Naples-Milan and Juventus-Spezia, he who hesitates is lost. The direct clash between Maradona is truly unmissable, in the true sense of the word: beyond the show that promises to be of the highest level, in fact, it is a match that is giving away platinum points for the Scudetto, which is why no one can afford to be wrong. Even the black and whites have no other result available for victory, especially after the defeat of Atalanta (1-0 for Roma, goal by Abraham) and with the match against Naples just around the corner. But be careful not to take your opponent lightly: the successes of the Romans (also excellent Lazio's 3-0 in Cagliarii, signed by Immobile from a penalty, Luis Alberto and Felipe Anderson), in fact, bring them back in the wake of the race for Europe.
Naples-Milan (20.45, Dazn)
It's not a decisive match, but we're close: to Maradona we play a piece of Scudettor, because winning would mean taking back first place and sending a loud and clear message to Inter, losing instead would almost be equivalent to waving the white flag. There is also the third hypothesis, that is a draw that would keep both alive, but Napoli and Milan certainly cannot take the field making calculations, otherwise these could even prove to be counterproductive.
The words of Spalletti and Pioli
“Who is better I don't know, the game will tell, but us we are at the top of our possibilities to play – explained Spalletti -. We built the team's strength in difficulties, then I can't find anything else in other situations and I congratulate Milan on Pioli's progress over the years, he has built a great team with Massara who I know well, I have spoken with Maldini several times, I am a strong club. But we have the possibility to make our careers immortal…”.
By now the blue coach is no longer hiding, just like his Rossoneri colleague, well aware of how important today's match is. “If we enter the field with the thought of being satisfied, we risk obtaining a negative result more than anything else – thought Pioli -. I want attention and quality, we have to give our best, we will work to achieve results. Napoli have the best defense in the league, they know how to dribble and find depth, I think whoever defends better will win. We'll have to be able to read all the situations: get out of the pressure when it's strong, or play in their own half when they're waiting for us. Have I never beaten Spalletti? Sooner or later it happens…”.
Napoli-Milan: the formations
Spalletti also recovers Lozano, therefore the list of injured players was reduced to just Malcuit and Tuanzebe. The coach will therefore have a wide choice, for a 4-2-3-1 that will see Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly and Mario Rui in defense, Fabian Ruiz and Lobotka in midfield, Politano, Zielinski and Insigne in the frontline , Osimhen in attack.
Same game system also for Pioli, who finds Ibrahimovic again among the squad (but the Swede will only go on the bench) but he has to give up on Romagnoli, who came out battered from the Coppa Italia derby. The Rossoneri coach will rely on Maignan between the posts, Calabria, Tomori, Kalulu and Hernandez in the back, Tonali and Bennacer in the midfield, Saelemaekers, Kessié and Leao behind the lone striker Giroud.
Juve-Spezia (18 pm, Dazn)
The match in Turin is certainly not a cartel match like the one in Naples, but it is still very important. Juventus in fact, in the light of Atalanta's defeat in Rome, has a very big one opportunity to secure fourth place, but also to further fuel that little flame called the Scudetto. Allegri does not say it in public, but those close to him swear that in private he believes it, and how if he believes it: after all, after 14 consecutive useful hits and with a January transfer market that brought a certain Vlahovic as a dowry, it would be absurd not to do so.
However, the game continues to be in hiding, as was also seen on Wednesday in Florence, which is why it is reasonable to expect an improvement starting today, when a Spezia will arrive at the Stadium worried by the last three consecutive defeats remedied with Fiorentina, Bologna and Rome, but capable of real feats in the season such as those of Naples and San Siro with Milan.
The words of Allegri and the formations
“It's not a matter of superstition or optimism – Allegri immediately specified in reference to the Scudetto issue -. The club's thinking is always to fight for the biggest goals and we agree, but then there's the practical stuff which is that of points and numbers, otherwise we lose sight of reality. We have three teams ahead, then you need a minimum of 84 points to win the Scudetto and we can't get there. And I'm sorry, but since we are fifth we have to think about fourth place, then the eighth of the Champions League and the semi-final of the Italian Cup”.
In reality Juventus, by winning today, would definitively overtake Atalanta even with one more match, but the coach could not have known this at the time of the press conference. What he, on the other hand, knew very well was the physical state of his players, above all Dybala who will not be in the match today too due to the usual injury.
The Juventus 4-3-3 will thus see Szczesny in goal, Danilo, De Ligt, Rugani and Pellegrini in defense, Locatelli, Arthur and Rabiot in midfield, Cuadrado, Vlahovic (or Morata, if Allegri decides to give him a rest) and Ken in attack.
Thiago Motta will respond with the same game system, with Provedel in goal, Ferrer, Erlic, Nikolaou and Reca in the back, Maggiore, Bourabia and Bastoni in the midfield, Gyasi, Manaj and Verde in the offensive trident.
