Breathless. Serie A sees the finish line of World stop, but first he has to face two more matches in less than a week. So we start today with the first advances of the 14th, among which Napoli-Empoli and Cremonese-Milan stand out: the Scudetto duel is renewed, even if the Azzurri are already mathematically sure of ending 2022 at the top of the standings, whatever happens. Today's matches do not seem to present particular pitfalls, which leads us to think that Napoli and Milan can win and keep their distances unchanged, but football, as we know, is not done on paper but on a green lawn and anything can always happen there .
Naples – Empoli (18.30 pm, Dazn)
Of course it seems unlikely that Spalletti's Azzurri could lose points against Empoli, especially in a Maradona full of enthusiasm. The numbers, moreover, are merciless and tell of one team that almost only knows how to win: in 14 days, in fact, they succeeded 12 times and the only two draws date back to the month of August. If we add to this the (almost) clear path in the Champions League, it can be seen that Napoli, at least in this phase, are very difficult to stop, so much so that yesterday, after Nyon's urn drew the pairing with Eintrach Frankfurt , many have thought of an almost obvious eighth.
Spalletti smiles: "It's nice to avoid PSG, but Eintracht are strong"
“At these levels, they're all tough, difficult combinations, even if we'd like to avoid PSG – smiled Spalletti -. However Eintracht is the holder of theEuropa League, the second continental trophy, and it's a team on the rise: it won't be easy".
Naples – Empoli, the formations: Kvaratskhelia does not recover, Osimhen and Raspadori play
All projects Champions but you will think only since February, when Napoli hope to have even increased their lead in the league. To make the dream come true, we need to continue to score points, starting from tonight when Spalletti will once again have to do without Kvaratskhelia, still in the pits due to back pain. The blue 4-3-3 will thus see Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Kim, Juan Jesus and Mario Rui in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Politano, Osimhen and Raspadori in attack. Zanetti, refreshed by the success against Sassuolo, will attempt the feat with a 4-3-1-2 with Vicario in goal, Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto and Parisi in the back, Haas, Marin and Bandinelli in the midfield, Pjaca behind the offensive couple formed by Satriano and Cambiaghi.
Cremonese – Milan (20.45 pm, Dazn)
Immediately after the Maradona match it will be the turn of Milan, awaited by Zini's away game against Cremonese. Here too, as already mentioned for Napoli, there do not seem to be any particular pitfalls, given that Alvini's Grigiorossi are still without victories: it will be difficult for them to break the ice tonight, unless the Devil underestimates the match and clamorously complicates the life. The team of Pioli but he really can't let his guard down, both because Napoli are flying (if they beat Empoli they would momentarily go to +9), and because the recent performances in the league against Turin and Spezia have shown a few cracks too many. Two victories against Cremonese and Fiorentina are needed to close 2022 at least 6 away from the Azzurri, to then find themselves in January with the goal Scudetto still within reach.
Pioli: "We can play against Tottenham, but now we're headed for the championship"
“We have to keep playing as we know, Cremonese will be highly motivated and determined – warned Pioli -. Finishing this first part of the season in the best possible way would be important, there are only two races left before one long stop and we know how important it can be to get there with a good ranking. Now we just have to think about this, then in February we will play the Champions League against Tottenham: they will be two difficult matches that we will face with awareness and confidence, after all unbeatable or perfect teams do not exist".
Cremonese – Milan, the formations: Giroud and Hernandez disqualified, Leao rests
So head to Cremonese, which Pioli will have to face without the suspended Giroud and Hernandez, as well as the usual unavailable Maignan, Saelemaekers, Calabria, Florenzi and Ibrahimovic. Heavy absences, to which is added the need to give a rest shift to Lion, which will force the coach to put his hand back to his ideal 4-2-3-1, opting for Tatarusanu in goal, Kalulu, Kjaer, Tomori and Ballo-Touré in defence, Bennacer and Tonali in midfield, Messias, Diaz and Rebic in trocar, Origi in attack. 3-4-2-1 instead for Alvini, who will respond with Carnesecchi in goal, Aiwu, Bianchetti and Vasquez in the back, Ghiglione, Escalante, Castagnetti and Valeri in the midfield, Zanimacchia and Meité behind the lone striker Okereke.
