The old and the new. Vittoria heavy of the Milan a Empoli, signed by two of the "fantastic four" up front: the veteran Leao and the very fresh Gimenez, in the middle of a match full of controversy and controversial episodes. Very bad, in fact, the referee Pairetto, the colleague at Var Serra and also the linesman, authors of a test full of errors. Conceiçao rises to 38 points, 5 less than fourth-placed Juve, but still with the asterisk of Bologna's recovery. The same as Inter no longer have, officially slipping to minus 3 from Napoli: Conte will try to double the gap in the postponed match with theUdinese (20pm), waiting for Inzaghi to face Fiorentina again (tomorrow). Winning is fundamental, also because theAtalanta is back to scoring goals thanks to the 5-0 over Verona, in which Retegui's 4 goals (!) stand out. To complete the Sunday Venice-Rome (12: 30), Lazio-Monza (15) Cagliari-Parma (15) and Lecce-Bologna (18), a nice mix between the race for salvation and Europe.
Empoli – Milan 0-2: the Devils advance with Leao and Gimenez, but so much controversy!
Il Milan di Sergio Conceicao gets three fundamental points against Empoli, demonstrating once again his ability to react and change the outcome of the match with courageous choices. The Portuguese coach had opted for a rather massive turnover, leaving out Leao and Pulisic, in addition to the announced Gimenez, by virtue of Abraham, Joao Felix e Jimenez. The choice had not paid off, so much so that he even risked finding himself behind (a sensational post by Colombo). And so at the start of the second half, aware that a draw would have been useless, he switched to a "4-2-fantasy" by inserting Lion, Pulisic e Gimenez together with Joao felix. renewing Milan's approach. A decisive move, also because it remained so even after Tomori's expulsion: many expected him to take Felix off and put Thiaw on, but the diktat remained unchanged. And so, when Empoli also lost a man (red for Marianucci (for a reaction foul on Gimenez), Conceiçao took the lead, first with Lion (68, header on Pulisic's assist), then with Gimenez (76', great left-footed curler again served by the American). There would have been room for a third goal in the final minutes, wasted by an excessively affected Joao Felix, but the substance does not change: Milan won with their strongest men, demonstrating a rich and competitive forward roster, capable of changing the seasonal outlook. The other protagonists of the Castellani, in spite of themselves, were the referees: obviously Pairetto, but also Greenhouse at the Var and the linesman. Many controversial decisions, starting with the failure to send off Cacace for a foul on Walker (7', not even a yellow was given), moving on to the red card for Tomori (55', action tainted by a clear offside, but not sanctionable by VAR for protocol reasons), up to that of Marianucci (65', reaction foul on Gimenez, also cautioned). A disaster, to which in the evening was added also Felicians in Torino-Genoa (penalty not awarded for a hold by Sabelli on Sanabria), confirming a Saturday to forget for our referees.
Conceiçao: “I wanted to take a risk because drawing with Milan is like losing two points”
“After Tomori's red card, the temptation was to remove a striker and bring in a centre-back,” he explained. Conceiçao -. Instead I moved Musah to the wing with Walker in the center and lowered Joao Felix to midfield: I took a risk because drawing in Milan is like losing two points. For us it is an important success, but I also congratulate Empoli. We are working on compactness, on the occasion of the expulsion I did not like how the team worked. We never look for offside, but the team accepted my ideas and is working to improve. Gimenez? He has quality, I also followed him when he was at Porto. Santiago, Joao Felix and Walker give us more solutions, then when the collective works even the individuals reach a higher level. There is serious work to do when we do not have the ball, if we are solid it will be easier for them to have fun too. Other coaches have different thoughts, but now mine counts”.
Napoli – Udinese (20:45 pm, Dazn)
There is no time to stop, even after reaching the top of the rankings. The Napoli prepares to welcome theUdinese with the awareness of being faced with a turning point, perhaps even decisive in the race for the Scudetto. And to think that at half-time of the first leg, the Azzurri, down by one goal and coming off two consecutive defeats against Lazio, the atmosphere was rather gloomy. The second half, however, marked the beginning of the comeback, with Napoli turning the game around with goals from Lukaku and Anguissa, in addition to an own goal from Giannetti. From there began a period of seven consecutive victories, which brought Conte to the top of everyone, despite the controversies and transfer cases. The Azzurri are experiencing an extraordinary season and the standings, now that the +3 on Inter has become real, are the most tangible sign of this. Inzaghi's debacle in Florence completed the work, certifying an advantage that Napoli wants to defend in the next three games, awaiting the direct clash on March 1 at the Maradona. Conte, aware of the great opportunity, wants to keep the tension high in the locker room, reminding his players that every mistake can cost them dearly (see the goal conceded in Rome in full recovery). After all, the calendar is demanding and requires absolute concentration: after Udinese it will be the turn of Lazio, the real bête noire of the season, then Como and, indeed, Inter. Nothing compared to Inzaghi (Fiorentina, Juventus, Genoa and Lazio in the Italian Cup), but enough to unleash Sergeant Antonio. Someone who is starting to seriously believe in the dream of the Scudetto, driven by a city that has truly started dreaming again.
Conte: “Me angry about the market? All bullshit”
“The club needs to grow, but I am thinking about how to help it,” he stressed. Tale -. We need infrastructure, a sports center, not one player more or less, to create a home for Napoli, develop belonging, a youth sector that doesn't exist today. Instead of thinking about 50-60-70 million for that player, I will never argue from that point of view, but I will have my say on the growth of the club as it has been since I arrived. I have to help and support the sports director who is young, but good, he needs to take that path. I am here to support the De Laurentiis family, I am here because I have the experience to give my vision, this is my goal, the others are all bullshit, that I am pissed off about this or that, I am not angry but happy for what I am developing with the boys. And the other goal is to seek, with what we have, excellence. You don't compete only with players of 50-60-70, a market of 150 million, selling 75, that is smoke in the eyes, the essence is work, planning. I don't sit in a 100 euro restaurant with 10 euros, I never have and I never will."
Napoli – Udinese, probable formations
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres
In bench: Scuffet, Contini, Good Morning, Marin, Gilmour, Mazzocchi, Billing, Hasa, Simeone, Ngonge, Raspadori, Okafor
Coach: With you
Unavailable: Olivera
Disqualified: Nobody
Udinese (3-5-2): Sava; Solet, Bijol, Kristensen; Rui Modesto, Lovric, Karlstrom, Payero, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca
In bench: Padelli, Kabasele, Kamara, Zarraga, Ekkelenkamp, Atta, Bravo, Pafundi, Sanchez, Davis, Brenner, Selvik, Diawara
Coach: Runjaic
Unavailable: Okoye, Giannetti, Ehizibue, Touré
Disqualified: nobody
Lazio – Monza (15pm, Dazn)
La Lazio returns to the Olimpico after the success in Cagliari, hosting the Monza last in the standings. On paper it would seem like a simple challenge, if it weren't for the fact that Baroni's team, for some time now, has been suffering from a strange form of allergy to its own stadium. The last championship victory at the Olimpico dates back to November 24th: since that 3-0 against Bologna, in fact, have come defeats against Inter and Fiorentina and draws against Atalanta and Como. In the cups things are definitely better (success against Real Sociedad in the Europa League and against Napoli in the Coppa Italia), but the home abstinence in Serie A is becoming a problem. It is no coincidence that Lazio has been overtaken by Juventus and caught up by Fiorentina, putting the race for the next Champions League at risk. A positive response is urgently needed against bottom club Monza, who are bottom with only 13 points and sadly headed towards relegation. Bocchetti still has a few cards to play, but it is clear that Lazio is off to a clear start Favorite. Baroni, back on the bench after serving the disqualification in Cagliari, will start again with the starting lineup, with the addition of the two new signings Belahyane and Provstgaard, immediately available. Nuno Tavares returns e Lazzari, then, they ease a defensive emergency that was starting to become worrying (Patric e Hysaj injured, Pellegrini outside list): the Portuguese hopes for a starting shirt with Crazy e Romagnoli in the center e Marusic on the right. The untouchables confirmed in midfield Guendouzi e rovella, as well as the attacking quartet composed of Isaac, Day, Weather in Zaccagni e Castilians. Baroni relies on them to defeat the Olympic blues and get back on track towards the Champions League.
Venice – Rome (12:30, Dazn)
La Rome will Venice with the aim of finding victory away from home, an aspect that has represented one of the main limitations of the team this season. Despite the arrival of Ranieri, decisive in lifting the team and moving it away from the relegation zone, the numbers away from home remain worrying: eight draws, seven defeats (the last one on Wednesday in Milan) and only one victory, obtained in Udine after a good nine months. For a Roma that wants to aspire to the top of the table, in short, these data are certainly not encouraging. Another very penalizing aspect is the vulnerability on the opponents' counterattacks: ten goals conceded on the counterattack this season, a (sad) European record. The latest negative episodes in this sense came at San Siro, on an evening that left bitterness and despair throughout the environment. The match in Venice will be a crucial test to test the team's reaction, but Ranieri will also have to take into account the Playoffs against Porto, since theEuropa League has become the main objective of the season. For this reason we will see a Roma that is decidedly different from the usual one, therefore 3-4-2-1 with Silker in goal, Mancini, Nelson e N'Dicka in defence, Rensch, Gourna-Douath, Crystalline e Salah Eddine in midfield, Soulé e Pellegrini behind the sole point dovbyk. Canonical 3-5-2 instead for the Venice of the former Di Francesco, who will respond with Radu between the poles, Schingtian, Idzes e Cande in the back department, Zerbin, Kike Perez, Nicolussi Ankle, busio e Zampano in the median, Gytkjaer e Oristanio in attack.
