Il Napoli resumes the race, the Lazio stops at the best. Saturday's advances go on file with the very heavy victory of the Azzurri over Atalanta and with the equal of the Biancocelesti in Bologna: results that could have serious consequences, especially in key Champions. If there are practically no more doubts about the Scudetto of Osimhen and his companions, the same cannot be said of the race for the most important Europe, which sees four teams in just 3 points, but with Roma e Milan with one game less. If Mourinho and Pioli were to hit Sassuolo e Salernitana, here the mystery would thicken further, compacting in a sensational way a ranking shorter than ever, Naples aside.
Napoli–Atalanta 2-0, the Azzurri win again and fly to + on the second
A very important victory for the Azzurri, who smiled again after last week's slip-up. It wasn't a question of classification, in the light of an advantage that would allow for much more than a misstep, but of certainties, to be rediscovered (or rather strengthened) in view of the Champions League. Mission accomplished thanks to kvaratskhelia e Rrahmani, the first with a great individual play (60'), the second with a header that sealed the final 2-0 (77'), but all responded positively, showing the usual mix of quality, brilliance and hunger. With yesterday's victory, the points in the standings become 68, a good 18 over the second, which makes the Scudetto an (almost) certainty for everyone, even if Spalletti prefers to keep his feet firmly on the ground.
Spalletti: "Reaction like a great team, we'll do everything to win the Scudetto"
"We had fun during the week because, after 20 games that we didn't lose, the first game we lost how they pounced on their prey is incredible stuff - he underlined Spalletti -. Atalanta played a great game, they were inside the match, creating difficulties for us from the point of view of the duels that take place. The fact of scoring goals and being able to win for the team is very important, we were coming off a defeat and everyone started saying the same things. Great team reaction, they deserve this victory. Everyone knows that we will do everything to get to the Scudetto, but we still need to play many games, have this strength of character that we saw against Atalanta".
Bologna–Lazio 0-0, the biancocelesti risk overtaking Roma and Milan
False step instead of Lazio, which after the defeat in Conference League he also slows down in the championship, leaving two very heavy points on the Dall'Ara field. The opportunity to overtake Inter and take second place was tempting, but the Biancocelesti didn't go beyond 0-0 and now, in the light of a very short standings, they even risk finding themselves fifth. Yes, because if Rome and Milan score full they would go to 50, hooking up to Inter and ousting Sarri from the Champions League area, albeit by just one point. Consequences of a disappointing draw, not so much for the result (Bologna is not an easy field), but for the performance, flat and gray as in the worst "Sarrian" nights. Maurizio's football, as we know, does not know half measures and, above all, plans B: if the mechanisms work, points and show come, but if something gets stuck it is difficult to figure it out. Thiago Motta he knew it well and decided to wrap it up with a primarily defensive match, in which however he risked winning with Ferguson, unfortunate in sending the 1-0 ball to the post.
Sarri: "We create a lot but we do little, we miss Immobile"
"We played a serious match with dedication and dedication, we lacked something in the last few metres, but playing against Bologna now isn't easy and the performance was of a good standard - analysis by Sarri -. We miss Immobile, if he had played consistently we would have scored more. We create a lot, but we don't realize much, sometimes we didn't go shooting and made the wrong choice. The derby without Mourinho? I'm very sorry that he won't be in the game, because I always greet him willingly and because he will still take something away from the show".
Juventus – Sampdoria (20.45 pm, DAZN)
Sunday's main dishes will be those of Torino e Roma, starting with the Stadium where the Juve he will be looking for three points against Sampdoria, which are essential to continue his journey. Difficult to say too much and where they could lead, but given and considered the latest news on the capital gains investigation (the TAR rejected the FIGC's appeal on the so-called "Covisoc card", in fact agreeing with the Juventus defense), the hypothesis of the restitution of minus 15 should at least be considered. There are at least two fronts that could lead to further penalties, but eventually, this will only be considered at the right time: until that day, which may not happen, the black and whites just have to score points on the field, in the hope of returning to compete for a place in the Champions League. The match with the Sampdoria, in this sense, would seem to be ideal, even if we shouldn't forget the result of the first leg (0-0), as well as the imminent European away match in Freiburg.
Allegri: "Let's beat Sampdoria and take second place"
"At first glance, Sampdoria seems affordable but in the last few games they've lost by a small margin, it's a very important challenge," he underlined. Allegri -. For the first time we could go second in the standings, because we have 50 points on the field, I say it and I repeat it, we have the possibility of going three points above Inter. It's not a decisive week but it's certainly important, the ranking is made by winning with the small teams: the direct clashes are balanced, you can win or lose, but we can't make mistakes with the small teams".
Juventus - Sampdoria, the formations: Allegri without Di Maria, Chiesa and Kean, Pogba is back in the squad
However, the Juventus coach will have several training problems, being grappling with the injuries di Of Maria e Church (excluding injuries for both), and with the disqualification of Kean, as well as with the need to do some turnover in view of theEuropa League. The only certainties are thus the presence of Vlahovic, looking for a goal that has been missing for almost a month now (February 16 at Nantes) and Perin, announced by Allegri himself at the press conference. The Juventus 3-5-1-1 will thus see Perin in goal, Gatti, Bonucci and Bremer in defense, De Sciglio, Locatelli, Paredes, Fagioli and Iling Junior in midfield, Miretti behind the lone striker Vlahovic. The usual 3-4-1-2 instead for Stankovic, who will respond with Ravaglia in goal (Audero is injured), Gunter, Nuytinck and Amione in the back, Leris, Cuisance, Winks and Augello in the midfield, Djuricic behind the composed offensive duo by Gabbiadini and Jesé.
Rome – Sassuolo (18pm, DAZN)
The other big challenge of the day is that of the Olimpico, where the Roma will receive the Sassuolo. There are very heavy points at stake for the Champions League, moreover a week away from the super derby with Lazio, but the eve was marked by the Mourinho case, whose two-match ban, suspended before Juve, was confirmed by the Corte Sportiva d 'Appeal. In short, the Portuguese will not be there today or next Sunday, depriving Roma of his charisma on the bench. However, Mou's absence isn't today's only pitfall, given that the Giallorossi are returning from very close victories against Juventus and Real Sociedad and next Thursday, despite starting from the 2-0 win in the first leg, they will have to go to San Sebastian for the return. He urges to scrape the barrel as hard as possible, regardless of absences (we'll talk about it shortly), to continue a race for fourth place that seems absolutely within reach, regardless of who won't be there, on the pitch and on the bench.
Mourinho disqualified and in silence: the future is increasingly in the balance
The confirmation of the two rounds of disqualification literally infuriated Mourinho, who has chosen to reply with a photo on social media that portrays him with the handcuff gesture, paraphrasing the famous controversy of 2010 at the time of Inter: it will be the last "declaration" of the Special One until the match against Sampdoria on 2 April, except for Thursday, as UEFA does not allow press silences of any kind. However, it is evident that Mou is very angry with the Italian sports institutions, guilty of having punished him despite the provocations of the fourth official Serra (not surprisingly deferred), which casts further shadows on his stay in the capital at the end of the season, despite the fact that the results give him reason.
Rome–Sassuolo, the formations: Pellegrini and Belotti out, Sassuolo finds Berardi again
But the absence of the Portuguese coach won't be the only one of the evening. Roma, in fact, also lost Pellegrini (30 stitches to his head) and Belotti (operated for a fractured wrist), as well as the disqualified Cristante, which will force Mourinho to review the starting eleven of the last few weeks. The Giallorossi 3-4-2-1 will thus see Rui Patricio in goal, Mancini, Smalling and Ibanez in defense, Zalewski, Wijnaldum, Matic and Spinazzola in midfield, Dybala and El Shaarawy in the trocar, Abraham in attack. Dionisi, on the other hand, finds Berardi again after last week's disqualification and will be able to line up a 4-3-3 with Consigli between the posts, Zortea, Erlic, Tressoldi and Rogerio in the back, Frattesi, Obiang and Henrique in the midfield, Berardi, Pinamonti and Laurienté in the offensive trident.
