Where were we? Serie A restarts after the (brief) Christmas break and with him the race to the top also resumes, so far enthralling as it hasn't happened for years. At the moment the question seems to concern above all Milan, with Milan and Inter divided by just one point in the standings, but be careful to underestimate the others, Juventus above all: the championship is long and there are still many direct matches to play. One will arrive on Wednesday and will see the Lady as the protagonist, awaited at the San Siro by Pioli's Milan: this is why today's day is extremely delicate and the discussion applies to everyone, no one excluded. The leaders will be staged in Benevento (18 pm), in a rather insidious match and not only for the previous ones, who see a real black beast in the Witch.
Brignoli's goal on 3 December 2017 still hurts, as did the sensational 0-1 draw at San Siro on 21 April 2018, but historical appeals have something to do with it up to a certain point: Inzaghi's team, in fact, is up to now doing an excellent championship, as evidenced by the tenth place in the standings, and is ready to play its cards even against the unbeaten Milan this season. “Enough about 2020, we did well, but now we have to be concentrated and not look back – Pioli glossed over -. A very difficult match awaits us because they play well, let's remember that they stopped Juve and Lazio, that's why we will have to face it in the right way, in short, from Milan...". Compared to the match against Lazio on 23 December the coach recovers Kessié and Kjaer, but loses the suspended Hernandez and Saelemaekers, in addition to the usual Ibrahimovic and Bennacer.
The Rossoneri 4-2-3-1 will thus see Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli and Dalot in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Diaz, Calhanoglu and Rebic in the frontline, Leao in attack. Inzaghi, great ex of the challenge, will respond with a 4-3-2-1 with Montipò between the posts, Letizia, Tuia, Glik and Barba in the back department, Hetemaj, Schiattarella and Improta in the midfield, Ionita and Caprari behind the lone striker Lapadula. The Rossoneri could take the field from second in the standings, at least this is what Conte's Inter hopes, engaged at 12.30 in the opening match of 2021 against Crotone. On paper, evidently, the Nerazzurri are clear favorites but woe to underestimate the Calabrians, penultimate but returning from two wins and a draw in their last four.
“It will be a demanding match, like all games in our championship – confirmed Conte in the press conference -. We face a team galvanized by having closed with a good victory, we will have to be very careful. Starting again after the holidays is always an unknown factor, but we must continue our positive streak”. Which is came on a seven-game winning streak, a fine roster that allowed Inter to bring Milan closer and detach their pursuers. To hit the eighth Conte will rely on the 3-5-2 of the very titular players, therefore Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Vidal and Young in midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack. The same game system also for Stroppa, who will respond with Cordaz in goal, Magallan, Golemic and Luperto in the back, Pereira, Molina, Zanellato, Vulic and Reca in the midfield, Riviere and Messias as an offensive pair.
On the other hand, Juventus will close on Sunday, called to beat Udinese (20.45 pm) to cancel the knockout against Fiorentina, but also to avoid the risk of being even further away from the Milanese. The turning point has come for the Lady, otherwise the tenth consecutive championship, invoked several times by Andrea Agnelli, will remain only a dream. “On Monday I found a team eager to restart after the last bad performance – confirmed Pirlo -. We talked about the match with Fiorentina which was completely wrong in terms of attitude and everything, we couldn't end 2020 like this. There was a good productive meeting: never again matches like that". The coach will have to give up the suspended Cuadrado, but for the rest, however, he will be able to count on the whole squad.
His 3-4-1-2 will see Szczesny in goal, Danilo, Bonucci and De Ligt in defence, Kulusevski, McKennie, Bentancur and Alex Sandro in midfield, Ramsey behind Morata and Ronaldo, with Chiesa and Dybala ready to take over from bench. Gotti, also recovering from a defeat (0-2 against Benevento), will respond with the same game system interpreted by Musso between the posts, De Maio, Bonifazi and Samir in the back department, Stryger Larsen, De Paul, Walace, Pereyra and Zeegelaar in the midfield, Lasagna and Pussetto in attack.
