Milan, Rome, Atalanta, Naples, now it's your turn. After the successes of Inter, Juventus and Lazio in advance, Sunday will see the responses of the aforementioned teams, called to win to maintain their respective positions in the standings against Sampdoria (20.45 pm), Sassuolo (15) and Udinese (15) respectively. This time it will be up to the blucerchiati to try to stop the Devil's run, struggling with post-Europa League fatigue, but also with important absences, which could further complicate his life. Do without Ibrahimovic and Kjaer, as well as the usual Leao, it is not simple: it was the two of them, in fact, who made the team turn around a little less than a year ago.
However, the group has already shown that it can make up for certain shortcomings and Pioli hopes that history will repeat itself, obviously starting this evening. “One of our strengths is balance, the last training session was perfect, the preparation is the right one, this is what interests me above all – explained the Rossoneri coach -. We like Leicester? That was an almost unique situation, we have to think only of Sampdoria, we are just on the tenth day ”. In short, no flight of fancy, but head concentrated on the opponent, just as always. After all, Pioli's tactic has worked well up to now, but now an important period arrives, with five league games (plus the useless one in Prague in Europe) in 17 days: finish it keeping the top, and then rely on the stoppage and transfer market, would give the definitive boost in terms of the Scudetto.
However, we will have to grit our teeth starting today, when the coach will rely on a 4-2-3-1 with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Gabbia, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defence, Kessié and Tonali in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Diaz behind the lone striker Rebic. 4-3-3 instead for Ranieri, who will respond with Audero between the posts, Bereszynski, Ferrari, Tonelli and Augello in the back, Jankto, Adrien Silva and Thorsby in the midfield, Candreva, Quagliarella and Damsgaard in attack. In the afternoon instead i the spotlights will be focused above all on Rome and Atalanta, with the first receiving De Zerbi's Sassuolo, the second away on the field of Gotti's relaunched Udinese.
The Giallorossi want to redeem the bad knockout in Naples, but will have to deal with the now chronic defensive emergency, as explained by Fonseca himself at the press conference. “Smalling and Veretout will not be in the match, they are not ready, Fazio and Kumbulla have been stopped for a long time and are not in the best physical condition – confirmed the coach -. Sassuolo are a very strong team offensively and aim to control the match: it will be a difficult match, they are doing very well and have won four away games". For Rome though it is a challenge not to be missed, which Fonseca will face with a 3-4-1-2 with Mirante in goal, Ibanez, Cristante and Juan Jesus in defense, Karsdorp, Villar, Pellegrini and Spinazzola in midfield, Pedro and Mkhitaryan behind the lone striker Dzeko.
De Zerbi, determined to resume the march after the stop against Inter, will respond with the usual 4-2-3-1 with Pegolo between the posts, Toljan, Marlon, Ferrari and Rogerio in the back department, Locatelli and Lopez in the midfield, Berardi, Djuricic and Boga on the trocar, Raspadori in attack. Strong choices also for Gasperini, whose priority is evidently not the Udine match but that of Amsterdam, where the Champions League round of XNUMX will be played on Wednesday. Furthermore, the Nerazzurri coach is not at all satisfied with the performance of his players, which is why he has decided not to call up either Gomez or Ilicic, left in Bergamo in view of Ajax. Gosens' absence, on the other hand, is anything but intentional: the German tested positive for Covid and therefore, in addition to today's challenge, he will almost certainly miss Wednesday's one.
“I think Papu will do well to rest, he needs days to distract himself – explained Gasperini -. He will have to be ready for Amsterdam, just like Ilicic: I need to find the best Josip again ”. The anti-Udinese eleven will therefore be forced, or 3-4-1-2 with Gollini in goal, Toloi, Romero and Djimsiti in defence, Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler and Ruggeri in midfield, Pessina behind the offensive duo made up of Zapata and Muriel. Gotti, fresh from two consecutive victories with Genoa and Lazio, will look for the third with the usual 3-5-2 made up of Musso in goal, Becao, Nuytinck and Samir in the back, Stryger Larsen, De Paul, Walace, Pereyra and Zeegelaar in the midfield, Deulofeu and Pussetto in attack.
Important points also for the Naples, called to win on the field of bottom side Crotone to stay in the noble part of the standings. Compared to Milan and Rome, the Azzurri still have to deal with the Europa League, where they will play qualification against the formidable Real Sociedad. Also for this reason Gattuso, struggling with the absence of Osimhen and with the aches and pains of Fabian Ruiz, will change his 4-2-3-1 a bit, relying on Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly and Mario Rui in defense, Demme and Bakayoko in midfield, Lozano, Zielinski and Insigne behind the lone striker Mertens. Classic 3-5-2 instead for Stroppa, in need of points to move the standings a bit: this is certainly not the easiest match, but he will try with Cordaz between the posts, Magallan, Marrone and Luperto in the back, Pedro Pereira, Molina, Petriccione, Benali and Reca in the midfield, Messias and Simy in attack.
