Let the wheel start turning again. The championship restarts after the break for the national teams, even if talking about a break is really inappropriate: never like this time, in fact, have the canonical 15-day break stressed the clubs, ending up collecting serial injuries, with inevitable controversies attached. Just think that Lazio-Inter, one of the big matches of the eighth day, will be sensationally conditioned by the South American qualifiers, even ending in the night between Thursday and Friday. The same thing had also happened in September, when Juventus had paid the price, forced to go to Naples without 8 players, but now, in the light of a very busy schedule, traumatic injuries are also added and here the discussion expands a bit to all of Serie A, without exception. However, the clubs cannot waste time feeling sorry for themselves, not with 7 games in 22 days that will end up directing a good portion of the season, especially in the international arena. And then below with the first, or with an eighth day that puts Lazio-Inter and Juventus-Roma in the poster, two of the most captivating challenges of the whole championship.
Today the spotlights will be on the Olimpico, which to 18 it will precisely host the match between Sarri's biancocelesti and Inzaghi's nerazzurri, ex par excellence after the very long Lazio militancy, which however ended amid controversy and disputes. Many have not forgiven him for the sensational summer farewell, matured a few hours after a dinner with Lotito and Tare which instead seemed to herald the renewal of the contract: the inclusion of Marotta meant that a new story was born, destined however to present the bill in this Saturday in mid-October.
"I know there will be boos and applause, but it's part of the job, I'll accept them even if the Lazio fans know I've always given everything - commented Inzaghi – It's a particular situation, Vidal and Sanchez won't even be called up, while I'll have to talk to Lautaro, Correa and Vecino and see how they're doing. We know that we have other alternatives in those roles, we will try to be ready."
On the same wavelength too Sarri, always reluctant to accept the clogging of the calendars, as already demonstrated before the break. “It is difficult to understand the situation when footballers are traveling around the world, they train more in the national team than in the clubs – he thundered at the press conference – This is no longer a sport, football is now a show in which all the participants try to squeeze enthusiasts to make money. Having said that, with Inter I expect a reaction more from men than from players, in Bologna we had a superficial match and the three goals we conceded came from embarrassing situations”.
In short, an incandescent climate, even if the best will come only when the teams are on the pitch. Inzaghi seems oriented towards saving all the South Americans, at least from the start, also because a decisive match in the Champions League against the surprising Sheriff awaits him on Tuesday. His 3-5-2 thus he will see Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Gagliardini and Dimarco in midfield, Dzeko and Perisic in attack, with Lautaro and Correa ready, possibly, to take over the race.
Instead, only one absence for Sarri, but a rather heavy one: Acerbi, expelled from Bologna, will not be there. The biancoceleste 4-3-3 will be made up of Reina in goal, Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Patric and Hysaj in the back, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva and Luis Alberto in the midfield, Felipe Anderson, Immobile and Pedro in the offensive trident.
The first prize on the unenviable throne of the unavailable, however, rightfully belongs to Milan, capable of losing, within a few days, Maignan (3 months off), Messias, Hernandez and Diaz, the latter both positive for Covid. A real general death, mitigated only in part by the return to the field of Giroud, Ibrahimovic and Calabria, available again after their respective injuries. And so the San Siro match against Verona (20.45) becomes even more insidious, especially as the Rossoneri will fly to Porto on Tuesday to try to reopen a Champions League that has so far been stingy with satisfaction.
“Misfortune exists for people who feel bad luck – he glossed over Pioli – This is not the case for us, the group wants to overcome all the difficulties and exploit them to demonstrate our value. It will be a complicated game, Hellas with Tudor has made four consecutive useful results, we will have to move well and with the right timing: it is true that direct matches are important, but it is also essential not to lose points with the small teams”.
It goes without saying that today's 4-2-3-1 will be very far from the typical one, given that it will see Tatarusanu in goal, Kalulu, Tomori, Romagnoli and Ballo-Touré in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Daniel Maldini and Rebic on the trocar, Giroud in attack. Typical formation instead for Verona, who will respond with a 3-4-2-1 with Montipò between the posts, Dawidowicz, Gunter and Casale in the back, Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso and Lazovic in the midfield, Barak and Caprari behind the single point Simeone.
