It's not a playoff but it looks a lot like it. Lazio-Milan (18), in addition to being the big match of this 13th day, is also a sort of passe-partout for fourth place, the last profit to enter the Champions League. Concept already clear enough in recent days and made even more evident by the results of Inter and Roma: the first, victorious on Frosinone, seem destined for a top championship, the seconds, defeated in Udine, are not (at the moment) able to aim for thethe Champions League. In short, Lazio and Milan are competing for a piimportant match and if it's true that nothing can be decisive at the end of November, it's also true that winning would make the difference and not just for rankings. The Biancocelesti have not yet scored points in the direct matches, the Rossoneri, after having laboriously overcome a period of crisis, do not want to go back: in short, nobody wants to lose the match at the Olimpico. On paper, unlike what would have been said in the summer, Lazio are the favorites to start and not just for playing at home. AC Milan's absences amid injuries (Romagnoli, Biglia, Bonaventura, Musacchio e Caldara) and disqualifications (Higuain) are very heavy while the biancocelesti, Lucas Leiva aside, they can count on an almost complete squad.
“I would have preferred to face them as best as possible as long as the same was true for us too – Inzaghi retorted. – Milan still have important players and the fact that they have lost the other direct matches is not mine worries: it was individual errors, we are up to challenges like this”. Gattuso's eve was even more tense, forced to prepare for the match with more players in the infirmary than on the pitch. Joking aside, the situation is critical and will remain so at least until January, when the market, Uefa permitting, it will plug the holes. “We're trying to figure out if we made a mistake qualcosa but we are not run away from home – “growled” Gattuso. – In any case, I don't want any alibis or excuses, it's been a long time since I've seen the boys train so well, I'm convinced they'll do a great performance". Word to the field therefore, which will show us two specular modules: 3-4-2-1 for both technicians, albeit with the necessary differences. The one from Lazio will be much more tested Strakosha in goal, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Radu in defence, Marusic, word, badelj e Lulic in midfield, Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto behind the lone striker Immobile, definitely more experimental than the AC Milan one, made up of Donnarumma between the poles, Abbot, Zapata and Rodriguez in the backlog department, Calabria, Bakayoko, Kessie e Laxalt in the median, Calhanoglu and Suso on the trocar, Cutrone in attack.
Whatever happens at the Olimpico, it will be a festive Sunday for Inter: the 3-0 on Frosinone, in fact, allows it to go back to aiming for whoever is in front. Round success and never in question that of the Nerazzurri, moreover signed by those who until now, for various reasons, had remained on the margins of the group. Keita Balde e Lautaro Martinez waited from time a chance like this and they certainly didn't miss it: the first even scored a brace, the second the 2-0 goal which, in fact, closed the match. Along with them great tests also of politan e Asamoah, confirming that Inter in Bergamo was just an accident: the next tests will be much more convincing (Tottenham, Roma and Juventus, all away) but in the meantime the answer has arrived, and how it is arrived. “We had an important reaction – the satisfied words of Spalletti. – We had to react to the defeat against Atalanta and we did it well, I saw a lively team that played good football. We must always be present to best honor the shirt.".
definitely on the other hand, Saturday was more negative for Roma, who for the third time in a row miss victory on their return from a break. The ko of Udine hurts the standings and morale and runs the risk of greatly complicating the race for fourth place, unico plausible target for those who continue to show more lows than highs. The 1-0 of the Dacia Arena, in addition to the great goal by De Paul (54'), showed the usual limits of a qualitatively excellent Rome, yet unable to win the points. “It's not possible to dominate a match for 60' and then concede a goal from a throw-in – sighed Di Francesco. - The episodes turn against us but we have to believe in it more, I expected another performance, that's why I'm poisoned". The Giallorossi have their backs to the wall: continuing like this, in fact, risk seriously not to qualify for the next Champions League, effectively failing the season. Real Madrid and Inter therefore arrive at a very delicate moment, one in which one can no longer go wrong.
