remains attached to the train, while Ranieri cannot dream of any kind, even if the 3 points against Parma were decidedly important.
Monza – Juventus 1-2: Thiago Motta finds victory again thanks to Nico Gonzalez
Juventus smiles again 43 days after the last time. In fact, many had passed since the victory over Torino on November 9th, before running into an ugly and worrying form of pariggite. A strong medicine was needed and Thiago, perhaps, found it in Nico Gonzalez, decisive in the hard-fought victory over Monza. Conquering the U-Power Stadium was not easy, indeed the Brianza team, despite the absences of Pessina, Maldini and Djuric, played a very good match, keeping up with the Old Lady in all the statistics. The difference, as often in similar cases, was made by Juve's technical superiority, ruthless in punishing the defensive mistakes of Nesta's men. Thiago, forced to do without Danilo as well, had to reinvent the back line (McKennie full-back), without however giving up a decidedly aggressive 4-2-3-1 with Koopmeiners in midfield and the Conceiçao-Nico Gonzalez-Yildiz trident behind Vlahovic. Total front-wheel drive, in short, demonstrating how important it was to return to success after the four draws with Venezia, Bologna, Lecce and Milan. The fear was of getting stuck in Monza's cage, instead the bars crumbled after just 14': Koopmeiners corner and McKennie's Easy Easy Tap-In, left guiltily alone a few steps away from Turati. But the Brianza people certainly had no intention of giving up so soon and shortly after they found the draw with Birindelli (22'), also “forgotten” by the Juventus defence. Everything to be redone, but this time Motta had an extra card like Nico Gonzalez, once again a starter after two and a half months: the Argentine was ready in a situation similar to that of the first goal, bringing the Lady back into the lead at close to the interval (39'). The score has not changed, despite the good chances thwarted by Turati (three times on Yildiz, once on Nico Gonzalez) and Di Gregorio (on Bianco and Caprari). Juve thus remains clinging to the Champions League zone and at minus 9 from the leaders Atalanta, Monza is increasingly bottom of the league.
Thiago Motta: “Nico as an attacking midfielder is good, we can count on it! The accounts will be done at the end”
“We have almost always suffered against teams that close up and then start again, that's why it would have been important to close the game earlier, but it's part of the our growth path – the comment of Thiago Motta -. In the second half they came to attack, we closed ourselves without making good transitions: we could have restarted with quality, but we didn't do it well. Nico Gonzalez and McKennie are very available even when playing in different roles, they do it perfectly because they are high-level players and with the right attitude, for a coach it is a pleasure to work with players like that. If we see again Nico behind Vlahovic? It depends on the moment and the opponent we are going to face, he can do it perfectly, he knows how to link up with the midfielders too, it is a position he has already played in. I see him well in that position and he is also convinced he can play there, we can certainly count on it. Will next month be decisive? For me the accounts will be done at the end of the season, we just have to think about getting on the pitch and playing our games to the best of our ability."
Atalanta – Empoli 3-2: Gasperini remains at the top thanks to super De Ketelaere
Christmas in command. Atalanta will spend the holidays at the top in the standings, whatever Inter's result this evening. Thanks to victory over Empoli, an 3-2 very close in which the Goddess seriously feared not to win, both for the value of the opponents and for a slightly below par performance, at least compared to the usual standards. Once again, however, the Bergamo team managed to overcome it as a great team, therefore with the individual plays of their champions. Lookman and Zaniolo had taken care of it against Milan and Cagliari, yesterday it was De Ketelaere's turn, author of a fabulous race, yet another of his great season. The Belgian achieved a splendid double, first cancelling out Empoli's initial lead (13' Columbus) with a nice diving header (34'), then pulling the classic rabbit out of the hat in the 86th minute, when the draw seemed already written. D'Aversa's team had the merit of not losing heart after the Atalanta one-two at the break, when The Ketelaere e Lookman (45+1') had overturned the aforementioned 0-1, grabbing the 2-2 with a Esposito's penalty (56') born from a foul by Djimsiti. It seemed like a classic bad day for Gasperini, forced to replace Retegui after just 21' due to a muscular problem (Lazio and Super Cup at high risk), especially since his players weren't performing as usual. But this year, it's now clear, the Goddess knows how to win even when the going gets tough and first place in the standings is the logical consequence.
Gasperini jokes: “Safety achieved! Great match, De Ketelaere extraordinary”
"Salvation goal achieved – he joked Gasperini -. Statistics say that Conte's Inter and Spalletti's Napoli had won the title after 11 consecutive victories, but in that case they had taken a huge margin, while this time it is not like that. We played a great game, but we conceded a goal in which we fell asleep and one from a penalty by VAR, very questionable: managing to win it was very positive. TheRetegui injury? We will evaluate in the next few hours, but it doesn't seem like a particularly serious thing, even if he will certainly have to stay still for a few days. De Ketelaere? I am convinced that he will score many headers, because he hits them well and now he also jumps very high: the second goal was extraordinary, he really wanted it, these are things that you can only do when you are very confident. A play from him was needed to resolve a difficult match, on nights like these the technical quality up front counts a lot, Zaniolo was also decisive with a nice assist”.
Roma – Parma 5-0: Giallorossi goalfest in the name of Dybala
In the name of Paulo DybalaThe Argentine, at the centre of increasingly insistent transfer rumours (Galatasaray wants him, with whom there is already an open negotiation), has dragged Rome to the most convincing success of the season. The 5-0 over Parma, in addition to 3 very important points for the standings, gives an injection of enthusiasm almost vital to Ranieri's team, called to turn things around to give meaning to their championship. Yesterday's victory can be a first step, even if next Sunday's test against Milan will certainly have a greater value. Certainly, if anyone had doubts about theDybala's utility, was left speechless: the Argentine was the great protagonist of the Giallorossi's Sunday, scoring two goals (one from a penalty, the other from an open play), propitiating that of Dovbyk and even allowing himself the luxury of "refusing" the hat-trick, giving up the second penalty of the day (caused by himself) to Paredes. On a day like this, evidently, it is worth highlighting even the demerits of Parma, guilty of having left bloody spaces from the beginning, only to completely melt away along the way. Pecchia's men also created problems for Svilar (a miracle save on Hernani and a save from the crossbar on Camara), but they defended in a chilling way, transforming the lunch match at the Olimpico into a sort of Sunday picnic. In addition to the aforementioned Dybala, Paredes and Dovbyk, Saelemaekers and Ranieri also enjoyed it, the latter finally satisfied with his Roma in championship form.
Ranieri: “The second half of Como was cancelled, now let's wake up even when away”
"We still have to improve - he stressed Ranieri -. There was to ccancel the second half of Como and the boys have done it: now let's get on with the next away game, we have to wake up and do well there too. We need to play game after game and get us out of the quicksand. I'm happy with these guys, now we wait for the San Siro test to understand what we can do when we grow up. Dybala? For me when he's well he plays, then if I see that the match needs something else I take him off, but this time I didn't make any changes because everyone was interpreting the game well and I wanted to provide continuity: there's a difference between a Roma with Dybala and one without. There's not much to say about Hummels, when he tells me he's fine he plays and the same goes for Paredes. These are the players I like, they have experience and know how to control the pace of the game. Dovbyk? I'm happy with how he moved and how he communicated with his teammates, but he also has to shoot first time, he mustn't be afraid of making mistakes."
Inter – Como (20pm, Dazn and Sky)
To complete the 17th matchday, in addition to Fiorentina-Udinese, it will be the turn of Inter and Como, engaged in the late match at San Siro. On paper it would not seem to be a match, given that the Nerazzurri, in addition to being decidedly stronger, are also in great shape. 6-0 against Lazio still echoes on the championship, a sort of warning to all the competition, almost to reiterate that the owner of the championship has no intention of abdicating the throne. Also the victory in the Italian Cup has given important signals, given the good responses of the so-called "second lines": in short, the iron is hot and Inzaghi has every intention of continuing to beat it, starting from today. It must be said that Inter began to collect points already after the derby on September 21, but for some time now they have not limited themselves to just winning: hunger and concentration have returned to those of last year, as demonstrated by the 14 goals scored in the last three league games (the one in Florence, for obvious reasons, does not count), compared to only one conceded, and what's more an own goal. The How he knows he doesn't have much of a chance, but he still wants to try: even with Roma, after all, he started as an underdog, but instead he managed to get over it, returning to breathe after so many disappointments. It is clear, however, that a lot will depend on Inter and their hunger for victory: they should not be missing given the results of the weekend, INSERT
Inzaghi in emergency in defense: "At the moment De Vrij and Darmian are not recoverable"
“We are in a moment in which we have some defections - has explained Inzaghi -. The free e darmian they had some problems: at the moment they are not available, we will evaluate in the last training. There is some hope knowing that we will ask them to make a sacrifice, even if maybe we don't do it to Bisseck and Bastoni. But we are without four defenders, if they weren't there we would evaluate who will play in the centre and who in the third. Help from the market? We are trying to get Pavard and Acerbi back available as soon as possible. How is a technical team with excellent principles, very well trained. In the first part it was not rewarded by the results, but in the last match against Roma it played very well. Now it is having results, we will have to pay a lot of attention: Como has excellent qualities and always plays to win. What if I want to stay at Inter for many years? That is the desire, we are in a moment of great sharing and when I feel good in a place I feel very gratified. In football you change quickly, but I saw a great team even in difficulties: we never gave up and we went forward creating a great atmosphere”.
Inter – Como, probable formations
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Summer; Bisseck, Bastoni, Carlos Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro
On the bench: Martinez, Calligaris, Palacios, De Vrij, Asllani, Frattesi, Zielinski, Buchanan, Taremi, Arnautovic, Correa
Coach: Inzaghi
Unavailable: Pavard, Acerbi, Di Gennaro, Darmian
Disqualified: None
Como (4-2-3-1): Audero; Van der Brempt, Goldaniga, Kempf, Sala; Sergi Roberto, Da Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Belotti
On the bench: Audero, Dossena, Iovine, Baselli, Cutrone, Jasim, Jack, Barba, Cerri, Engelhardt, Braunoder, Mazzitelli, Kone
Coach: Fabregas
Unavailable: Perrone, Sala, Moreno, Gabrielloni
Disqualified: None
