The Luna Park of the championship. After the excitement of the midweek shift, it's already time to dive into matchday 16, ready to give us a truly exciting Saturday. On the field, in fact, the first 5 of the class, with two direct clashes such as Naples-Atalanta (20.45 pm) e Rome-Inter (18) and Milan who hopes to take advantage of it at the San Siro against Salernitana (15)
It is clear that we cannot speak of a decisive day, but it is equally clear that the balance, after the three games in question, could change a lot. In this sense the challenge of Maradona it is undoubtedly the most important, because it opens up to profoundly different scenarios: Napoli can win and take off, draw and risk being overtaken, lose and certify entry into the Atalanta title race. “He's an uncomfortable customer, very uncomfortable, because it's a well-built team – he confirmed Spalletti -. We have characteristics that can create problems for you, but then you have to see how you manage to steer the game: either you lead it or you become a passenger, you get on board and they take you around their pitch. We must not do this, because if you are a passenger on Atalanta he can take you where he wants… ”.
The blue coach, disqualified after the expulsion of Reggio Emilia (he will also miss the next one with Empoli), however has to deal with a very complicated situation in terms of injuries, given that Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz and Insigne have also been added to the already known Osimhen and Anguissa. The hope was to be able to recover at least one of the last two, but that won't be the case, which is why Napoli will have to literally overturn the typical formation, precisely on the most important evening. The blue 4-2-3-1 will see Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus and Mario Rui in defense, Lobotka and Demme in midfield, Lozano, Zielinski and Elmas in the frontline, Mertens in attack.
On the Atalanta front, however, everyone is available, except for that Gosens whose return is postponed until January. Gasperini he has found the brilliant team of the recent past, but now he is awaited by two challenges that can decide the season: this one in Naples, which can launch him even in the fight for the title and that of Wednesday with Villarreal, a real Champions play-off. That's why against Venice he made abundant use of the turnover, moreover without any negative effect, on the contrary. But now we return to the 3-4-2-1 type with Musso between the posts, Toloi, Palomino and Djimsiti in the back department, Zappacosta, De Roon, Freuler and Maehle in the midfield, Pessina and Malinovskyi behind the lone striker Zapata.
The other big match on Saturday is certainly that of the Olimpico, where Inter will find an icon from their past like Mourinho. However, it won't be a pleasure visit, because Roma too badly need points, indeed it can be said that today, in the light of the direct clash in Naples, there is an important chance for return to the Champions League. The Nerazzurri, for their part, are in great shape and have no intention of slowing down: the 5 victories collected in the last 6 have not changed the standings, but the gap from the top has been sensationally shortened, so much so that now the aim is to overtaking.
“It's an important match for us, indeed of this cycle it's certainly the one that matters the most – he admitted Inzaghi -. It will be a pleasure to meet the Treble coach and it will be special for him to face Inter, so he will need a lot of attention. The standings have shortened, we've come closer but the others don't give up: we need to think match by match, there are still many points". The spotlights will first of all be on Mourinho, who finds Inter as an opponent for the first time in his career.
However, Special One is not the only ex in the match, given that Dzeko also returns to the Olimpico against "his" Roma: for Inzaghi, however, it is not a question of an amarcord, but yet another derby with the yellow and reds ... In short, many themes in a match that sees the favorite nerazzurri, both for the objective superiority shown so far, and for the absences of the hosts. Inzaghi should recover Bastoni, who will make up the trio in defense of Handanovic's goal together with Skriniar and D'Ambrosio.
In midfield, on the other hand, a 5-man line with Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Perisic, with Dzeko and Lautaro in attack. Rome to reinvent instead for Mou, who in addition to the injured Pellegrini and El Shaarawy also loses the suspended Abraham and Karsdorp. The Portuguese will thus return to the 4-2-3-1 with Rui Patricio between the posts, Ibanez, Mancini, Smalling and Vina in the back, Cristante and Veretout in the midfield, Zaniolo, Mkhitaryan and Carles Perez behind the lone striker Shomurodov.
In this day of direct clashes there is then Milan, who hope to beat Salernitana and sit in an armchair to "owl" their opponents. On paper, for obvious reasons, this could be a favorable day, provided, however, that review the spirit of Genoa and not the one last Sunday with Sassuolo. Pioli, however, is unable to smile completely, because if it is true that he found his team on Wednesday, it is also true that he lost Kjaer until the end of the season.
The Dane, operated on yesterday in Milan, will have to star out for at least 6 months, which will force Maldini to go on the market: Milenkovic (15 million release clause) and Luiz Felipe (expiring in June) the most concrete leads, even if a lot will depend on Tuesday's match against Liverpool, decisive for the club's European future. “Salernitana is a difficult and annoying opponent, but we want to do well and give continuity while remaining focused on the championship – commented Pioli -. We will only think about the Champions League after the match, it will be essential to have the right approach. We will encounter some difficulties that we will have to overcome with the quality of the game, even Juve struggled the other night". The coach will rely on a 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, Florenzi, Romagnoli, Tomori and Hernandez in defence, Kessié and Bakayoko in midfield, Saelemaekers, Diaz and Leao behind lone striker Pellegri, starter to make reject Ibra in view of Liverpool. Colantuono's choices instead they revolve around the conditions of Ribery, again among the squad but not yet 100%. Salernitana should thus confirm the 3-5-2 already seen with Juve, therefore Belec between the posts, Veseli, Gyomber and Gagliolo in the back department, Zortea, Coulibaly, Di Tacchio, Capezzi and Ranieri in the midfield, Bonazzoli and Djuric in attack .
