The race continues. Inter and Roma don't slip on the "banana peels" of this championship Wednesday and forcefully relaunch their respective candidacies for the top part of the standings. The Nerazzurri also conquered Empoli and took their third consecutive victory, while the Giallorossi redeemed the defeat in Florence with a goal against little Crotone. Two teams full of quality those of De Boer and Spalletti, yet still unable to march at a sustained pace. At least until yesterday, because from today it's right to look at their path with different eyes, especially that of Inter.
Empoli could have been an insidious trap, especially after the post Derby d'Italia hangover, but instead the Nerazzurri entered the field with the right mentality, just as De Boer asked. “The attitude was good on everyone's part – explained the Dutchman. – We have controlled the match since the beginning, I can say I am happy and satisfied. We spent a lot of energy against Juve and it showed in the second half, in any case we managed the situation and brought home the 3 points. The players begin to understand my ideas better, however my project cannot be completed in such a short time".
Now, however, his credit has definitely grown, and we can bet that the Inter people will be happy to place their trust in him. Also because, waiting for the promised game, we can already see interesting scenarios, especially with an Icardi who has never been so prolific and decisive. It was he, for the umpteenth time, who dragged Inter to victory, just like in Pescara and against Juve. Yesterday it took him less than 20' to close the Empoli practice, first with an undersized header on an assist from Candreva (10'), then with a cold one-on-one tap-in with Skorupski after a splendid throw by Joao Mario (17').
Goals and entertainment also in Rome, where Spalletti's men have recovered an interesting classification. The round poker on Crotone, in fact, is worth the approach to Naples and the top of the standings, now only 2 points away. Of course, Nicola's Calabrians certainly didn't represent an insurmountable obstacle (they currently occupy last place with only 1 point) but some victories are good above all for morale and that, as you know, has always been the Achilles' heel of the Giallorossi.
This time, however, no joke, perhaps also by virtue of the presence on the field of Totti, new starter after a year away. The Captain didn't score but gave away the usual pearls, above all the assist for the 3-0 from Dzeko, in turn very good at killing Cordaz with a lob (48'). However, the match had already been largely downhill in the first half, ending at 2-0 thanks to goals from El Shaarawy (26') and Salah (37'). The Bosnian still thought about completing the final poker (57'), before Szczesny denied Palladino (and all of Crotone) the point of the flag by saving a penalty (60').
“It was a great victory, the result of a great performance – commented Spalletti. – We saw some changes ahead, we were more poisonous in concluding. And Totti always knows how to determine something even in the most banal balls, I would like the team to acquire certain qualities from him".
