A thought-provoking victory. Milan's 1-0 win over Turin it's not enough to talk about the crisis over, but it certainly helps to find some serenity after a truly terrible (abundant) month. Suffice it to say that the Devil hadn't found the three points since 4 January in Salerno, to then run into a black period made up of five defeats and a draw that reduced the entire season. In short, too little Giroud pumpkin (62') to say that the worst is over, also because the performance was anything but convincing, yet the Rossoneri needed above all to win again, regardless of the game: the result as an absolute priority, in the hope it can unlock the team in view of the upcoming matches.
Milan – Turin 1-0, Pioli rejoices but warns: "A small step forward, but now we need continuity"
“I was expecting a difficult game, Toro makes you play little and doesn't let you build cleanly – Pioli's analysis -. We worked a lot inside the game, the goal then unlocked us from a mental point of view, after which we were a better team than at the beginning. It's a small step forward that we needed, now we have to look ahead, the season is still long. Doing the Champions League again next year would be a good result, but we have to give continuity in the next matches. If we play like this even with the Tottenham? Let's see, I need to see Tomori and Bennacer's condition. We face teams that are very similar, we'll see what game plan to adopt, we can do many things but the important thing is to do them well, with the desire to work as a team”.
Milan – Turin 1-0, Maldini: “Pioli is not in question. Renewal Leao? We are at the point before…”
The San Siro match was an opportunity to hear too Paolo Maldini, who took stock of both the team's momentum and the various market events, Leao above all. “We're all in discussion, always, it's part of the life of those who do this job – glossed over the Rossoneri manager -. Pioli is not in question, the change of module comes to regain the solidity that has been lost. We mustn't forget that until the match against Salernitana we were in line with last year's points, the only difference was Napoli and then we qualified for the round of XNUMX Champions League. Maignan? His return to the team is scheduled for the next ten days, having had two relapses he must be very careful. It is a delicate situation, we have gone through the possibility of intervention during these months and it has been avoided. The renewal of Leao? We're at the point before, this isn't the best time to be thinking about signing. No meeting is planned, even if we can then meet the various agents over the phone…”.
Lecce – Rome (18pm, Dazn)
The Champions race will restart today from Via del Mare with Lecce-Rome, a match which also concerns the salvation area. But if the Apulians look to the continuation of the season with serenity, strong of the +9 on Verona third last, the Romans have an absolute need to win, both to regain Milan and to take advantage of the direct clash between Lazio and Atalanta. Mourinho, fresh from the home success against Empoli, hopes to continue his climb in the standings, even if the environment is always rather nervous. After the case Zaniolo, resolved a few days ago with the sale to Galatasaray, it is the Special One that is causing discussion. The recent reference to the possibility of leaving in December (Portugal wanted it) was not accidental at all: Mou wants to understand what the real ambitions of the Friedkins, it is no coincidence that he asked for a meeting that will take place soon. In the meantime, however, Lecce has to be beaten, a mission that is not at all obvious, as Napoli, Milan and, apart from the result, Inter and Juventus understood.
Lecce – Rome, the formations: usual formation for Mou, Wijnaldum ready to return
We will need the best Rome possible, so no turnover despite the European commitment with Salzburg on Thursday. Mourinho will bet on the usual 3-4-2-1 with Rui Patricio in goal, Mancini, Smalling and Ibanez in defense, Zalewski, Cristante, Matic and El Shaarawy in midfield, Dybala and Pellegrini in the trocar, Abraham in attack. Baroni, already capable of putting many big players in difficulty (just think that he is the only one who has not lost to Maradona), will respond with the usual 4-3-3 with Falcone between the posts, Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti and Gallo in the back department, Gonzalez, Hjulmand and Blin in the midfield, Strefezza, Colombo and Di Francesco in the offensive trident.
Lazio – Atalanta (20.45 pm, Dazn and Sky Sport)
The big match on Saturday, however, is that of the Olimpico, where a real direct match for the Champions League will take place. Lazio and Atalanta, in addition to having only one point difference in the standings, they started with roughly the same evaluations by the critics, who to tell the truth did not consider them, with a few exceptions, able to fight for the first four places. But the season, including what happened to the Juventus, is saying more and here we are presenting a challenge that promises to be really crackling. On paper, also considering the public factor, Lazio would seem slightly favored, capable of scoring more or less the same goals (39 to 37 for the Goddess) and conceding 7 fewer (17 against 24), as well as clearly winning the forward challenge. However, the values are substantially on par, because compared to the 2-0 win on 23 October last year, Atalanta has grown a lot, so much so that it recalls (at least in flashes) that of previous years.
Lazio – Atalanta, the formations: Sarri with the starting eleven, Gasperini without Maehle and Muriel
Even in terms of formations Lazio would seem to be better off, given that Sarri will have all the squad available except Radu: in fact, Cataldi too, in doubt until yesterday, has recovered from muscle fatigue and will be regularly on the pitch. The biancoceleste 4-3-3 will thus see Provedel in goal, Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli and Hysaj in defense, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in midfield, Felipe Anderson, Immobile and Zaccagni in attack. Two certain absences instead for Gasperini, who will have to do without the suspended Maehle and Muriel. The coach will thus have to review his 3-4-1-2 by relying on Musso between the posts, Toloi, Djimsiti and Scalvini in the back, Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners and Ruggeri in the midfield, Ederson behind the offensive duo composed by Hojlund and Lookman.
