San Siro prepares the fireworks. Milan-Juventus is the big match on Sunday, even more important after the victories of Inter and Napoli in yesterday's advance matches. In fact, with the success in Turin, the Nerazzurri are back at the top of the table, which adds further spice to this evening's big match. Three important points also for the reigning champions, who left Verona with a little more certainty than at the break, and for Sarri's Lazio, in their third consecutive hurrah after those with Celtic and Atalanta. Milan thus becomes theepicenter of the championship, but also watch out for the Olimpico, where Mourinho's Roma have only one result available.
Turin – Inter 0-3, Inzaghi: “I feared the Granata, the boys were very good”
Inter's victory in Turin was very heavy, not only for the 3 points (still fundamental in the Milan-Juve weekend), but also and above all for the way in which it was achieved. The Nerazzurri, in fact, certainly did not shine, in fact it can be said that until goal by Thuram (59') had offered one of the worst performances of the season. But then, as often happens with great teams, the right episode arrived, also favored by Inzaghi's substitutions: Dumfries, who had just come on in place of Darmian, served a perfect ball to the Frenchman and Inter found themselves ahead at the first shot on goal in his match. Toro, until then tidy and insidious (Sommer had prevented two dangers on Seck and Pellegri), no longer had the strength to react, ending up feeling the blow and remaining lying on the mat: the knockout, however, came shortly after with Lautaro Martinez (67'), rapacious in turning Acerbi's tackle under range and closing the game, before Calhanoglu signed the final 0-3 with a penalty in full injury time (95'). A victory without sequins, in short, but a damn important one in terms of standings and morale. “The boys were very good, meeting Torino after the break with a training session and a half it wasn't easy – Inzaghi's comment -. I was very afraid of this race, congratulations to the boys for an important success for our journey. We know that matches are now played in two phases, we have to take advantage of the five substitutions, I'm happy with everyone who came on. Now we will be able to watch Milan-Juve with greater serenity, after which in 72 hours we will already be on the pitch against Salzburg, a team that won in Lisbon against Benfica. We will have to prepare this match in the best possible way for a very important round trip for our qualification."
Verona – Napoli 1-3, Garcia: “Important victory and we could have done even more”
Saturday of smiles also for Napoli, who returned to victory on the Verona pitch. At Bentegodi the desire for 3 points that seemed to have been lost was seen again, but above all a great one kvaratskhelia, decisive with a brace (43' and 55') and appeared in excellent condition, like a decisive Politano with a goal (27') and an assist. Hellas thus continues its dangerous involutionary phase, made up of five defeats and only two draws in the last seven outings: the good start (two chances at 0-0 saved by Meret) and Lazovic's goal (60') were not enough to stop Napoli, who went to the city of Romeo and Juliet (even if the pre-match was anything but romantic, given the clashes between ultras that led to 36 Daspos) to chase away the crisis and start moving in the right direction again, perhaps hoping for a draw between Milan and Juventus which would allow them to close the gap a little. “We did ours, it was important to win – the words of Garcia -. At three-nil it would normally be a game over, then we conceded an unfortunate goal which reignited Verona. We could have scored more, but the trident still did very well. Special mention to Meret who played a great match. We should have frozen the match without conceding a goal, but obviously a coach is never happy. We won by three goals and we left too many shots to Verona after an hour in which they did little, but they did. Someone has started thinking about Union Berlin, it won't happen and we will have to work on it, but it can happen."
Sassuolo – Lazio 0-2, Felipe Anderson and Luis Alberto lead the Biancocelesti
Lazio is also starting to get serious, having returned from Reggio Emilia with a useful and convincing success. Useful, because it gives meaning back to white and blue ranking, convincing, in light of a performance in line with last year's and not with the faded versions of August/September. Many positive indications emerged from the match against Sassuolo, starting with the renewed contribution of Felipe Anderson (his goal that splits the balance in the 28th minute) and Luis Alberto (goal to make it 0-2 in the 35th minute), passing through the confirmation of Castellanos ( Sarri has finally found a highly respectable deputy (Immobile), up to a defensive solidity essential to aim high. The final result is even tight considering the many opportunities we had (Romagnoli's crossbar and Cataldi and Zaccagni's posts) and it is a nice viaticum for the away match in Rotterdam on Wednesday, almost decisive in terms of qualifying for the round of XNUMX. “We are very happy with the performance, especially the first half – the analysis of Martusciello, on the bench in place of the suspended Sarri -. We directed the result against a team that gives everyone problems at home. To avoid conceding a goal we need everyone's availability, starting from the attackers, when it's there with our offensive quality things become simpler. Without we become vulnerable, but about twenty days ago we got back on track. What did Sarri tell me? He watched the match from the stands and was enthusiastic about the performance."
Milan – Juventus (20.45pm, Dazn)
San Siro thus becomes the epicenter of Sunday, with a match that returns to having high-ranking implications after many years. The last time that Milan and Juventus faced each other with Scudetto prospects dates back to 25 February 2012, the day of Muntari's famous "ghost goal". Since that season, which ended with the first tricolor of the Conte era, the Rossoneri and Bianconeri have only faced each other for 3 points, or at most for a place in the Champions League. This time, despite only being at the start of the championship, there is the feeling that the two teams could compete for something more important, albeit together with Inter and Napoli. The only flaws of this Milan-Juve number 240 in history (209 in Serie A) are injuries, which will force Pioli and Allegri to review their plans, as well as the many spectators (75 thousand at San Siro, millions in front of the TV) to give up some very important players. Consequences of a crazy calendar, moreover only at the beginning of a sensational tour de force, which in the case of Milan will explode already this week: after the Lady, in fact, the Rossoneri will face PSG and Napoli, both away. It is therefore logical that they want to start well from today, but the Bianconeri also have the same idea, strengthened by not having midweek commitments that could take away their psychophysical energy.
Pioli: “Winning would give us awareness and confidence. Tonali? A shock, I will be close to him"
“Winning would not be important because we would send Juve to -7, but for our progress, our confidence and our awareness – underlined Pioli in the press conference -. It's a great game right now championship fight refers to 4 teams, but we are only on matchday nine." The coach then focused on the betting issue, in particular on Tonali, his standard bearer for three years and a great protagonist of the Scudetto. “We were surprised and shocked by this situation – continued Pioli -. Our thoughts go to Sandro, I don't want to judge him for what happened but for how he will react to this situation, for how he will want to redeem himself and perhaps if he will become an example for the future. If I loved him 10, right now I want him 100. If I can be of help, I will be at his side."
Allegri: “Milan are favorites together with Napoli and Inter. Beans? It must be supported"
“The curiosity lies in seeing what type of match we will have against one of the three favorites to win the championship and in such an important stadium – explained Allegri -. Milan are the favourites, together with Napoli and Inter, we need to score as many points as possible to be in the top four in May: let's enjoy the challenge and see what we will be able to do." Here too, just like in Milanello, there was a way to tack on betting case, especially since Fagioli was one of the main protagonists. “The club has spoken and I am in line with what has been said, a journey begins for Nicolò that will take him back on the pitch at the end of May. We are waiting for him, he will have to use these months to train on and off the pitch to continue his career. He must be supported”.
Milan – Juventus, the lineups: Pioli with Mirante on goal, Allegri with Chiesa on the bench
The absences, as we said previously, have a significant impact on this match, given that both Milan and Juventus will have to give up very important players. The Rossoneri will be without Maignan, Sportiello, Theo Hernandez, Loftus-Cheek and Chukwueze, while the Bianconeri will have to give up Danilo (in addition to the suspended Pogba and Fagioli) and deal with a Half-service church: the attacker has recovered for the bench, so he will experience the big match (at least at the beginning) as a spectator. Pioli will thus aim for a 4-3-3 with Mirante in goal (his last match as a starter in Serie A dates back to Turin-Rome on 18 April 2021), Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori and Florenzi in defence, Musah, Adli and Reijnders in midfield, Pulisic, Giroud and Leao in attack. Allegri will respond with a 3-5-2 with Szczesny between the posts, Gatti, Bremer and Rugani in the defensive department, Weah, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot and Kostic in the midfield, Milik and Vlahovic as an offensive pair.
Rome – Monza (12.30 pm, Dazn and Sky)
However, Mourinho's Roma will open Serie A on Sunday, playing against Monza at the Olimpico. A match to be won at all costs for the Giallorossi, but anything but a foregone conclusion: Palladino's Brianza team, in fact, have already demonstrated several times that they know how to create problems for the big teams. The Special One will also be missing a certain thing Dybala and we know well how much it can affect the team's fortunes, even if at the moment the technical leader seems to be Lukaku, who also scored during the break against Belgium. The (long) eve was agitated on both sides: Roma felt brought up on the issue of betting with El Shaarawy and Zalewski, even if the Turin Prosecutor's Office denied Corona, Monza had Papu Gomez disqualified for two years (now there will be an appeal) for a history of doping dating back to his time at Sevilla. Now, however, your mind will have to be focused only on the three points, which are absolutely fundamental if you want to move up the table and aim for the European zones.
Mourinho: “Difficult match. The betting case? I trust El Shaarawy and Zalewski”
“Is Monza going through an excellent moment of form? But we too are fine – Mourinho's thought -. Monza had a good championship last year, they signed some good players, they are an excellent team and it will be a difficult match. The betting case? I talked to my parents, with Zalewski we laughed a little because I was the first to talk to him and he didn't even know what had come out, then I talked to him here again and El Shaarawy. I'm calm, they have enough relationship with me to tell me the truth even if it could be ugly, I trust them. Roma, who usually don't make official statements, did so and if they did it it's because we are all calm."
Rome – Monza, the lineups: Mourinho relies on Belotti-Lukaku, Llorente sees himself again
The Portuguese coach will have several defections, starting with Dybala: the Argentine continues his recovery journey and could return next Sunday against Inter, just like Smalling, Pellegrini and Renato Sanches. The good news is the return of Llorente, even if the Giallorossi defense will follow that of the last outings with Mancini, Cristante and Ndicka, obviously protecting Rui Patricio's goal, with Karsdorp, Bove, Paredes, Aouar and Spinazzola in midfield and the Belotti-Lukaku pair in attack. Usual 3-4-2-1 for Monza, who after having received the blow on Papu Gomez, will attempt the coup with Di Gregorio between the posts, D'Ambrosio, Pablo Marì and Caldirola in the defensive department, Ciurria, Pessina, Gagliardini and Kyriakopoulos in midfield, Dani Mota and Colpani behind the lone striker Colombo.
