An (almost) decisive match. Impossible to define anything 100% on the 23rd day, but certainly this Milan-Juventus (20.45 pm) it is anything but interlocutory. There are very heavy points up for grabs both in terms of the Scudetto and the Champions League, especially afterwards the victory of Inter and draw between Lazio and Atalanta, with the feeling, stronger and stronger as we get closer to the match, that after tonight nothing will be the same again.
It goes without saying that the forecast is on the edge of balance, even if this is already news: up until a few weeks ago, in fact, the Rossoneri would have been largely favourites. But then several things changed, given that the two teams had an opposite growth process, with the Devil sensationally stopped by Spezia and Juve, silently, winning four of the last five.
In short, the history of the championship, says Pioli, is that of Allegri's last period: the field will thus be an absolutely unpredictable judge, for an already very hot match of his own. “It's an important match, not a decisive one, even if being able to win would be very important for our rankings – he confirmed the Rossoneri coach -. Juventus didn't start well, but now they're in excellent shape, they're showing their strength, they've been unbeaten in 8-9 games and they're trying to recover points: I repeat, being able to win would be very important. It will not be enough to perform a normal performance, a high-level competition will be needed and we have the ability to do it”.
“We are living a good moment but the path is still long, this will be a good game to play, sorry there are only 5000 spectators – Allegri's thought -. What would be our goal in case of victory? Let's not go too far, now let's face Milan who have done a great job in the last year and a half. We have to play an important match to stay close, right now we can't think too much ahead."
Even on a tactical level the match is difficult to read, given that the two teams play very differently, with the Rossoneri being better at maneuvering and the Bianconeri closing in and exploiting the episodes. From the point of view of absences, Juve are doing better, who will have to do without only Chiesa and Bonucci, while Milan, despite finding Bennacer again after the African Cup (Algeria has already been eliminated), will not be able to count on Kjaer , Tomori and Kessié, as well as the less important Ballo-Touré and Pellegri. Pioli will focus on the usual 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, Calabria, Kalulu, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Tonali and Krunic in midfield, Messias, Diaz and Leao in the trocar, Ibrahimovic in attack.
The same game system also for Allegri, who will respond with Szczesny between the posts, De Sciglio, De Ligt, Chiellini and Pellegrini in the back department, Locatelli and Rabiot in the midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and McKennie behind the lone striker Morata.
Spectators very interested in the challenge, as well as obviously Inter, Spalletti's Napoli and Mourinho's Roma, engaged respectively with Salernitana (15 pm) and Empoli (18 pm). On paper, the Azzurri shouldn't have major problems, especially as the grenades show up at Maradona with their squad reduced to the bone by Covid (but two players were negative yesterday, so they will play regularly), while the Giallorossi will have to deal against an opponent on the ball, already executioner of several big ones.
However, both can't go wrong starting with the Spalletti's team, forced to take the 3 points if he wants to stay in Inter's wake and take advantage of the big match at San Siro. Today, after a long time, the blue coach has an almost complete squad, except for the Africans Koulibaly, Anguissa and Ounas, so he will be able to line up a 4-2-3-1 very close to the starting one with Meret in goal (ballot with Ospina), Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus and Mario Rui in defense, Lobotka and Fabian Ruiz in midfield, Lozano, Zielinski and Elmas behind the lone striker Osimhen, with a slight advantage over Mertens. An emergency 3-5-2 for Colantuono, who while waiting for the market (Iervolino and Sabatini have promised 7-8 signings) will try to honor the Campania derby with Belec between the posts, Delli Carri, Bogdan and Veseli in the back department, Kechrida , Schiavone, Di Tacchio, Obi and Ruggeri in the midfield, Vergani and Bonazzoli in attack.
A very delicate match instead for Roma, who after beating Cagliari and Lecce is looking for a third victory on the Empoli field, which is actually quite tricky. Mourinho knows that the run-up to Europe passes through matches like this, especially after the draw between Lazio and Atalanta, so he will field the best formation possible, net of Pellegrini's absence. His 4-2-3-1 will see Rui Patricio in goal, Karsdorp, Mancini, Ibanez and Vina in defense, Cristante and Oliveira in midfield, Zaniolo, Mkhitaryan and Felix behind the lone striker Abraham. Andreazzoli, former player given his yellow and red militancy, will respond with a 4-3-1-2 with Vicario in goal, Stojanovic, Romagnoli, Viti and Marchizza in the back, Zurkovski, Ricci and Henderson in the midfield, Bajrami in the trocar, Cutrone and Pinamonti in attack.
