La Lazio is in the round of XNUMX, the Milan it's almost out. Bittersweet Champions League Tuesday for the Italians, with Sarri's Biancocelesti mathematically qualified thanks to victory over Celtic (and that of Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam) and Pioli's Rossoneri are one step away from the abyss, thanks to a very heavy home defeat against Borussia Dortmund. This evening the Napoli will try to reach "master Sarri", but to do so he will have to conquer (or at least not lose) Madrid, while Inter will face a substantially harmless challenge: any result will come from the clash with Benfica, in fact, will not change the scenarios for first place, the only remaining objective given the qualification already closed in the previous round.
Milan – Borussia Dortmund 1-3, Rossoneri one step away from elimination
Very dark evening for Milan, unable to take advantage of the home match against Borussia Dortmund and get closer to the round of 6, which has now become a chimera. And to think that the match could have started very well already in the 9th minute, when Schlotterbeck stopped a shot from Chukwueze with his arm: a clear penalty, which Giroud sent into Kobel's arms. Missed goal, conceded goal: the oldest law of football struck immediately, however with the same coin, namely that of the penalty, this time for a foul by Calabria on Gyttens. The next goal from Reus (37') shifted the balance of the match, but not for Milan, who were still on point and concentrated throughout the first half, so much so that he found an illusory equalizer with Chukwueze, good and lucky to dribble past two opponents and catch the 'right corner at the expense of Kobel (58'). The second half, thanks to Newcastle's momentary advantage in Paris, seemed to start in the Devil's direction, but Dortmund remained short and compact and, at the first opportunity, struck. Galeotto turned out to be Thiaw's injury, yet another muscle injury of the season, only this time Pioli didn't even have a substitution and found himself forced to deploy Krunic centrally. An (obligatory) gamble that didn't pay off, because Dortmund scored two photocopy goals (from right to left) with Gittens (68') and Adeyemi (1'), giving a definitive turning point to the night at San Siro. Milan tried to react with Jovic, but the Serbian's post confirmed the bad night, made slightly less bitter by the 1-XNUMX draw between PSG and Newcastle: the Rossoneri remain in the running for the round of XNUMX, but they need to win in England and hope that Dortmund, already qualified, beats PSG.
Pioli bitter: “Disappointing evening. Injuries? Worrying situation"
“We lost this match at the moments in which we could have directed the match in our favor – Pioli's analysis -. With the missed penalty, but also with the counterattack devoured just before their second goal. Thiaw's injury affected us a bit, but we weren't good at converting the opportunities that Borussia gave us, they were better and smarter than us. This is a disappointing evening because we had a great opportunity, but we have a duty to go to Newcastle to try to win: we have a small chance and we will take it. Injuries? This situation is worrying, when they then arrive in the same department it is difficult."
Lazio – Celtic 2-0, Immobile (and Atletico Madrid) send the Biancocelesti to the round of XNUMX
To counteract the Rossoneri's bad evening was that of Lazio, which was even historic given their qualification for the round of 2 with a round to spare. The victory over Celtic, combined with that of Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam, means that the Biancocelesti have already secured the precious European pass, thus transforming the last round in Spain into a sort of friendly, albeit with first place at stake. The final 0-83 would suggest an easy evening, but Sarri's team suffered a lot, managing to find the key only in the 61rd minute, when Immobile, who replaced Castellanos in the 3st minute, caught the wildcard by deflecting it towards goal a conclusion by Isaksen. Big celebration at the Olimpico, which became absolute delirium 2' later, when Ciro himself scored the 0-1 for Lazio, giving a historic night to the Biancoceleste people. Atletico Madrid did the rest a couple of hours later by beating Feyenoord (3-XNUMX, own goal by Geertruida and goals by Hermoso and Gimenez), a result that closes the qualifying discussions for Group E: Simeone and Sarri are already certain of being in the round of XNUMX and the Wanda Metropolitano match will "only" serve to establish first and second place.
Sarri can rejoice: "I got the answers I wanted, but now I want them in the championship"
“the pitch gave the answers I wanted – underlined Sarri -. But we are doing well in Europe and not in the championship, unlike last year. I expected the response tonight, now I expect it in Serie A too, this difference in performance is difficult to explain. The atmosphere of the Champions League gives us energy, but the rest must also give it to us: I understand that it is more prestigious to do well on these evenings, but it is a limit. Immobile? Obviously having a weapon like him on the bench is an important resource, his playing time and his condition must be kept under control, I prefer him to play 30 or 60 minutes rather than have him arrive exhausted at the end."
Real Madrid – Napoli (21pm, Amazon Prime)
Thrilling match at the Bernabeu, but also a great opportunity to make history and take the round of XNUMX. Ancelotti's Real Madrid, in fact, is already mathematically qualified and if it is true that they still lack the certainty of first place, it is also true that they will have to deal with many important absences. In the Champions League no one gives anything away, of course, especially the "host" par excellence, but it can be said that there is no better time than this to try to beat the Blancos. Furthermore, Bergamo's Napoli seems to have found spirit and compactness again, which must be attributed to the Mazzarri effect, capable of restoring luster to the flooded machine left by Garcia. Also helping the coach is Osimhen's return to the field: the Nigerian, already decisive on Saturday with the assist to Elmas, will be highly motivated to make a good impression on the stage of the Bernabeu, perhaps the most prestigious in the world. In short, there are all the reasons to believe in the feat, even if it will be essential to keep your feet on the ground and remember that you have "his majesty" Real Madrid in front of you, otherwise you risk a knockout that would reopen the group, Union Berlin permitting. A success for the Germans in Braga, in fact, would mathematically qualify the Azzurri even in the event of defeat, but the chances of this happening are not very many.
Mazzarri: "Let's not limit ourselves, I want to see Napoli again from last year"
“I'm not excited, I've been coaching for many years – glossed Mazzarri -. I'm thinking about what we have to do, because we are aware that we are playing against a top team in the world and with a great coach. We will do the best we can by trying to get through here, but otherwise there will be the next match. Let's not limit ourselves, let's give our all to try to do things that may seem impossible: my goal is to rediscover Napoli's play from last year and we have already seen something in Bergamo. Osimhen? He is making progress, let's see if he will be able to play at least one half: there are important commitments and I must not overload him, I will decide at the last minute whether to start him from the beginning or later."
Real Madrid – Napoli, the lineups: Osimhen returns as starter, Real without Modric and Vinicius
Mazzarri cannot afford the luxury of thinking about Inter, despite a still favorable group ranking. The desire to face the Bernabeu head on is great, which is why tonight we will see the best Napoli possible, net of the absences of Olivera and Mario Rui which will force the coach to readapt Juan Jesus as a full-back. The blue 4-3-3 will thus see Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan and Juan Jesus in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia in attack. Lots of turnover for Ancelotti, although certainly not by choice: there are a total of 8 injured players, including two very regular players like Modric and Vinicius. The white coach will thus rely on a 4-3-1-2 with Lunin between the posts, Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba and Mendy in the defensive department, Valverde, Kroos and Ceballos in the midfield, Bellingham behind the offensive pair formed by Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo.
Benfica – Inter (21pm, Sky, Now, Infinity +)
Inter's trip to Lisbon was decidedly calmer, if only due to an already secure qualification in Salzburg. Inzaghi is still missing first place, but that too remains conquerable regardless of tonight: a possible defeat, in fact, would postpone everything to the next round, when the Nerazzurri will receive Real Sociedad at San Siro, currently tied in the standings with 10 points. It is therefore logical that Inter, while certainly not going to lose, should use the match against Benfica to give some of the top players a chance to catch their breath, even more so with the very delicate trip to Naples upon us. It is no coincidence that Inzaghi had loudly asked his team to close the games in Salzburg, in order to then be able to face Lisbon with serenity both in terms of the Champions League and the championship. However, this does not mean that the Nerazzurri go onto the pitch to lose, on the contrary: if it weren't for his international prestige, which is already sufficient, there is the prize money of almost 3 million to induce everyone to give their maximum effort.
Inzaghi: “First place is important, we have to complete the job”
“We spoke with the boys, we are here in Portugal playing an important match, with the great satisfaction of having qualified for the round of XNUMX with two days to spare – underlined Inzaghi in the press conference -. But our work is not finished, there is first place to conquer and we will have to play an important match against Benfica. We know that Real Sociedad are at the top of the table, who have proven to be a strong team, but we are focused on what we have to do against the Portuguese. They have an excellent team that will have to play the game to go to the Europa League, then the direct clash with the Spanish will decide who will finish first, it is very important to qualify and if you manage to finish in the lead all the better."
Benfica – Inter, the lineups: maxi-turnover for Inzaghi, Lautaro and Thuram rest
The tiredness after Turin and the imminent big game in Naples will lead Inzaghi to rest many starters, also because the question of first place will remain open regardless of tonight's results. The coach left Dumfries in Milan, struggling with a muscle strain, but the Dutchman won't be the only one taking a breather: Da Luz's 3-5-2 will be very different from the classic one, with Audero in goal, Bisseck , De Vrij and Acerbi in defense, Darmian, Frattesi, Asllani, Klaassen and Carlos Augusto in midfield, Arnautovic and Sanchez in attack. Schmidt's Benfica, now out of contention but still in the running for a place in the Europa League, will respond with a 4-2-3-1 which will see Trubin between the posts, Aursnes, Antonio Silva, Otamendi and Morato in the defensive department, Joao Neves and Florentino in midfield, Di Maria, Rafa Silva and Joao Mario behind the lone striker Tengstedt.
