The Romans take back the Champions League, Milan puts the Europa League at risk. In summary, this is the title of the midweek round in the cups, with the teams from the Capital smiling at two very important successes and the Rossoneri brooding over a draw, yet another, which is of very little use.
Di Francesco beats Genoa and this, with all due respect, is not great news, Inzaghi's success in Florence, complete with a double comeback, yes. Because Inter, an interested spectator of this Wednesday in the championship, had already made the pass on Lazio and instead have to postpone their dreams of glory at least until next weekend.
Franchi's match was crazy, with both teams in 10 after less than a quarter of an hour (Sportiello and Murgia were sent off), Fiorentina's 2-0 scored by Veretout (16' and 31' from a penalty) which seemed to close every speech, the 2-2 of Lazio already in the first half to reopen everything (Luis Alberto in the 39th minute, Caceres in the 45th minute), the new Viola advantage (again Veretout in the 54th minute), the great Lazio comeback in the 70th minute (Felipe Anderson) and in the 73rd minute (Luis Alberto) to regain the Champions League zone.
"I train extraordinary boys - Inzaghi proudly commented - In August it was said that we would not even reach the top 8, instead we want to dance until the end and then we'll see".
Definitely less excitement at the Olimpico, where a Rome perhaps already focused on the next commitments (the away match at Spal and, above all, Liverpool) beat Genoa with a match without infamy and without praise. A 2-1 result of a rather evident drop in concentration, so much so that the Giallorossi, excellent for an hour, took a risk in a more difficult finish than expected.
After Under's goal (17') and Zukanovic's own goal (52') came the tap-in from Lapadula (61') and there the Giallorossi trembled a bit, risking compromising a victory that seemed obvious. However, the 3 points remain and this, in light of the standings, is what matters most.
"We had the match in hand, but then, since we're a bit masochistic, we complicated our lives - Di Francesco's analysis - In any case, it's normal that the environment already thinks of Liverpool, here we're certainly not used to play in a semi-final of the Champions League”.
Those who certainly won't do it, at least next year, are Gattuso's Milan, who at this rate shouldn't even take the Europa League for granted. The draw in Turin, the fourth in the last five games, keeps Mazzarri's men and Fiorentina at a distance but not Atalanta and Sampdoria, who are close again thanks to victories over Benevento and Bologna.
The Rossoneri's problem is that they haven't won since 18 March (3-2 over Chievo) and, above all, that their legs don't seem to turn as they used to. And to think that with Toro it was also in good shape: in the 4th minute Belotti missed a penalty by kicking on the crossbar and in the 9th minute Bonaventura, by the usual law of football (missed goal, conceded goal) found the 1-0 with a great right foot from outside the area.
But then in the second half the usual physical decline and so the grenade found an equalizer with De Silvestri (70'), before the final gave chances on one side (great save by Donnarumma on Ljajic) and on the other (post hit by Abate in full recovery). The 1-1 final is therefore the fairest result and confirms the Rossoneri paradox: as solid (the only defeat in the second round remains the one against Juve) as it is not very incisive (success, as mentioned above, has been missing for over a month).
“In the final, the team had little energy and this is a fact – admitted Gattuso – Unfortunately lately we've been making more mistakes than before and we've scored few goals, partly because of me and my staff. Now it's useless to talk about the Champions League, we'd better pay attention to those behind them."
The race for Europe will resume on Saturday with Milan and Roma, engaged respectively against Benevento and Spal, while Lazio and Inter will respond on Sunday with Sampdoria and Chievo. A shift that is difficult to read, but which will tell us a lot about how things will end.
