Judgment Sunday. Milan, Naples and Rome have reached the point of no return, the one where you take the right path or end up in a dead end, from which getting out becomes darned difficult. This is especially true for the Rossoneri, who have already been in the tunnel since 25 August, the day of the defeat against Udinese: from there it was all uphill, up to the climax of the double Inter-Turin disaster. Even the Azzurri and Giallorossi, however, certainly cannot be said to be calm, non after the home knockouts with Cagliari and Atalanta, which have fueled enormous doubts about their real potential. Fortunately, or bad luck depending on your point of view, it's already time for all three to get back on the field, even if the commitments present various pitfalls.
The worst one, just because it always rains in the wet, is Giampaolo's team, who will receive Fiorentina in the postponement of the San Siro (20.45 pm). A challenge that has every appearance of being decisive for the coach's future, even if his confirmation is almost certain at least until the next stop, including Genoa. However, it is clear that Milan cannot continue like this, not if he really wants to try and fight for the Champions League, which is undermined by an Atalanta that is back in top form. The 3 points up for grabs today thus become decisive for Giampaolo's credibility, but also for that of Boban and Maldini, those who entrusted him with the Rossoneri bench.
“Actually for me trust is based on the contents, not on the result – retorted the coach. – I am pleased that the team and the club are with me, just as I understand the discontent and criticism of the fans: I have to do my job, work and bring the team to express the game I have in mind. In Turin, for long stretches, I saw this…”. The results, however, count, and how if they count, and a Milan who have already lost three of the first five days cannot be satisfied, even if the game appeared to be growing. A victory is needed against Fiorentina and Giampaolo will try to get it with a 4-3-3 that will see Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Kessié, Bennacer and Calhanoglu in midfield, Suso, Piatek and Leao in attack.
On the other hand, there is a lot of energy on the purple front, which arrives at San Siro after the victory over Sampdoria, which has finally broken a fast that had even lasted since February. Montella, ex with the poisoned tooth, will look for the turning points by relying on a 3-5-2 with Dragowski between the posts, Milenkovic, Pezzella and Caceres in the back department, Lirola, Pulgar, Badelj, Castrovilli and Dalbert in the midfield, in support of offensive duo made up of Ribery and Chiesa. However, Ancelotti's Napoli will open on Sunday, playing at the San Paolo against Brescia (12.30). Tricky match, partly because Corini's team has some rather interesting weapons at their disposal, partly because the Azzurri feel the pressure of a disappointing ranking, very far from their summer ambitions.
Ancelotti, in silence for the third consecutive vigil (a choice that, sooner or later, someone will have to explain to us), knows he can no longer make mistakes, especially since next Sunday there will be Inter-Juve and therefore the possibility of shortening the gap a bit . On the condition, however, of returning to victory and not running into Wednesday's mistakes, when too much inaccuracy transformed 3 sure points into a defeat that still burns. In any case, the road to turnover will not be abandoned, on the contrary: with Koulibaly disqualified and Maksimovic injured, the revolution will be even wider. The blue coach will field a 4-4-2 with Ospina in goal, Malcuit, Manolas, Luperto and Ghoulam in defense, Callejon, Elmas, Fabian Ruiz and Zielinski in midfield, Llorente and Milik in attack. Classic 4-3-1-2 instead for Corini, who will respond with Joronen between the posts, Sabelli, Cistana, Chancellor and Martella in the back department, Bisoli, Tonali and Dessena in the midfield, Spalek in support of the offensive duo made up of Balotelli and Donnarumma .
Afternoon instead dedicated to the Roman women, with Lecce-Rome and Lazio-Genoa (15 pm) attracting all attention. The viewfinder will be focused above all on the Giallorossi, called to redeem the defeat against Atalanta on the difficult pitch of Lecce. A game that promises to be very entertaining, between two teams devoted to attacking football and set to always score one more goal than the opponent, never to defend it. A philosophy that has produced good results, but also bad setbacks like the one on Wednesday, when Gasperini conquered the Olimpico with a dry 2-0. Result that has provoked criticism and discontent, arousing the irritation of Fonseca, more and more convinced of the goodness of his work.
“We did a joint analysis to understand what didn't work and what we need to improve – explained the Portuguese coach. – For me the problem of physical condition doesn't exist and the form has nothing to do with it, the problem is the average goal of two goals conceded per game, something we don't like and we're working on. It is also a fact that this is a team that scores a lot, we have to find the right balance”. After Wednesday's turnover we will return to typical Roma, therefore 4-2-3-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Florenzi, Fazio, Smalling and Kolarov in defense, Veretout and Cristante in midfield, Kluivert, Pellegrini and Mkhitaryan in the trocar, Dzeko in attack. Liverani, refreshed by the success in Ferrara, will attempt the coup with the usual 4-3-1-2, therefore Gabriel between the posts, Rispoli, Lucioni, Rossettini and Calderoni in the back department, Majer, Petriccione and Tabanelli in the midfield, Mancosu behind of the offensive duo made up of Falco and Babacar.
