The abstinence is over. In one fell swoop, Inter regained goals, victory and the Champions League zone, thus closing a period in which they had reaped much less than they sowed. Like a hungry traveler in front of a laden table, Spalletti's group overindulged in goals and chances, burying Cagliari with even a tight four-of-a-kind. Lopez's team was terrible, unable even to shoot even once towards Handanovic's goal: salvation is far from acquired and at this rate it won't even be easy to achieve.
The news, however, is not the Sardinian crisis but Inter's third place, obviously waiting for Rome (at the Olimpico against Genoa) and Lazio (in Florence) to play their matches and try to respond. In the meantime, however, Spalletti has taken back the podium and the Inter people, at least for one night, can go back to dreaming.
“We played a good game, when the result was safe we also managed to get the ball to run well – commented the Nerazzurri coach. – The team did well, at times we were a bit soft on our temperaments but I think we have found our bearings. We have to learn to feed ourselves and the same goes for everyone, even for Icardi: if you tell him that he has to play only for the goal, you hurt him ”.
Maurito rightfully takes the cover of the evening: the return to the net was also worth his personal record of 25 in the league, not bad considering the five days left to go. Before his paw at the start of the second half (49') Cancelo's goal had already arrived to direct the match (3'), testifying to an angry Inter but also to a Cagliari completely lost in its technical and character limitations.
At San Siro it was a real Nerazzurri monologue and the final 4-0 (60' Brozovic, 90' Perisic) was even close to a team that has kicked 16 times towards the opposing goal, hit the crossbar (Karamoh) and was forced Cragno to a couple of super surgeries.
Today, however, it's up to Rome, Lazio and Milan, called to win to continue dreaming of Europe, albeit in a different way. The yellow-reds and blue-and-whites in fact aspire to the main one while the rossoneri, after the latest results, have now abdicated their dreams of glory in favor of a more "affordable" sixth place.
On paper, Wednesday in the championship seems easier for Di Francesco, expected from a home match against Genoa that is certainly not prohibitive. The rossoblu away from Marassi have a very different performance, moreover last Saturday's victory over Crotone has definitively removed the ghosts of relegation. In short, the biggest risk could be the underestimation of the opponent, especially after a week full of emotions like the one just past.
“We have to think only of Genoa, it will be a very delicate match – thought Di Francesco – Since Ballardini arrived they have conceded very few goals, they are solid and square. Precisely for this reason I will change some men compared to the last few races, we need fresh people”.
At the Olimpico we will see the return of the 4-3-3 with Alisson in goal, Florenzi, Fazio, Juan Jesus and Kolarov in defence, Pellegrini, Gonalons and Nainggolan in midfield, Under, Dzeko and El Shaarawy in attack. Classic 3-5-2 instead for Ballardini, who will respond with Perin between the posts, Pereira, Rossettini and Zukanovic in the back department, Rosi, Omeonga, Bertolacci, Rigoni and Laxalt in the midfield, Lapadula and Pandev as an offensive couple.
As for Lazio, on the Fiorentina field Inzaghi should field a formation for once without Immobile from the first minute, as well as Felipe Anderson: Caicedo starting in front of Luis Alberto; in midfield Marusic, Parolo, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic and Lukaku; in defense, in front of Strakosha, Luiz Felipe, De Vrij and the revived Caceres. The Viola will respond with Sportiello, Milenkovic, Pezzella, Victor Hugo, Biraghi, Benassi, Dabo, Veretout, Chiesa, Saponara and Simeone.
Heavy points also for Gattuso's Milan, engaged in the insidious away match at Turin's home. It's a direct clash for the Europa League, a secondary objective compared to summer expectations but the only truly achievable in the light of the latest results, which have seen the Rossoneri collect only 3 points in four games. A matter of opponents (Juventus, Inter and Napoli as well as Sassuolo) but also of goals that are struggling to arrive, thus making it difficult to conquer the full booty.
“The finalization needs to be improved but I'm not worried – Gattuso's words. – The fact is that we have the tenth attack in the championship, but we create a lot, we build the game and this is the most important thing. Against Toro we will have to take the field with the right mind, it's a mangy, physical team: either you do it like this or you risk making a fool of yourself". Compared to Napoli, however, there won't be many changes, also because the blanket is short and the Rossoneri coach, with the season in the pipeline, has no intention of upsetting anything.
His 4-3-3 will see Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Bonucci, Zapata and Rodriguez in defense, Kessié, Biglia and Locatelli in midfield, Suso, Kalinic and Calhanoglu in attack. Return to 4-3-2-1 for Mazzarri, who after the joke at Inter will try to repeat himself against Milan too with Sirigu in goal, N'Kolou, Burdisso, Moretti and De Silvestri in the back department, Rincon, Baselli and Ansaldi in the midfield, Ljajic and Iago Falque in support of the sole striker Belotti.
