Milan responds to Inter, Napoli is out of the game. The 34th Serie A, waiting to end today with the postponement between Sassuolo and Juventus, gives us real fireworks between the boss (Scudetto fight) and the tail (salvation), while it would seem to have brought down the teams fighting for the Europe, all defeated, with the exception of Atalanta (however detached) to the joy of Allegri.
Scudetto race: Milan regain the lead, but on Wednesday Inter recover with Bologna
There's no point in hiding: in the 92nd minute of Lazio-Milan the Scudetto had now turned black and blue. But then came Tonali's paw to reiterate that the Rossoneri, albeit only virtually, are still first and really don't want to give up on Inzaghi's Inter. “My players are lions – Pioli exulted with shining eyes -. Indeed, if I were them I would even be angry because too often they are underestimated, they were very good at believing it. Now we will try to win all the games we are missing ”. The feeling is that the Devil was really one step away from surrendering, struck cold by Immobile after just 4' and only partially recovering with Giroud's paw (50'): victory was the only chance left to continue believing in it and the Rossoneri found her in full recovery with Tonali, thus sending a loud and clear message to reigning champion Inter. However, now the long-awaited joker will finally be able to drop, namely the Bologna match postponed on January 6th and scheduled for Wednesday. A success would certify overtaking, but it wouldn't end any discussion: the time for sentences, in fact, hasn't arrived yet and this above all thanks to the result at the Olimpico yesterday.
Naples humiliated in Empoli, De Laurentiis sends everyone into permanent retirement
To tell the truth, however, there is one and it concerns Napoli, who were sensationally defeated in Empoli, not so much for the result itself, but for the way it happened. The Azzurri, leading by two goals until the 83rd minute, made themselves come back in just 8 minutes, conceding 3 incredible goals, but above all demonstrating that they were no longer present, almost as if someone had suddenly pulled the switch. Spalletti has assumed all the responsibility and the club evidently thinks like him, given that everyone has been sent on permanent retreat starting tomorrow: and the usual well-informed people, from around Vesuvius, claim that the technician's confirmation is all nothing but obvious…
The European race is slow, that salvation comes on suddenly
While waiting for Sassuolo-Juventus, which we will talk about shortly, it should be emphasized that the candidates for a place in Europe, Atalanta excluded, have all botched their respective matches, some sensationally, thus giving the Lady the chance to close the Champions League discussion with several days in advance. The most sensational flop concerns Fiorentina, but here, however, the salvation discourse must be opened in parallel: the 2-1 with which Salernitana defeated the Viola, in fact, can be read in two ways. Negative, if we consider the Italian's European ambitions, incredibly positive if we observe it from the point of view of Nicola, capable, together with Iervolino and Sabatini, of having reawakened a team that seemed dead and which now, however, in the light of the results of the others (Cagliari's defeat in Genoa above all), he believes in salvation. Running is passionate and can affect the goals of the others, especially if they struggle to give continuity, either due to distractions (Roma has the Conference in the lead above all), or due to atavistic defects (Sarri's Lazio and, if you will, the Fiorentina itself).
Sassuolo-Juve at 20.45, Dazn and Sky Sport
Reggio Emilia looks like a match point for the Champions League: a victory, in fact, would take Juve up 8 points over fifth-placed Roma just 4 days from the end. There would still be no math, but it is clear that the Bianconeri would have a foot and a half in the Europe that counts, which would allow them to better prepare for the Italian Cup final. Between saying and doing, however, there is Sassuolo involved, fresh from the bad defeat of Cagliari but capable of beating all the greats, including Juventus.
Allegri doesn't trust him: "We need a serious match, otherwise we risk..."
“We need to play a fair, technical, serious match otherwise we'd come out with broken bones – warned Allegri in the press conference -. Fourth place is not yet mathematical, the road is long, let's take it one step at a time: then in the end we will evaluate the work done, not just the results". The coach knows that qualifying for the Champions League, combined with winning the Coppa Italia, would save part of the season, so he doesn't want to waste time, but to win valuable points for the goal starting today.
Sassuolo-Juve, the formations: Morata towards the bench, in his place Bernardeschi
Juventus still grappling with problems in midfield, in light of the absences of Arthur, Locatelli and McKennie, in the other departments, however, there is a good choice, which leaves Allegri several possibilities. The biggest doubt is in attack, where Bernardeschi in great shape seen with Fiorentina could win over Morata: the black and white 4-2-3-1 should see Szczesny in goal, Danilo, De Ligt, Chiellini and Pellegrini in defense, Zakaria and Rabiot in midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and Bernardeschi behind Vlahovic. The same game system also for Dionisi, who will try to add another excellent scalp to the collection with Consigli between the posts, Muldur, Chiriches, Ferrari and Kyriakopulos in the back department, Lopez and Frattesi in the midfield, Berardi, Raspadori and Traoré supporting Scamacca .
