Inter responds to Juve, Milan and Roma lose another opportunity to make sense of the standings. On Sunday in the championship, only the Nerazzurri smiled, who thanks to the daring 4-3 over Sassuolo returned to within one point of the leaders, reiterating that, if there is a championship fight, it is only due to them. On the other hand, a lot of regret for the Giallorossi and, above all, the Rossoneri: the draws with Sampdoria and Lecce are practically useless, if not to make next Sunday's direct match a real playoff to stay alive. Let's start in order of standings and therefore from the victory of Inter, which thus erases the Sassuolo taboo and returns to Juventus' wake.
Put like this, it is a triumphal Sunday, the best possible encouragement to face Wednesday's Champions League "play-off" with Borussia Dortmund, but in reality the Nerazzurri suffered too much, reopening a game that seemed already closed and risking being sensationally overtaken. Consequence of a wicked final quarter of an hour, which was about to cost 3 points already pocketed in the first half, or so it seemed.
The approach, as often this season, was excellent, so much so that Inter took the lead after just 2' with Lautaro Martinez, who was very good at finding the right corner and beating Consigli. Shortly after, the same Argentine had the ball to double but failed badly, thus allowing Sassuolo to re-propose, for the umpteenth time, the most famous saying in the history of football. The "wrong goal - conceded goal" became reality in the 16th minute when Berardi, after skipping Biraghi, mocked Handanovic with a low right footed shot. Once the blow was taken, however, it was Inter who resumed the ranks of the match, so much so that in the 38th minute Lukaku, one of the worst on the pitch up until then, found the 2-1 with one of his plays, before repeating himself at the end of the half from a penalty (45').
The 3-1 reassured Conte and when Martinez, just before making way for Politano, scored his fourth goal again from the penalty spot (71'), the success assumed even triumphal proportions. It was a pity, however, that the Nerazzurri, now sure of winning, decided to turn off the lights, also because the substitutions (in Politano and Lazaro, out Lautaro and Candreva), rather than giving a hand, turned out to be real ballast. Sassuolo took advantage of it first with Djuricic (74') and then with Boga (81'), sensationally reopening the match and forcing Conte to a quarter of an hour (including recovery) of passion.
In the end, Inter came out on top but on Wednesday, in the match that can decide the European path, a very different performance will be needed.
The one that, for long stretches, Pioli's Milan offered, undoubtedly the best seen this season. It's a pity, however, that the result, having reached this point, is the only thing that really matters and that obviously cannot satisfy anyone, except, of course, for Liverani's Lecce, who came out of San Siro with a draw which gives hope in terms of salvation. For the Rossoneri, on the other hand, it's the middle of the night: the standings are crying and yesterday's point is practically useless.
The paradox, as previously mentioned, is that Pioli's team offered a good performance, even excellent at times, without however having the ability to close the conversation when they had total control of the games. And since Milan is not Juve, Lecce's mocking goal arrived in full recovery, to reiterate, if there were still any need, that this is a really bad season.
“It's a pity, we wanted victory, we didn't get it for our faults – the analysis of the AC Milan coach. – The spirit and generosity were of a good level, but the game had to be closed because then things like the one in the finale can happen. I was waiting with curiosity for this match, there's a lot of positives but a team like Milan have to bring some matches home”.
In fact, after a first half played at very high levels, the Rossoneri should have finished with at least two goals ahead, instead Calhanoglu's right-footed shot (20') remained alone in the scoresheet. A mortal sin in light of the many opportunities created and an overwhelming superiority, then paid dearly. Because in the second half Lecce stuck their heads out and in the 63rd minute they equalized with Babacar, unfortunate in having his penalty saved (Conti's arm) by Donnarumma, lucky to find himself rejected on the foot for the inevitable tap-in .
Milan then went back to attacking and when Piatek, taking advantage of a great play by Calhanoglu, scored the 2-1 (81'), they truly believed they had made it. But the taste of victory lasted only a few minutes, to be precise until the 92nd minute: in fact, Calderoni's missile sent under the crossroads sealed the score at 2-2.
Even Fonseca's Roma would have liked to start again with a victory, but instead they didn't go beyond a lackluster draw. Obviously, Marassi's 0-0 was good only for Ranieri's Sampdoria, the first step towards a salvation that was still within reach, while the Giallorossi, by virtue of their Champions League ambitions, would have wanted a very different result. However, it must also be said that the injury situation is very heavy, also because it shows no sign of stopping: yesterday, for a change, Cristante and Kalinic stopped, with Fonseca forced to deploy the convalescent Dzeko, complete with a protective mask for the cheekbone that had just been operated on .
Marassi had a tough match, with little show and a lot of tactics, even if more thanks to Ranieri than to his Portuguese colleague. An afternoon came out with few chances and many yawns, with the Blucerchiati closest to victory thanks to chances from Depaoli (70') and Bonazzoli (89'). Too little to really undermine the Champions League area, enough to wonder what the real potential of this Rome is. The match against Milan next Sunday, at this point, could give almost definitive answers.
