Milan won, will the others know how to respond? In the Champions League race, in addition to the Rossoneri and Juventus of which we speak separately, Atalanta, Naples, Lazio and Rome are registered, even if the latter now seems more concentrated on the Europa League. The round we are about to experience is very similar to the previous one, in the sense that no direct clashes are scheduled, which is why the points become even more important: in fact, next week we will see Atalanta-Juventus and Napoli-Inter, and get there winning would have a completely different flavor. Fiorentina-Atalanta (20.45), Sampdoria-Napoli (15), Verona-Lazio (15) and Roma-Bologna (18) thus become very delicate, with four teams looking for full loot. “These matches are not decisive for closing, but for staying in the race – thought Gasperini -. The sprint has begun, the championship is beautiful and exciting with many teams involved, but we are in the group". So nothing is defined, one way or the other, but the Nerazzurri coach is well aware that a misstep before Juve could prove to be very heavy.
The absence of Pessina, positive for Covid, will lead him to change the 3-4-1-2 type for an unprecedented 4-2-3-1 with Gollini in goal, Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti and Gosens in defence, De Roon and Freuler in midfield, Malinovskyi, Pasalic and Muriel behind lone striker Zapata. 3-5-2 instead for Iachini, who will respond with Dragowski between the posts, Milenkovic, Pezzella and Martinez Quarta in the back department, Caceres, Bonaventura, Amrabat, Castrovilli and Biraghi in the midfield, Eysseric and Vlahovic in attack. A very delicate match also for Napoli, who slipped to fifth place after the defeat in Turin. The trip to Genoa thus becomes fundamental, otherwise the chances of the Champions League would drastically decrease. However, up against Sampdoria will be in excellent health, as we saw at San Siro against Milan, which will force Gattuso into a capital performance, very different from the last two (even against Crotone, despite the victory, mistakes had in fact been seen by red pencil). He urgently needs to find himself quickly and in this sense it should be noted that the Azzurri, after many months of emergency, have finally recovered everyone, except for the long-term patient Ghoulam.
Gattuso will focus on usual 4-2-3-1 with Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Koulibaly, Manolas and Mario Rui in defense, Fabian Ruiz and Demme in midfield, Politano, Zielinski and Insigne behind the lone striker Osimhen. Safe use also for Ranieri, who will respond with the usual 4-4-2 with Audero between the posts, Bereszynski, Yoshida, Colley and Augello in the back, Candreva, Thorsby, Askildsen and Jankto in the midfield, Gabbiadini and Quagliarella in attack. Lazio will also be on stage at the same time, awaiting an equally insidious away match in Verona. The biancocelesti, who still lack recovery against Turin, however, have to deal with important absences such as those of Lazzari and Correa, both disqualified, Luiz Felipe and, above all, Inzaghi, struggling with Covid. “It was a particular week, but thanks to technology, the coach was able to follow the team remotely at all times – explained assistant coach Farris -. We know Verona very well, they play well and have very clear concepts, they make intensity one of their main weapons, we will have to field a lot of desire because we know it will be a fundamental match for the Champions League run-up".
Winning would have a very important value both in terms of standings and mentally and Lazio he will try with a 3-5-2 that will see Reina in goal, Marusic, Acerbi and Radu in defense, Akpa Akpro, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto and Fares in midfield, Immobile and Caicedo in attack. Classic 3-4-2-1 instead for Juric, who will respond with Silvestri in goal, Ceccherini, Magnani and Dimarco in the back, Faraoni, Tameze, Veloso and Lazovic in the midfield, Barak and Zaccagni behind the lone striker Lasagna. To complete the picture, Fonseca's Roma, who after conquering Amsterdam (and awaiting the return) will try to find the thread again in the league against Mihajlovic's Bologna. The 7 points gap from Atalanta make the comeback for the Champions League very difficult, which instead can be reached through the Europa League: the path is not easy there either (in case of qualification with Ajax there would then be a probable semi-final against Manchester United), but at least you don't have to start making calculations of any kind. “The match that matters most now is Bologna, we must always think that the next match is the most important one – retorted Fonseca -. In the same way, I say that my future, right now, doesn't count for anything: we are focused only on the present and on the good of Rome."
The coach is well aware that the rumors about his bench show no sign of subsiding (according to many, he would not be saved even if he won the Europa League), but he still wants to end the season on a high note, for the club and for himself. Against Bologna, therefore, it is urgent to find a victory that has been missing for more than a month (1-0 over Genoa, since then two defeats and a draw), even if the imminent return with Ajax forces a bit of turnover. The Giallorossi will take the field with a 3-4-2-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Mancini, Fazio and Ibanez in defense, Karsdorp, Villar, Diawara and Bruno Peres in midfield, Carles Perez and Pellegrini in the frontline, Borja Mayoral in attack . 4-2-3-1 on the other hand for Mihajlovic, who will attempt the coup with Skorupski between the posts, De Silvestri, Danilo, Soumaoro and Dijks in the back, Schouten and Svanberg in the midfield, Skov Olsen, Soriano and Barrow behind of the sole Palacio tip.
