He who hesitates is lost. Naples, Milan and Inter plunge back into the championship after the European parenthesis and do so with very different moods. Green thumb for the Azzurri, returning from the bombastic 4-1 over Liverpool, called to give continuity even against Gotti's less glamorous Spezia, stable purse for the Rossoneri, on stage in Marassi against Sampdoria after the draw in Salzburg, red sign instead for the nerazzurri, forced to beat Turin to ensure that the hole (Lazio, Milan and Bayern) does not become a real abyss.
Naples-Spezia (15 pm Dazn)
We start with Spalletti's team, the first to take the field on this Saturday in Serie A. The enthusiasm, already high after the victory in Rome, has even skyrocketed with poker trimmed to Liverpool, but now Maradona arrives Spezia and the Azzurri, already stumbled against Lecce, must maintain the same concentration. The opportunity to pocket another 3 points is greedy and wasting it would be serious, as well as a symptom of fragility, which is why it is reasonable to expect a feisty and hungry Naples, ready to tear apart the opponent just like on Wednesday.
Spalletti warns his team: "Spezia is worth 3 points like Liverpool"
“We mustn't just focus on the opponent's name, but win and take 3 points regardless of who it is – Spalletti confirmed in the press conference -. Knowing how to win a race, however prestigious it may be, means having done well for 90'. To write important pages, however, you need to maintain consistency along the entire way, this is what makes the difference. Osimhen? I'm sorry to lose him for a few games, but we have equally strong players like Simeone and Raspadori".
Naples-Spezia, the information
Compared to Wednesday there will be several changes, some forced (Osimhen suffered a second-degree lesion to the hamstring, return expected between the end of September and the beginning of October), others due to the inevitable logic of turnover. However, Spalletti will confirm the 4-3-3 formation, which has now become the reference system, betting on Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus and Mario Rui in defence, Anguissa, Ndombele and Zielinski in midfield, Lozano, Simeone and Kvaratskhelia in attack. 3-5-2 instead for Gotti, who will respond with Dragowski between the posts, Ampadu, Kiwior and Nikolaou in the back department, Holm, Bourabia, Bastoni, Kovalenko and Reca in the midfield, Gyasi and Nzola as an offensive couple.
Inter-Turin (18pm Dazn)
Much higher pressure at San Siro, where Inzaghi's Inter will try to find themselves against Juric's Turin. It won't be easy, partly because the grenades have proven to be tough, but above all because of the difficulties of the Nerazzurri, returning from three defeats (in the last four games) who have left their mark. The viewfinder is increasingly focused on the coach, who actually appeared in confusion both on a tactical level and on choices. The club noticed it and Marotta, like an old sea dog, brought everyone together on the fields of Appiano for a frank and decisive confrontation, aimed at bringing out the problems. Inzaghi knows he has the trust of the management (moreover, he has extended his contract until 2024 at 5,5 million net), but also that the next three matches (Turin, Viktoria Plzen and Udinese) must be won, otherwise he seriously risks complicating the season.
Inter-Turin, the information
The coach, absent in the press room (another sign of lack of serenity), will return to shuffling the cards after the turnover against Bayern, starting with the goal, which will once again be owned by Handanovic. In front of him, in the ordinance 3-5-2, space for Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni, with Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Dimarco in midfield and the Dzeko-Lautaro duo in attack. Juric, still absent due to pneumonia, will respond with a 3-4-2-1 with Milinkovic-Savic in goal, Djidji, Buongiorno and Rodriguez in the back, Lazaro, Lukic, Linetty and Vojvoda in the midfield, Vlasic and Radonjic behind of the only tip Sanabria.
Sampdoria-Milan (20,45 pm Dazn and Sky)
In the evening, however, it will be the turn of Milan, who want to restart from the derby by filing the draw in Salzburg. Subdued performance for the Rossoneri, saved only by Saelemaekers' goal, unlike last Saturday, when they appeared impregnable for most of the match. Pioli hopes to find the best part of his team again, also because Marassi's challenge is historically insidious: the Sampdoria, so far, has appeared little, but it has already stopped both la Juventus that the Lazio. The Rossoneri coach would like to avoid the trap, also because next Sunday there will be a clash at the top with Napoli and getting there with a false step certainly wouldn't help, nevertheless he will resort to a massive dose of turnover, made almost forced by the many close commitments (Wednesday will be Champions again with Dinamo Zagreb).
Pioli: "Complicated race, I'll choose the fittest men"
“I have a group of strong players and a precise identity, in training they all give their all and the ones I choose are always the best for the opponent we face – explained the Rossoneri coach -. I don't do rotations to get everyone involved regardless, but to win games. We will find one Sampdoria solid and motivated, fresh from a defeat that will give her further determination: we know what awaits us, we always work to take the 3 points and if we want to stay at the top we will have to do it often".
Sampdoria-Milan, the information
Pioli, despite Reggio Emilia's unhappy precedent, will make rather massive use of the turnover, going to change as many as 5 elements compared to Salzburg. His 4-2-3-1 will thus see Maignan in goal, Calabria, Kjaer, Kalulu and Hernandez in defence, Pobega and Tonali in midfield, Messias, Diaz and Leao in the frontline, Origi in attack, with Tomori, Bennacer, Saelemaekers, De Keteleare and Giroud ready to take over from the bench. Giampaolo, an ex not at all regretted by the Rossoneri world, will respond with a 4-3-2-1 with Audero between the posts, Bereszynski, Ferrari, Murillo and Augello in the back, Rincon, Vieira and Leris in the midfield, Sabiri and Djuricic behind of the lone Caputo striker.
