Milan strikes, Inter responds. The first Saturday of Serie A no surprises, albeit for a short time: Lecce came close to stopping the Nerazzurri and Udinese too, albeit in a less evident way, created various problems for the Rossoneri. In the end, however, results count and they tell us that the Milanese start off on the right foot, immediately winning 3 points that put pressure on the competition, forced, between today (Salernitana-Roma) and tomorrow (Verona-Naples and Juventus-Sassuolo), to answer in the best way. In addition to the aforementioned successes of Milan and Inter, the away victories of Atalanta and Turin are also worth mentioning, capable of conquering the fields of Sampdoria and Monza and thus starting off on the right foot.
Milan comeback Udinese with a poker signed by Theo, Rebic and Diaz. Pioli smiles, but up to a certain point: "We need more attention"
The championship was kicked off by the Diavolo di Pioli, in the setting of a San Siro sensationally (we are still on the weekend of August) full. However, the 4-2 final must not deceive: Udinese created quite a few problems for the Italian champions, so much so that they even found the advantage after just one minute of play. Becao confirmed himself as a bete noire for the Rossoneri, scoring the 0-1 with a header from a corner kick, just like in 2019. Even then it was matchday one, but this time Milan knew how to react immediately and realize the draw with a penalty by Theo Hernandez, sent to the spot by the referee Marinelli (and by the Var) after a contact between Soppy and Calabria (11'). Shortly after, Pioli's team scored the 2-1 with Rebic (15'), suggesting that they had resolved the matter, however the Friulians did not lose heart and in the 48th minute, just before the referee sent everyone in the locker room, he scored again with a header, this time with Masina, guilty of being left alone by Messias. In the second half, however, Milan went back to being Milan, rediscovering defensive concentration and the usual offensive geometries, helped by the Rebic-Diaz duo in great shape. The Spaniard first scored the overtaking goal by exploiting a mess from Udinese (46'), then served the Croatian a ball so tempting that it couldn't be wasted for any reason (68').
The finale has become so academic, with Pioli to let in almost all new purchases (De Ketelaere, Origi and Pobega, but not Adli) and the public to celebrate 3 important points, even if less smooth than expected. “We conceded once again at the beginning of the game, we have to start in a better way – commented Pioli -. Then we reacted by doing thirty minutes very well, but technically we can do much better than that, even if it's normal in this period to have to improve something".
Lecce-Inter, Dumfries gives the victory in full recovery. Inzaghi warns: "Others buy, we have to stay that way"
The true heart-pounding challenge However, on Saturday it was Lecce, where the newly promoted side led by Baroni came within a whisker of stopping Inter at 1-1. And to think that the match was unlocked after just 80 seconds: many (so to speak, of course) were enough for Lukaku to reconnect the thread with the Italian championship, this time with a header after a good left-right action on the Dimarco axis -Darmian. It seemed to be the prelude to a quiet evening, but instead the Nerazzurri made the mistake of not doubling up, thus leaving the result open. And when the young Ceesay found the 1-1 (48') at the start of the second half, Inter relived the ghosts of last February, when they were no longer able to win despite the many chances created.
Inzaghi attempted the all for all, throwing Dzeko, Dumfries, Mkhitaryan and also Correa into the fray, obviously together with Lukaku and Lautaro, yet the ball really didn't want to enter (Dutchman's post to Falcone beaten), also because Lecce, net of a freediving match, he didn't give up scaring Handanovic with a couple of poisonous conclusions. However, in the end, on the last action of the match, Dumfries hit the winner following the development of a corner, giving Inter 3 points that were both painful and heavy. "It's a victory desired with the heart, the team believed in it until the end and it's the most positive thing of the evening – Inzaghi's words -. A team like ours that unlocks the match immediately can't win only in the 95th minute, we'll have to analyze why we were reduced to winning at the last second. It's no joke because the others buy while we have to keep our players, according to the media we are the only ones who have to sell while the others buy a lot. The team must remain the same, I don't want to talk about the transfer market, on the contrary we lack a centre-back to take Ranocchia's place and the club is moving to fill this void".
Salernitana-Rome (20 pm on Dazn). Mou stings Lazio: “Scudetto? They have spent more than us, nobody talks about it”
Tonight instead it's up to the Romans, waiting for the first day to end tomorrow with Juventus and Naples. The spotlights are primarily on Salerno, where Mourinho's Giallorossi will have to contend with Nicola's grenades. Many were waiting for the Portuguese press conference to understand how he would react to the numerous praise made by the press and fans, who consider Roma a contender for the Scudetto: Special One did not disappoint, immediately giving away the so-called "title". “With 7 million we signed five extraordinary players, the club did a great job and I can only applaud them – thought Mou -. Rome from the championship? I would understand it if there were 18 championships up for grabs, because only Sampdoria and Lecce have spent less than us on the transfer market. Lazio spent 39 million, are they also candidates for the title? Talking only about us seems to me to sell a product that is not real…”.
Sarri replies: "If Roma finish second, it will be a disappointment"
Sarri's answer, at the conference to present Lazio-Bologna (18 pm, Dazn and Sky), was not long in coming. “We have not spent, we have invested, If there is anyone who has spent it is them – the coach pointed out, before addressing the Giallorossi colleague directly -. I thank Josè for the trust, I hope to please him, and precisely because I have faith I say that second place for Roma would be a disappointment…".
Salernitana-Rome, the formations. Mou launches the Zaniolo-Dybala-Abraham dream trident
Let's go back to the field and therefore to the probabilities formations, in particular of Salernitana-Rome. Mourinho will immediately rely on the trident dreamed of by all Giallorossi fans, while Wijnaldum should settle in bench, at least initially. The 3-4-2-1 chosen by the Portuguese will see Rui Patricio in goal, Mancini, Smalling and Ibanez in defense, Karsdorp, Pellegrini, Matic and Zalewski in midfield, Zaniolo and Dybala behind the lone striker Abraham. Different news instead for Nicola, who will immediately focus on the last two purchases made by De Sanctis, namely Candreva and Vilhena. The 3-5-2 grenade will be made up of Sepe in goal, Gyomber, Fazio and Pirola in the back, Candreva, Kastanos, Coulibaly, Vilhena and Mazzocchi in the midfield, Botheim (already executioner of Rome last season with the Bodo Glimt) and Bonazzoli in attack.
