It's all about winning. For Milan, who beating Udinese (at 20.45) would bring them within a single point of Inter, for Roma, who are called upon to regain the Champions League zone in Florence (20.45), for Napoli, who after the success on Benevento also wants to repeat itself with Sassuolo (18.30), for Atalanta, determined to reiterate their ranking against the new Crotone of Serse Cosmi (20.45). Wednesday of the championship will almost entirely complete the 25th day, with the exception of Parma-Inter, postponed for tomorrow evening. In short, a nice general picture of the championship, which will add an extra piece on the ranking and objectives of the participants.
Eyes focused above all on San Siro and on Milan-Udinese, even if Ibrahimovic has nothing to do with it: the adductor injury, in fact, has extinguished part of the controversy over his participation in Sanremo, even if the Swede will still be in the stands to cheer on his teammates. The match is delicate because a success, after the victory in Rome, would bring the Rossoneri back in line with Inter, albeit with one more match; a misstep, on the other hand, would have a very bitter taste and risk frustrating the efforts of the Olimpico.
“It's the decisive moment of the season, the one in which placements are decided both in the championship and in Europe – he confirmed Pioli – We need to find continuity of results and performances, even if I'm sure that the two weeks of fog were an exceptional event in a year done very well".
The coach has good reasons to be confident, at least looking at the match in Rome, but also some not to be: the injuries of Ibrahimovic, Calhanoglu, Calabria and Tomori in fact, will force him again to give up several key players. However, the coach will not change the game system, so it will be 4-2-3-1 with Donnarumma in goal, Kalulu, Kjaer, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Castillejo, Diaz and Rebic behind the lone striker Leao. Usual 3-5-2 also for Gotti, who will respond with Musso in goal, Becao, Bonifazi and Nuytinck in the back, Stryger Larsen, De Paul, Arslan, Pereyra and Zeegelaar in the midfield, Llorente and Nestorovski in attack.
Very delicate tenders also for Rome, Naples and Atalanta, engaged in the distance race for the Champions area. On paper, the simplest game is that of the Bergamo players, who will receive the rear position Crotone: Cosmi's arrival in Stroppa's place, however, creates a few more pitfalls, furthermore the Goddess has already had problems in the past against the so-called little ones.
“It will be a difficult race – warned Gasperini – They were unlucky, they collected little despite good performances. We have to take the right precautions, even if we are going through a good moment: we are confident and we want to continue like this".
The Nerazzurri coach will have to give up the suspended De Roon and the injured Hateboer, Lammers and Sutalo, for the rest all skilled and enlisted for a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini in goal, Toloi, Romero and Djimsiti in defence, Maehle, Freuler , Pessina and Gosens in midfield, Malinovskyi and Pasalic in the frontline, Muriel in attack. First with the 4-3-1-2 instead for Cosmi, who will make his debut with Cordaz in goal, Pereira, Golemic, Magallan and Reca in the back, Molina, Cigarini and Vulic in the midfield, Messias behind the offensive duo made up of Ounas and by Carmine.
A decidedly more tense climate at home instead Roma, where the defeat against Milan has reopened the usual wounds: the Giallorossi, when it comes to making the leap in quality, fail on time. “The team didn't go into depression, fortunately they always reacted well after defeats – Fonseca's piqued comment – We understood what didn't work, we created problems for ourselves even though we weren't under pressure: we are working to better understand these moments ”.
It is urgent to find an answer soon, starting from tonight, where he will face a Fiorentina team that is anything but glittering, yet determined to redeem the defeat in Udine. The Portuguese coach will opt for the usual 3-4-2-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Mancini, Cristante and Kumbulla in defence, Karsdorp, Villar, Veretout and Spinazzola in midfield, Pellegrini and Mkhitaryan behind lone striker Borja Mayoral. 3-5-2 for Prandelli, who will try to stop the Giallorossi with Dragowski between the posts, Milenkovic, Pezzella and Martinez Quarta in the back, Venuti, Amrabat, Pulgar, Castrovilli and Biraghi in the midfield, Ribery and Vlahovic in attack .
Obligatory victory for Rome, as well as for Napoli: here there is not a defeat to redeem, but a success against Benevento to which to give continuity. Gattuso, after so much apnea, was able to breathe a little, also thanks to the recovery of Mertens, immediately decisive: a pity however that the expulsion of Koulibaly deprives him of another key element, at least for today. The coach is well aware that a victory would forcefully relaunch him in the Champions League race, but also that he will face a fierce and rested Sassuolo after last week's stoppage.
The Azzurri will take the field with a 4-2-3-1 that will see Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Maksimovic and Mario Rui in defense, Fabian Ruiz and Bakayoko in midfield, Politano, Zielinski and Insigne in the frontline, Mertens in attack . The same game system also for De Zerbi, who will rely on Consigli between the posts, Muldur, Marlon, Ferrari and Rogerio in the back department, Obiang and Locatelli in the midfield, Berardi, Lopez and Djuricic in support of Caputo.
