All together passionately. Napoli e Milan they conquer Salerno e Roma and they continue their very tight duel at the top of the standings, with Inter, also victorious with Udinese, immediately behind, for a three-way Scudetto race that promises to be more exciting than ever. However, the heaviest success of the day, net of the opponent, is that of the Rossoneri, who will be able to face next Sunday's derby at +7 on the Nerazzurri, effectively forcing them to take the field with only one result available.
Everything happened at the Olimpico, with goals, entertainment and lots of refereeing controversies, just like in any self-respecting big Italian match. The cover gets it right Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who at the age of 40 still manages to get rid of the whim of being the man of the match, complete with provocations to the Giallorossi fans. The Swede decided the contest with a goal from a free kick (26') and a penalty obtained for a foul by Ibanez, then converted by Kessié (57'). First a goal disallowed for a few centimeters offside and, more generally, a capital test, like a great champion, capable of shifting the balance of the match, as well as giving him the 400th goal among all the professional championships, the 150th in A league.
But the rest is about the referee Maresca, which appeared inadequate from the outset, whose direction will certainly cause a lot of discussion. First there is the episode of the penalty, confirmed despite his colleague Mazzoleni, sitting in the Var position, having called him back to the monitor: there is contact between Ibanez and Ibra, but the defender also touches the ball and therefore the interpretation remains at the limit.
But then here are the blue pencil errors, starting withHernandez's expulsion (he will miss the derby), spoiled by a very dubious tackle by Felix on Krunic, up to the biggest one, or a penalty requested by Roma in full stoppage time for a foul by Kjaer on Pellegrini, whose dynamics recalled that of Dumfries on Alex Sandro last Sunday. This episode could have really changed the match, given that the Giallorossi had just closed the gap with a great goal from El Shaarawy (93').
“If I speak next Sunday I'm not on the bench – he thundered Mourinho – Seeing that there is no respect for Romanists is hard, the respect we have is the respect that everyone should have but it's not like that. In a game where we didn't play well in the first half and against a good team, there was no respect for the Roma fans. I say no more. I made an effort to catch all the players in front of the locker room and not in front of the referee's...".
“I only think about coaching my team – he glossed over Pioli – We played with personalities, with our ideas and our game. With equal numbers we had a great game, this is the time to be bold, it's right to be convinced even in the big matches. For me, Inter remain the favorite team for the Scudetto, but Napoli are also very strong and I don't think Juve are out of the game. Last year in the direct matches we knew we had to perform a half miracle to play for it, while this year we are more aware of being a strong team, we always believe in it”.
Less glittering victory, but just as painful, even for the Naples, much more than it was legitimate to expect on the eve, at least for the most distracted. Because the absence of Osimhen, to which was added that of Insigne due to a technical choice, weakened Spalletti's team, the rest was then done by a tough Salernitana, determined to fight inch by inch to make the 20 happy of the Arechi.
In short, the result was a decidedly fought derby from Campania, which Napoli made theirs with Zielinski (61') on one of the very few occasions we had, just when the grenade had pulled his head out of his shell, showing that he even wanted to try to win. From then on, all the schemes fell through, also because both teams remained in 10: first Salernitana for the expulsion of Kastanos (70 '), then Napoli for that of Koulibaly (77'), forced to stop Simy launched in goal sa Ribery. On the following free-kick the Frenchman came close to equalizing, but Di Lorenzo was very good at repelling on the line, effectively blocking the blue success.
“Salernitana played a great match, remained in the balance until the end, both teams needed the three points and it was a difficult match – the words of Spalletti – We pulled out that extra something and brought her home, for this I congratulate everyone. I am proud to have been accepted by a fantastic group, which must be supported. Today the team made Napoli, the boys were perfect”.
Full smile also for Inter, who confirmed his good form by beating Udinese with a clean and effective 2-0. The Nerazzurri knew they had only one result available, partly due to the direct clash between Roma and Milan, and much for the upcoming fixtures on the calendar, which will put them right against the Rossoneri and Napoli. In short, a misstep against the Friulians would have been harmful, but Inzaghi's team responded thanks to a great Correa, capable of making the most of the chance given to him and scoring a brace, moreover an author's one. Wonderful first goal, son of a personal action that punched Silvestri's goal just when the ghosts of the equalizer were beginning to hover over San Siro (60 '), the second was also beautiful with a nice shot under the crossbar from an assist from Dumfries (68').
"It wasn't an easy match, Udinese are a physical team that worried everyone a bit - the thought of Inzaghi – The boys were very good, they didn't risk anything, we deservedly won with everyone's help. Correa? I know him well, he's a great resource together with the other three strikers: I'll have to be good at choosing from time to time." Now a day of rest, then it will be time to dive into the Champions League, with Juventus-Zenit, Atalanta-Manchester United, Milan-Porto and Sheriff-Inter.
