Trieste + Cagliari = Europe. No one says it openly, but at Inter there are many who think that the match against Cagliari (which is being played in Trieste due to the dispute between Cellino and the council of the Sardinian capital) could become decisive in pursuing a European dream. With 8 games to go, third place is 7 points away and, given that there are 24 points available, the Nerazzurri are still hoping to reach it. The calendar then lends a hand, starting with this round: the direct clash between Lazio and Naples could in fact shorten the rankings even more, all to the benefit of the pursuers. Legitimate calculations, which however would become absolutely useless if Inter were unable to leave the "Nereo Rocco" stadium with the three points. That's why Andrea Stramaccioni doesn't want to talk about standings or tables: "I'm not interested in the standings today, I'm only thinking about Cagliari. We just have to focus on the game without getting distracted by tables or various projects. Of course, if we talk about the value of this group, I don't think I have to add my opinion...”. Low profile, but with the awareness of being able to really reopen the games. However, first we will have to beat a Cagliari regenerated by the Ficcadenti cure (in 3 games, 2 wins and 1 undeserved defeat against Lazio), which has no intention of acting as a sacrificial victim: “It's a team, organized, solid and that has a great danger ahead. The results speak for them and it seems to me that they are also living a very serene moment. The positive thing is the journey of work that began with the ideas that I put in place. Plus we started with a win, the team has the right enthusiasm, there's a positive atmosphere. We haven't done anything yet, we will have to confirm what we saw as positive against Genoa”. Thanks to the (many) bookings received last week, Julio Cesar and Lucio will be disqualified against Cagliari, as well as the injured Sneijder and Maicon. At the center of the defence, trust is forced on Ranocchia, a player who has lived through a difficult season but on whom Stramaccioni seems to aim with his eyes closed: “We're talking about a player of undisputed value and the national team shirt he wears speaks for him. He comes from an unfortunate moment also due to the injury. I've talked to him, he's fine and he's trained well. It's not easy to play in his department, but I've seen him well and I am convinced that when he is called upon he will respond properly”. For the rest, the game system was confirmed (4-3-3) and only one real ballot, the one in midfield between Guarin and Poli, with the Colombian favorite.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Agazzi; Pisano, Astori, Canini, Agostini; Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan; Cossu; Thiago Ribeiro, Pinilla.
On the bench: Avramov, Perico, Ariaudo, Bovi, Larrivey, Nenè, Ibarbo.
Trainer: Massimo Ficcadenti.
Disqualified: nobody.
Unavailable: Dessena, Rui Sampaio, Eriksson.
Inter Milan (4-3-3): Castellazzi; Zanetti, Ranocchia, Samuel, Chivu; Guarin, Stankovic, Cambiasso; Zarate, Milito, Forlan.
On the bench: Orlandoni, Nagatomo, Cordoba, Obi, Poli, Alvarez, Pazzini.
Trainer: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Disqualified: Lucio (1), Julio Cesar (1).
Unavailable: Alvarez, Castaignos, Maicon, Sneijder.
Referee: Marco Guida (Annunziata Tower)
Assistants: Grilli – Rosi
Fourth official: Romeo
