On the hunt for Inter and… for a place in the Champions League. The 27th day (or what's left of it, given that 5 advances have already been played between yesterday and Friday) is preparing to get underway this Sunday, with most of the big names on the pitch. In terms of charm, the key match is certainly Milan-Naples (20.45 pm), but Inter are driving the rankings, so their trip to Turin (15) becomes the most important. And then there is a Juventus that must erase the European disappointment in Cagliari (18), without forgetting Roma, for whom the calendar reserves a rather tempting opportunity against Parma (15) to shorten those in front of them. In short, all against all, with a particular eye for the Nerazzurri: the best in the class, after all, is always a point of reference.
Conte, silent yesterday due to the disqualification received after the yellow card with Atalanta (today Stellini will be on the bench), knows well that he has his eyes on him, but also that he can further increase the advantage over those chasing. To do so, however, as well as hoping that Napoli will stop Milan, it is necessary to win in Turin, against an opponent who in turn needs points. The Inter coach, after losing Vidal (knee surgery, a month's stop), he also has to deal with a bruised Eriksen: yesterday the Dane, struggling with knee inflammation, returned to teamwork, but today he should sit on the bench as much as possible. For the rest, as has always been the case for a couple of months now, there are no training doubts, given that Inter, playing one game a week, can let the turnover go.
The 3-5-2 will thus see Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Gagliardini and Perisic in midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack. Slowly Nicola is also recovering pieces, given that Belotti also returned negative to Covid during the week. However, it is unlikely that the coach wants to use the Rooster, also because the grenades will have to make up for the match against Sassuolo on Wednesday. The 3-5-2 grenade should be made up of Sirigu between the posts, Izzo, Lyanco and Buongiorno in the back department, Vojvoda, Lukic, Mandragora, Gojak and Rodriguez in the midfield, Bonazzoli and Sanabria as an offensive couple. The big match, however, as previously mentioned, will be staged at San Siro, where Milan and Naples will compete no holds barred.
For the Rossoneri it is the second thrilling match of the week after the one in Manchester, from which, however, they came out great: a confirmation tonight would have a very important value, above all in terms of the Champions League. “We have played many matches, but the most important is always the next one – commented Pioli -. There are 12 days left to go, you can't do the math yet, you just have to think about winning as many as possible. Napoli is a strong opponent, but the championship is long and the positions all to be decided”. There is no doubt, however, that a misstep tonight would almost completely sanction the end of the Scudetto dream, moreover it would also reopen the Champions League discussion, given that the Azzurri would bring themselves to only 6 points, moreover with one game less.
To lend a hand to Pioli however, after many games in an emergency, there is the infirmary increasingly empty: Rebic, Hernandez and Calhanoglu are available again, and the returns of Ibrahimovic, Mandzukic and Bennacer also seem really close by now. The coach will thus be able to deploy a 4-2-3-1 a little closer to the typical one, therefore Donnarumma in goal, Dalot (favorite over Calabria), Kjaer, Tomori and Hernandez in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Castillejo, Calhanoglu and Krunic on the frontline, Leao in attack. If for Milan it is an important challenge, for Napoli it is even vital. The Azzurri got back on track a bit with the victory over Bologna, but now they have to accelerate with Milan and Rome (next Sunday), otherwise the Champions League dream risks staying that way.
Gattuso, with the exception of Petagna, Ghoulam and Rrahmani (muscle injury, returns after the break), has now recovered the entire squad and is ready to play it with a 4-3-3 with Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Koulibaly, Maksimovic and Hysaj in the back, Fabian Ruiz, Demme and Zielinski in the median, Politano, Mertens and Insigne offensive trident, with Osimhen ready to take over from the bench. Juve could take advantage of this direct clash, provided they cancel Porto and beat Cagliari. It won't be taken for granted, partly because the Sardinians are in excellent psycho-physical condition, a lot because the Bianconeri, on the contrary, still have the dross of the Champions League on them.
“It was a good blow, but the team is recovering – replied Pirlo -. In recent days we have all trained together, our thoughts are clearly focused on Cagliari. Ronaldo? It's normal for him to be disappointed, as well as there are rumors after the other night, he is the most important character in football and always gets talked about: however he has trained well and is ready to play, just like the rest of the team ”. CR7, held up by many as the symbol of Juventus' European failure, will therefore have to respond presently and drag his teammates to victory, on one of the few fields in which he has not yet left his mark since he has been in Italy. For the rest, Pirlo, having averted recovery with Napoli, does not seem willing to make much turnover, relying on a 3-5-2 with Buffon in goal, Danilo, De Ligt and Chiellini in defense, Cuadrado, McKennie, Arthur, Rabiot and Chiesa in midfield, Kulusevski and Ronaldo in attack.
The same game system also for Semplici, who will respond with Cragno between the posts, Ceppitelli, Godin and Rugani in the back, Nandez, Marin, Duncan, Nainggolan and Asamoah in the midfield, Joao Pedro and Simeone as an offensive duo. The easiest game on Sunday would therefore seem to be that of Roma, who will visit Parma in the afternoon. Of course, the ducals have shown that they are still alive, but they haven't even won since 30 November and then the yellow-reds, at least until today, have been almost perfect against the so-called "small ones". Furthermore, the clear victory over Shakhtar gives Fonseca the luxury of not having to worry too much about the return, thus focusing on today's match. “We want to win to continue fighting for the Champions League, but they too need the three points – glossed over the Portuguese coach -. Parma are a very physical, concrete team, they play a lot on the counterattack, it will be a difficult match for us, I have no doubts”.
The Giallorossi coach very controversial on the new postponement of Juve-Napoli (now the Azzurri will be able to prepare the match against his Roma with an empty week), he will rotate some players anyway, relying on a 3-4-2-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Mancini, Ibanez and Kumbulla in defense, Bruno Peres, Villar, Diawara and Spinazzola in midfield, Pedro and Pellegrini behind the lone striker Dzeko. Last chance of salvation for D'Aversa, who will respond with a 4-3-1-2 with Sepe in goal, Conti, Osorio, Bruno Alves and Pezzella in the back, Kurtic, Brugman and Hernani in the midfield, Karamoh in the trocar, Pellé and Mihaila in attack.
