Lazio flies, Roma falls, Milan hopes. Sunday in the sign of the Capital the one just ended, albeit in a diametrically opposite way: extraordinary for the Biancocelesti, still victorious and now the first challengers of the Inter-Juve duo, horrible for the Giallorossi, beaten by Turin and forced to wake up from dreams of glory. Furthermore, Fonseca's knockout risks bringing Napoli back into the Champions League and giving some small hope to Milan as well, clinging to Ibrahimovic for a comeback that would be truly sensational.
But let's go in order (of ranking) and let's start from the very important victory of Inzaghi's Lazio, driven by the usual great Immobile. With yesterday's brace Ciro reached 19 goals in the league, frightening numbers also because, it should be remembered, the Biancocelesti still have to make up for the match against Verona. For the coach then it is the ninth consecutive success and the connection to Eriksson, moreover with the possibility of doing even better next Saturday against Napoli. All this means that Lazio can no longer hide in a Scudetto key: in fact, with such figures, one can definitely talk about it.
“It is clear that after these victories and two trophies won in six months, expectations have grown, but we know how difficult our championship is – replied Inzaghi. – Our first interest remains to improve day after day, then it is clear that we like the records but this victory counts above all for the standings".
And to think that the afternoon in Brescia didn't go well at all, with the swallows immediately ahead with Balotelli (18'). Lazio, thanks to the absences of Luis Alberto and Leiva, turned around less than usual and everything suggested a nice and good slip. But then the top scorer took the chair, first finding the equalizer on a penalty in the 42nd minute (on the occasion Cistana was sent off), then with the 2-1 paw in full stoppage time (92') which earned him the ninth consecutive victory.
Opposite epilogue to that of the Roma cousins, defeated by Turin and forced to say goodbye to dreams of glory. Fonseca on the eve had asked to lower the pressure on him, perhaps because he had sensed something or out of simple good luck, the fact is that his fears have turned into reality. In fact, the great hero of the Olimpico was not a Giallorossi but Andrea Belotti, author of a brace that annihilated Roma and sent Toro into ecstasy, now galvanized again. It must be said that until the 1-0 goal, the grenades had suffered above all, clinging to a great Sirigu and the imprecision of the Giallorossi attack; but then, just a moment before the interval, the stone from Gallo gave Mazzarri the advantage, as well as a completely different turn of the screw in the match (47').
In the second half, Fonseca's men tried to equalize with all their might but it was again Turin who found the goal, again with Belotti, this time from the penalty spot for a hand ball by Smalling recognized by the Var (86 '). “It wasn't a matter of attitude, we made 31 shots on goal but the ball didn't go in – Fonseca's bitter analysis. – We didn't play a great match but created situations to score 2 or 3 goals, one was enough and things would change. But we could have stayed here another 90 minutes and the ball would not have gone in…”.
The high ranking for the moment does not concern Milan, who however want to start racing again, at least to aim for the Europa League. But the San Siro match against Sampdoria (15 pm) attracts above all for Ibrahimovic, in his first official match after his return to the Rossoneri. The expected 60 spectators can be explained above all like this, demonstrating how great the public's affection (but also expectations) are towards him. Pioli, however, knows well that in the minds of many fans there is still the 5-0 in Bergamo and that Zlatan alone, however bright, cannot be enough to erase it: today his Milan must win, otherwise risk a tough dispute.
“That is an open wound that we want to try to heal – underlined the coach. – We played a bad match against Atalanta but previously we had grown, showing various progress: now we need to start from there”. True, as well as that the comeback cannot do without a greater wickedness in the goal area: the Rossoneri have scored 16 so far, 3 less than Immobile alone. Ibra has arrived for this too, now it's a question of understanding how he is and how much time he needs to get into full swing. The Swede is part of the squad and will almost certainly play, but it is very unlikely that Pioli will start him from the beginning.
The starting 4-3-3 includes Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Kessié, Bennacer and Bonaventura in midfield, Suso, Piatek and Calhanoglu in attack. Ranieri will respond with a 4-4-2 that will see Audero in goal, Bereszynski, Murillo, Colley and Murru in the back, Depaoli, Ekdal, Vieira and Linetty in the midfield to support the offensive duo made up of Gabbiadini and Quagliarella.
