THEInter puts the arrow. The success in Florence transformed an initially complicated weekend into a triumph, allowing the Nerazzurri to return to the top of the table even before having recovered the match against Atalanta. There Juve thus finds itself in second place with one more match and who knows if this might change the strategies in view of next Sunday, when the title contenders will meet face to face at San Siro. In Champions areaHowever, the round smiles on Atalanta, also because Lazio and Napoli did not go beyond a draw, all while waiting for Salernitana-Roma this evening (20.45 pm).
Fiorentina – Inter 0-1, Lautaro scores and Sommer saves a penalty
The chance to get back into the lead was tempting and Inter made the most of it thanks to a tough match, addressed almost immediately by goal by Lautaro (14') and then managed with great maturity, even managing to suffer in the most delicate moments. The only flaw is not having found the second goal on one of the many occasions we had, but the defensive solidity allowed the Nerazzurri to maintain their precious lead, also thanks to Summer, able to save a penalty from Nico Gonzalez (kicked very badly) a few minutes from the end. It was the 77th minute and the Viola equalizer, perhaps, would have consigned another ranking to the archives, but instead the Swiss' goal remained untouched, allowing Inter to take home all the loot.
Many thought that the Inzaghi's team could suffer from the absences of Calhanoglu, Barella and Dimarco (bench due to technical choice), instead theis was excellent, however aided by one Fiorentina too unbalanced forward. And so the Nerazzurri, after having come close to scoring on two occasions with Lautaro and Carlos Augusto (both in the open field), found it in the 14th minute with the usual Argentine captain, who was predatory in taking advantage of Asllani's corner and beating Terracciano.
The Viola, lined up by Italian with the double striker Nzola-Beltran, maintained control of the game, but only because Inter deliberately left it to them: better to steal the ball and restart in spaces, even if the opportunities were not exploited properly . In the second half Fiorentina raised the revs further and in the 77th minute they could have equalised: Sommer's foul on Nzola and a penalty kick awarded after On Field Review, with Nico Gonzalez hypnotized by the Swiss goalkeeper himself. The match effectively ended there, given that the final attacks led to nothing, neither on one side nor the other: Inter thus returned to the championship lead, while the Viola allowed themselves to be overtaken by Atalanta.
Inzaghi focuses on Juve: “It will be a great match. Allegri's jokes? They don't bother me at all."
“After the 1-0 we had many opportunities, Terracciano was good on one, then in the second half we had many counterattacks which we usually finish better – theInzaghi's analysis -. I can't say anything to the kids anyway, we won 17 out of 21 games, but just give a big round of applause. We know that every race is difficult, in Florence it is always complicated to come and win. Now let's think about Juve, it will be a match between two teams that are having an impressive run. We will prepare it in the best possible way, we will face it in the best possible way against an opponent who is following our path. We will have to prepare it like the first leg, when there were two goals in an unspectacular match, but this time we are playing at home, with our fans who are very important. The Allegri's jokes? They don't bother me at all, I'm very calm."
Lazio – Napoli 0-0, the fear of losing wins at the Olimpico
Few emotions instead at the Olimpico, where Lazio and Naples you literally are cancel each other outthat 0-0 final it is the perfect image of what we saw on the pitch, between two teams too scared to seriously try to prevail over the other. Sarri and Mazzarri had numerous absences and this must be taken into consideration, but it is clear that the fear of losing ground in the Champions League zone, which then ended up favoring the opponent, weighed the most. The first half took place in total balance, so much so that at half-time the data on shots on target was a disturbing zero for both. In the second half things went a little better, as the teams inevitably stretched, but the goal remained a pipe dream. Lazio came closest, very dangerous on a counterattack by Isaksen which was not finalized by Castellanos (who also had a wonderful goal disallowed for offside), while Napoli limited themselves to a few shots from outside, without ever really frightening Provedel. The final 0-0, therefore, is right and leaves everything unchanged in the Champions League area, where Atalanta is above all smiling, obviously awaiting Salernitana-Roma this evening.
Mazzarri: “I'm very satisfied, I saw the team that I like”
No statement for Sarri, who returned home immediately after the match due to a sad family bereavement, while Mazzarri he returned regularly to speak. “I am very satisfied, we had a very strong team in front of us – his thoughts in the press conference -. Last year Lazio came second and we played in their stadium, plus we had a lot of absentees. Guys who hadn't played for a long time responded in a big way tonight, I saw a team like I like and I had confirmation that there are great men in the squad. Against Sarri's teams it is difficult to have control of possession, but the group now has a very specific imprint. In the first races we left a few points along the way with the big teams and that's our only regret. We're missing a few, but the championship is long and I'm convinced we can gain positions."
Salernitana – Rome (20.45pm, Dazn)
The emotions of the 22nd day are certainly not over, given that the call is still missing postponement between Salernitana and Rome. A very delicate challenge from Arechi, with two teams forced to win at all costs: the Granata to try to reopen the question of salvation, the Giallorossi to get closer to the Champions League zone. The results of the weekend gave a nice assist to both, but now we need to know how to make the most of it and only one will succeed. The Salerno match is also a comparison between world champions, with Inzaghi on one side and De Rossi on the other. The memories of 2006 are indelible, but today the two friends will not be able to make any concessions: the stakes are too heavy, especially for two precarious coaches like them. Pippo is trying to revive a team in great difficulty, DDR has just arrived and must give continuity to the success against Verona, the first under his management. On paper, Roma are obviously favourites, but Salernitana have already shown that they can annoy the big teams, especially in the fiery league of Arechi, as Lazio, Milan and, regardless of the result, Juventus and Napoli well remember.
De Rossi encourages his team: "This is a team with personality, in Salerno to win"
“Mourinho said he wanted a team of bandits, but you have to ask him what he found – the words of The Rossi -. I I see players with personality, if I take a step back and think about them I say that they took us to the final in Europe, Spinazzola and Cristante won a European Championship away to England. There are phases of the season where it's like this, I like it the slogan 'bandit squad' because in football you need to be sharp and have the characteristics to win even in a dirty way. It will be difficult in Salerno, the teams that have to save themselves always give something more in the return. With bowls stopped I didn't think I'd find Salernitana so low, they have an important squad, they lost at the last minute against Napoli and Juventus, they drew 0-0 with Inter before Lautaro, they beat Lazio, but we're going there to win our game."
Salernitana – Roma, the lineups: De Rossi confirms 4-3-3, Paredes disqualified
De Rossi, compared to his debut against Verona, finds two very important elements in Mancini and Cristante, but loses Paredes due to disqualification. The best news for him though Dybala, completely recovered and therefore in the field from the beginning in 4-3-3 yellow-red, now chosen as the team's new outfit. DDR will focus on Rui Patricio in goal, Karsdorp, Mancini, Llorente and Kristensen in defense, Bove, Cristante and Pellegrini in midfield, Dybala, Lukaku and El Shaarawy in attack. Always Inzaghi in emergency, who while waiting for help from the market (Sabatini is working on various operations, but time is running out) must once again do without Dia, Coulibaly, Fazio and Pirola. His 4-3-2-1 will thus see Ochoa between the posts, Zanoli, Daniliuc, Gyomber and Bradaric in the defensive department, Basic, Maggiore and Martegani in the midfield, Candreva and Kastanos behind the lone striker Ikwuemesi.
