Inter make the pass, now it's Juve's turn. The Nerazzurri take Brescia and it doesn't matter that it was an evening of great suffering: the 3 points are worth first place in the standings, albeit awaiting the black and white response against Genoa (21 pm). Of course, the performance is at least to be reviewed and, in perspective, it leaves more than one perplexity about the team's psycho-physical strength, evidently proven by fatigue and injuries. The blanket has become short, it is useless to deny it: that is why, in the light of this, these 3 points take on a very heavy value.
“Let's take the result, I don't care if we played well or badly – commented Conte. – It gets difficult like this, it's the fourth match in 9 days where the same players have always played. Now we have to recover, we're halfway through the course: Bologna is on Saturday, then Dortmund... It's an anomaly to play seven games in 20 days, this seems very strange to me, we will do it even if we are pushing the car to the limit". Rigamonti's match is full of tension and not only for the twinning that has always linked Brescia and Milan. In fact, Corini's team already had very strong motivations from him and Inter, moreover, knew they couldn't afford any missteps.
But the scaffolding built by Conte has very solid foundations, capable of holding up even when the game, for a whole series of reasons, does not prove to be the best weapon of the evening. In goal, to begin with, there's a real guarantee like Handanovic, up front instead, to top it all off, there are two forwards in a state of grace. The exact opposite of Brescia, as skilful in getting the ball moving up to the trocar as little concrete when it comes to putting it on goal. And so, as often happens in these cases, it was the qualities of the individuals that made the difference, decidedly in favor of Inter, also because Balotelli, the most prominent element of the swallows, has found a great Handanovic on his way.
Lautaro Martinez took care of breaking the balance, lucky to find the decisive detour of Cistana and beat the innocent Alfonso (23'). Brescia took the blow, then, after the break, decided to shake things off, attacking Inter with great vehemence. There Handanovic took the chair for the first time with a great save on Balotelli, which proved to be decisive because a few minutes later, the Nerazzurri, in the best moment of their opponents, doubled up with Lukaku, author of a splendid left-footed shot that earned him the 2-0 (63').
Corini's men were in any case commendable, continuing to push as if nothing had happened: and in fact, by dint of insisting, here Bisoli's action to propitiate Skriniar's own goal (76'), a prelude to a beautiful and vibrant final, in which Inter however managed to resist and win 3 points and the lead in the standings. Now it's up to Juve, called to answer at home against Genoa. A fairly obvious match, at least on paper, provided however that you don't take it lightly: even against Lecce, after all, there shouldn't have been a story and instead we all know how it ended. Thiago Motta's team is still a little-known creature, which is why we will need a concentrated and careful Juve not to be surprised.
“Genoa has a surprising technical quality for the ranking they have, they are a team that can play football very well – warned Sarri. – It's a difficult game, but when you play every three days, all matches are. It is not so obvious to immediately recover physical and mental energies from one game to the next, even if it's part of the mentality of the big teams”. True, as well as that Juve, despite some annoying injuries (the latest is that of Pjanic who, however, could already return for Saturday's derby), has a large and structured squad to make up for tiredness. Compared to Lecce, the most important news is certainly the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, available again after the rest (decided by him) on Saturday, but also the call-up of Douglas Costa, in the pits since last September 14, is great news .
Sarri will confirm the 4-3-1-2 with Buffon in goal, Cuadrado, De Ligt, Rugani and Danilo in defense, Khedira, Bentancur and Matuidi in midfield, Bernardeschi in the trocar, Dybala and Ronaldo in attack. Thiago Motta, incensed by the Genoa critics after the 3-1 win over Brescia, will attempt what would be a real feat with a 4-2-3-1 that will see Radu between the posts, Ghiglione, Romero, Zapata and Ankersen in the back , Barreca and Schone in the midfield, Radovanovic, Pandev and Kouamé behind the lone striker Pinamonti.
