The last rock before arriving in port. Inter is preparing for the away match in Naples (20.45) with the awareness of now being very close to the Scudetto, therefore with the desire to close every discussion. Sure, a success against Diego Armando Maradona wouldn't be enough to mathematically celebrate, but it would kick off the countdown, at that point almost a formality.
Get the twelfth consecutive victory however it won't be easy: in fact, Gattuso's Azzurri will be up against each other, determined to interrupt the Nerazzurri's hegemony to take advantage of the other direct match of the day (Atalanta-Juventus, we'll talk about it separately) and return to the Champions League zone. “It will be a difficult match against a very strong opponent, we have to understand that there are still points missing to reach an ambitious goal – explained Conte in the press conference -. We cannot afford to be accountants, from experience it is never worthwhile, it would be harmful: it is assumed that the Scudetto has already been awarded, we must not fall into this trap. Criticisms about our game? Obviously, the problem is always me, as long as they don't touch my team."
The coach does not want relaxation of any kind, even though he too, net of superstition and cliches, knows very well that only a cataclysm could take away his precious tricolor. After such a second round, made up of 11 victories in as many games and only 4 goals conceded, it becomes difficult to think that things could completely turn around, but the fact remains that tonight's match will be far from easy. In fact, Napoli can no longer afford to make mistakes and this beyond the usual internal tensions: Gattuso will go away even in the event of qualifying for the Champions League, but leaving as a "winner" would be better for both him and De Laurentiis.
At the level of training Conte is doing better, who has recovered everyone except Kolarov and Vidal, while Rino, in addition to the long-term patient Ghoulam, will have to give up Ospina and the disqualified Lozano. However, both will still be able to field two respectable eleven starting with Inter, who will take the field with the usual 3-5-2 made up of Handanovic in goal, Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni in defense, Hakimi, Barella, Brozovic, Eriksen and Darmian in midfield, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack. Classic 4-2-3-1 also for Napoli, who will respond with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Koulibaly, Manolas and Mario Rui in the back, Fabian Ruiz and Demme in the midfield, Politano, Zielinski and Insigne behind the only tip Osimhen.
Interested spectator of the challenge, among many, Pioli's AC Milan, determined not so much to take points from his Nerazzurri cousins as to earn points on the Azzurri fifth in the standings. This type of calculations, however, would only make sense in case of victory over Genoa, opponent in San Siro in the lunch match (12.30), otherwise the Champions area would be sensationally at risk again. “We want to return to success at San Siro that we've been missing for some time – confirmed the Rossoneri coach -. We have a big goal to achieve, we are all under scrutiny. The team is concerned about overcoming the race as best as possible, we are halfway up the climb and until you see the top you have to keep pedaling. Ibra? He will participate as always even if he won't be able to play. Donnarumma? The company takes care of him."
The attempt to alienating the team from external controversies it is more than logical, but only the field will tell if it will be successful or not. What is certain is that Milan cannot afford distractions, both for classification and calendar issues: direct clashes on other fields, in fact, must be exploited adequately. And then there is a home victory that has been missing since 7 February (4-0 over Crotone, 2 draws and 2 defeats since then), due to a taboo that Pioli wants to overcome at all costs. He will have to do it without Ibrahimovic, suspended after the expulsion of Parma and Calabria, but for the rest it will be a 4-2-3-1 type with Donnarumma in goal, Kalulu, Kjaer, Tomori and Hernandez in defense, Kessié and Bennacer in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Rebic behind the lone striker Leao, with the recovered Mandzukic (fresh from giving up his March salary) ready to take over from the bench.
Ballardini, quite calm given the 32 points in the standings, will respond with a 3-5-2 with Perin in goal, Goldaniga, Radovanovic and Masiello in the back, Ghiglione, Strootman, Badelj, Zajc and Cassata in the midfield, Destro and Scamacca ( in Milan's own viewfinder) in attack.
