All together passionately. The midweek championship round has the peculiarity of minimizing advances and postponements, making the bulk of the teams play on the same day, or at most with a 24-hour difference. It comes out like this Wednesday full of games, with the Europe area and safety in the foreground (Verona-Inter, Milan-Cremonese, Juventus-Lecce, Lazio-Sassuolo, Monza-Roma, Atalanta-Spezia), even if Naples will be entirely in front of the TV: if Sarri fails to beat Dionisi, in fact, Spalletti will become champion of Italy even before facing Udinese tomorrow night.
Verona-Inter (21pm, DAZN and Sky)
The midweek rounds, at the behest of the clubs, cannot offer clashes at the top, but the spins, often and willingly, are even more interesting, especially at this point of the season. Verona-Inter it's the perfect example, because Bentegodi's away match is full of pitfalls, even if the Nerazzurri seen against Lazio needn't be afraid of anyone. Sunday saw one of the best Inters of the season, regardless of the final result and the way in which it arrived, but it must be said that Hellas too, despite the draw from Cremona, is going through excellent form and is ready to play salvation tooth and nail. Inzaghi, always on the spot in big matches, thus finds himself facing yet another exam in the presence of a small one, so far the real Achilles' heel of his championship: the Champions area, however, passes through challenges like this, therefore mistakes are not allowed , especially as there will be a direct clash with Roma on Saturday and getting there in a disadvantaged position would be at least inopportune.
Verona-Inter, the lineups: the round of strikers continues, today it's up to Lautaro-Dzeko
The match is delicate but the tight calendar makes turnover inevitable, as has been the case for a month now. Inzaghi has decided to broaden the nucleus of starters, even if he will have to do without Gosens (who injured his shoulder during the goal against Lazio) for a couple of weeks. The most evident rotation is above all in attack, where the coach has now chosen two pairs to alternate match after match: and so, after seeing Lukaku and Correa against Lazio, today it will be the turn of Lautaro and Dzeko. The Nerazzurri 3-5-2 will thus see Onana in goal, D'Ambrosio, De Vrij and Bastoni in defence, Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Dimarco in midfield, Lautaro and Dzeko in attack. Zaffaroni will respond with a 4-4-1-1 with Montipò in goal, Dawidowicz, Magnani, Hien and Ceccherini in the back, Faraoni, Tameze, Abildgaard and Lazovic in the midfield, Verdi behind lone striker Djuric.
Milan-Cremonese (at 21, DAZN)
Head-to-tail easier for Pioli's Milan, at least on paper: Ballardini's Cremonese, in fact, now has one foot in Serie B. But the Rossoneri have already made mistakes numerous times in situations like these, without forgetting the previous first leg, a gray 0-0 that showed the first cracks of the reigning champions. In short, maximum alert, because missing out on victory today would really complicate the Champions League race, moreover with the Euro-derby just around the corner which, fatally, could take away other points. Pioli knows he has arrived at the decisive moment of the season, in which it will be clear whether his Milan has managed to make history or has taken a clear step back from last year. Each match thus becomes a final, in which there is no more room for calculations of any kind, but only the absolute need to score points. However, keep an eye on the Cremonese, now close to relegation, yet capable of accomplishing real feats such as eliminating Naples and Rome from the Italian Cup and stopping Milan in the first leg: the Grigiorossi have nothing to lose and San Siro always gives great stimuli...
Milan-Cremonese, the formations: Pioli makes a large turnover, Leao and Giroud also rest
Pioli has to win by force, but it is clear that forces must be managed and this is the only match that allows for a massive turnover. The direct clash with Lazio will be played on Saturday, after which the days of the Champions League derby will begin, so it will no longer be possible to rest some key elements of the team such as Leao and Giroud, who must however be preserved for the most important matches. The Rossoneri coach will make at least six changes compared to Roma, opting for a 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, Calabria, Kalulu, Thiaw and Hernandez in defence, Bennacer and Vranckx in midfield, Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere and Diaz in the frontline , Origi in attack. Classic 4-3-1-2 instead for Ballardini, who will respond with Carnesecchi in goal, Ferrari, Vasquez, Locoshvili and Valeri in the back, Sernicola, Meité and Castagnetti in the midfield, Galdames behind the offensive duo made up of Okereke and Dessers .
Juventus-Lecce (18pm, DAZN)
A similar challenge will also take place in Turin, between a Juventus in third place and a Lecce just above the relegation zone, albeit refreshed by the victory over Udinese in the last round. On the other hand, the end of the abstinence has not yet succeeded for the bianconeri, even if at least an equal with goals has arrived in Bologna, interrupting a streak of defeats that was starting to get worrying. However, it is clear that there is only one result available against the Apulians, otherwise it won't be sporting justice that will jeopardize participation in the next Champions League, but the team itself. Allegri, highly criticized by the fans but officially confirmed by the club, is well aware that this is a game to be won at all costs, possibly playing better football than the one shown so far: the characteristics of a team certainly cannot change in May, however the difference technique compared to Lecce requires at least a quiet evening.
Allegri: "We want to reach Lazio, the assessments are made at the end of the season"
“In Bologna we had a different attitude compared to what we saw in Milan, however we made a lot of mistakes in the final phase and we need to improve on this – explained Allegri -. With Lecce it will be different, you have to be good, concentrated and respectful, because they are fighting for salvation. For the rest I can say that the balance must be made at the end of the season, we have two objectives ahead of us which are the top 4 in the league and the Europa League. We are working to get back to fighting in the league until the end, this year we didn't succeed also because it was a year full of vicissitudes on and off the pitch. Now we have a mini championship ahead of us and the first goal is to reach Lazio".
Juventus-Lecce, the formations: Allegri finds Di Maria and Vlahovic, rest for Rabiot
Even at Juve, just like Milan and Inter, turnover will be widely used, partly out of physiological necessity (see Rabiot, who has played practically all of them), thanks in large part to the recovery of some important players, Di Maria above all. The Argentine, after the absence of Bologna (which some have defined as "diplomatic"), is ready to return to the starting lineup together with Vlahovic, who was also absent from several matches. The Juventus 3-5-1-1 will thus see Szczesny in goal, Bremer, Bonucci and Danilo in defence, Cuadrado, Fagioli, Locatelli, Miretti and Iling in midfield, Di Maria behind the lone striker Vlahovic. Usual 4-3-3 also for Baroni, who however will have to do without the suspended Strefezza, undoubtedly the most representative player of his native Lecce. In the back department, to protect Falcone, there will be Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti and Gallo, with Blin, Hjulmand and Maleh in the midfield and Oudin, Ceesay and Banda in the offensive trident.
Lazio-Sassuolo (21 pm, DAZN and Sky)
The greatest attention will be paid to the Olimpico, because Lazio-Sassuolo, in addition to giving away heavy points for the Champions League, could also award the Scudetto. In fact, if the Biancocelesti fail to win, Napoli would become champions without even having to wait for tomorrow evening, when they face Udinese at the Dacia Arena. However, all this is of little interest to Sarri, called to redeem the two consecutive defeats with Turin and Inter who called into question a Champions League position that seemed by now written. Lazio's standings are still excellent, but a negative result tonight would shuffle all the courts, also in consideration of next Saturday's match against Milan. Sarri knows it well, that's why tonight he will limit the turnover to a minimum by relying on a 4-3-3 with Provedel in goal, Lazzari, Casale, Patric (Romagnoli is suspended) and Marusic in defense, Milinkovic-Savic, Marcos Antonio and Luis Alberto in midfield, Felipe Anderson, Immobile and Zaccagni in attack. The same game system also for Dionisi, who will attempt the coup with Consigli between the posts, Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari and Rogerio in the back department, Frattesi, Obiang and Henrique in the midfield, Bajrami, Defrel and Berardi in the offensive trident.
Monza-Rome (21pm, DAZN)
Roma are also looking for heavy points, which will try to conquer Monza despite the long list of absentees, some due to injury (Smalling, Llorente, Kumbulla, Wijnaldum, Karsdorp and Belotti), some due to disqualification (Matic), without counting who is there but is far from feeling good (Dybala). Very complicated situation, especially as they will be facing one of the teams in the best shape of the moment, namely Palladino's Monza, specialized in creating problems for the big ones. The mathematical salvation obtained in La Spezia could appease the hot Brianza spirits, or unleash them further: we will only know the truth in the late evening, but certainly a great Rome will be needed above all in the attitude, as indeed on Saturday against Milan. Mourinho knows he hasn't arrived at his best (euphemism) at the crucial moment of the season, but he will sell his life dearly until the last game, aware that even the competition, for one reason or another, is unable to have the right continuity . The yellow and red patched 3-4-2-1 will consist of Rui Patricio in goal, Celik, Mancini and Ibanez in defense, Zalewski, Cristante, Bove and Spinazzola in midfield, Pellegrini and El Shaarawy behind the lone striker Abraham. Mirror game system for Palladino, who will look for yet another excellent scalp with Di Gregorio between the posts, Izzo, Pablo Marì and Caldirola in the back, Ciurria, Pessina, Rovella and Carlos Augusto in the midfield, Mota Carvalho and Caprari in the frontline, Petagna in attack.
Atalanta-Spezia (18pm, DAZN and Sky)
Dulcis in fundo Gasperini's Atalanta, last in this mini-ranking which concerns the Champions area, but far from out of the game. Indeed, the Nerazzurri are the ones who have shortened the most in recent weeks, managing to get back into a race that, at a certain point, saw them almost doomed. But beware of the hunger of La Spezia, hooked by Verona and forced to react in order not to risk really big: Simple knows that salvation does not pass from fields like the Gewiss Stadium, unless the Goddess shows the hesitations already seen against other "small" . The feeling is that once again Gasperini has put in his own, abandoning the hyper offensive trident seen until a few weeks ago (Boga-Hojlund-Lookman) by virtue of a more compact line-up, in which the wingers have been replaced by midfielders, with the relaunch of Zapata as the lone striker. Also tonight, given that Lookman is still in the pits, the coach will rely on a 3-4-2-1 with Sportiello in goal, Toloi, Djimsiti and Scalvini in defense, Maehle, De Roon, Ederson and Zappacosta in midfield, Koopmeiners and Pasalic behind Zapata. Semplici, on the other hand, seems oriented towards a 4-3-3 formation with Dragowski in goal, Amian, Ampadu, Nikolaou and Bastoni in the back, Bourabia, Agudelo and Ekdal in the midfield, Verde, Shomurodov (Nzola is still injured) and Gyasi in attack.
