Mission accomplished. Inter overwhelms Genoa with a poker which does not allow replies and takes back the top of the standings, albeit together with Juventus. An unwelcome coexistence which however will not ruin Antonio Conte's mood, on the contrary: having closed the calendar year in this way is the best he could ask for, especially in an emergency situation like the current one. It must also be said that in front of them there was cosmic nothingness, because Thiago Motta's Genoa proved once again that they are not a team: it is no coincidence that Preziosi, also bypassed by Spal and sadly last, now seems determined to proceed with the exemption and to entrust the salvation mission to Diego Lopez, in an attempt to avoid an increasingly concrete relegation.
However, Conte can be satisfied regardless, above all for the aggressive and dominant approach, which he immediately put Genoa on the ropes. It is no coincidence that the Nerazzurri, after unlocking it in the 31st minute with Lukaku, immediately doubled up with Gagliardini (33'), effectively closing the contest in less than one half. In fact, in the second half, apart from some personal action, the rossoblu never really worried Inter, who actually found third and fourth goals with Esposito from the penalty spot (64', first goal in Serie A) and again Lukaku, very powerful with his left foot under the crossbar (71').
“It was a very good game from all points of view, despite the absences and those who made themselves available even if not 100% like Gagliardini – Conte's satisfied comment. – If today we are at 42 points, we have to say thanks to the work we are doing and to the professionalism of these guys who have made themselves totally available. A letter to Marotta? No, I'd be disrespectful to an amazing group of kids who are giving me everything. We look at Esposito, who is 17 years old… In serious difficulties, we have grown a lot, but now we must continue to amaze”. From a team that is going beyond all wildest expectations, to two who have disappointed a lot and who want to reverse the trend as soon as possible, starting today.
This is the case of Naples and Milan, awaited by the treacherous trips to Reggio Emilia and Bergamo as the last appointment of the year. The Rossoneri will inaugurate Sunday on the Atalanta field (at 12.30), with the awareness of having to win at all costs to shorten the standings and return to racing for Europe. It won't be easy since it's in front of us an always insidious team like Gasperini's, capable of beating anyone on the right day, but Pioli has no choice: the 21 points collected so far are too few for the club's ambitions. “I want my team to play this match as if it were the last one available – explained the coach in no uncertain terms. – It's a positive moment for performance, but we need points. We play against a strong team with great offensive potential. It's the best attack in the championship and this makes us be very careful. We are not satisfied but we must continue to believe in ourselves, the standings are still partial and there are another 70 points available…”.
Inevitably, however, today's match will mark a watershed and Milan have a duty to jump on the right side of the ford, also because then there will be the transfer market and who knows if the prospects might change dramatically. Pioli has to do without the suspended Hernandez and Paquetà, for the rest he will be able to count on the usual 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Kessié, Bennacer and Bonaventura in midfield, Suso, Piatek and Calhanoglu in attack. All available for Gasperini, except for the usual Zapata: the Nerazzurri 3-4-1-2 will see Gollini between the posts, Toloi, Palomino and Djimsiti in the back, Castagne, De Roon, Freuler and Gosens in the midfield, Pasalic behind the offensive duo made up of Gomez and Ilicic.
Instead, it will be the end of 2019 in Serie A Gattuso's Napoli, awaited by the match at Sassuolo. This is also a very delicate match, because the speeches made for Milan are even more true for the Azzurri, pointed out in the summer as possible winners and instead slipped to ninth place in the standings, minus 21 from the leading duo Inter-Juve. A big burden on Gattuso's shoulders, called to put right a compromised yet still remediable situation, at least in part: if you want to get back in the running for the Champions League, however, you have to start running again, starting today. “We worked very hard this week, we are trying to do something different – the words of the blue coach. – I think this team needs to go back to doing the things it has been doing for a very long time. For a year and a half he played with a different formation, but right now we have to believe in what we do and I thank the players for their availability. I'm convinced that if we win again, we won't stop."
And then down with Sassuolo, to face with the "new" 4-3-3 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Luperto and Mario Rui in defense, Allan, Fabian Ruiz and Zielinski in midfield, Lozano, Milik and Insigne in attack. De Zerbi, refreshed by Wednesday's victory in Brescia, will respond with the usual 4-2-3-1 which will see Pegolo between the posts, Muldur, Romagna, Ferrari and Kyriakopoulos in the back, Magnanelli and Locatelli in the midfield, Berardi, Djuricic and Boga behind Caputo.
