Scudetto face to face. Naples and Milan are preparing for the postponement of the San Paolo (20.45 pm) with the knowledge that, afterwards, nothing will be the same again. In fact, tonight's result will have a significant impact on the continuation of the championship, even if it ends in a draw: even in that case we would obviously have some answers on the consistency of the two teams. The clash between the Azzurri and the Rossoneri is still far from the excellence of the past, when Maradona and Van Basten fought for the championships, but it has certainly regained importance, for them and for the others. On the one hand, Pioli's team, leaders still unbeaten but closely followed by Juventus and Sassuolo, on the other, Gattuso's, top despite the 0-3 draw against Juve and the consequent penalty point.
“All matches are important, I don't see it as a final exam, I believe in the responsibility of the players – thought Bonera, today on the bench in place of the unavailable Pioli -. It's not a championship clash but a small piece, there's really too much left to go until the end of the season, but there's no doubt that we'll go to Naples to impose ourselves". It won't be easy, because the Rossoneri will face Gattuso's Napoli, the ex par excellence of the evening. Rino, 12 seasons at Milan as a player and 2 as a coach, will certainly not be able to make discounts, especially after the stormy farewell of 2019, the result of misunderstandings with both Gazidis and Maldini. Paradoxically, Napoli plays more than his rivals, having started with greater consideration from the critics, despite having however several important defections, above all Osimhen, struggling with a dislocated shoulder remedied in the national team.
In terms of choices, in short, Milan are better off, who will be able to field the 4-2-3-1 type (except Leao) with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Bennacer and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Rebic in the frontline, Ibrahimovic in attack. The absence of Osimhen instead induces Gattuso to return to the old game system, therefore 4-3-3 with Meret between the posts, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly and Mario Rui in the back department, Fabian Ruiz, Bakayoko and Elmas in the midfield, Lozano, Mertens and Insigne in the offensive trident. The other hot matches on Sunday will instead be in the afternoon, with Inter and Roma hosting Turin and Parma respectively (15 pm). For the Nerazzurri, who are 5 points behind leaders Milan in the standings, there is only one result available, namely victory.
“The moment is difficult, especially for those who face European competitions, but it has been like this since the beginning of the year and it will be like this even after Christmas – commented Conte -. Surely the results so far have not been satisfactory and we could have done better, but our numbers bear witness to what I have always said and that is that we have raised less than we deserved”. Inter, like all the big names, had very little time to prepare for the match, and the break "brought them as a dowry" the Covid positivity of Brozovic and Kolarov, removing two important elements, both for today and for Wednesday, when Real Madrid arrive at the San Siro. However, the coach still has the possibility of making a turnover, so he will opt for a 3-4-1-2 with Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, De Vrij and Bastoni in defence, Hakimi, Gagliardini, Vidal and Young in midfield, Barella on frontline, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack.
Classic 4-3-1-2 also for Giampaolo, who will respond with Sirigu in goal, Singo, Bremer, Lyanco and Rodriguez in the back, Meité, Rincon and Linetty in the midfield, Lukic behind the offensive couple composed by Verdi and Belotti. An important exam also for Roma, which in the event of a victory over Parma would officially run for the Scudetto fight. The Giallorossi, who started quietly in a climate of general distrust, have so far behaved excellently, but now they have to confirm themselves and the match against Parma, in this sense, promises to be rather insidious. In fact, Fonseca has to do without several players, either due to Covid (Dzeko and Kumbulla), or due to various injuries (Smalling, Fazio, Santon), but during the week he at least welcomed the arrival of the new sporting director Tiago Pinto, even if only for January.
“He's a great manager and comes from a great club, I'm happy – confirmed the Portuguese coach, before talking about the match -. After the Covid cases it was difficult, as a precaution the first week we worked individually. In the second one everything went well, I can say that we are ready". At the Olimpico we will see the Giallorossi with a 3-4-2-1 with Mirante in goal, Mancini, Cristante and Ibanez in defense, Karsdorp, Villar, Veretout and Spinazzola in midfield, Pedro and Mkhitaryan behind the Mayoral lone striker. Defensive game system instead for Liverani's Parma, who will respond with a 5-3-2 that will see Sepe between the posts, Grassi, Iacoponi, Gagliolo, Bruno Alves and Pezzella in the back department, Kucka, Hernani and Cyprien in the midfield, English and Gervinho in attack.
