Duel for second place, with a small, very small window open also on the first. Today's Saturday is dedicated to the high rankings, with Rome and Naples challenging each other remotely for the silver medal and also, why not, to annoy the leaders Juve a bit. The Giallorossi will be the first to take the field in Verona (18 pm), against a Chievo now without goals and therefore calm and serene. Spalletti's team, on the other hand, plays a lot: a direct placement in the Champions League, in fact, is worth a lot both economically and in terms of planning. “We want to win these last two matches and finish second, it would be like replaying the preliminary game we lost against Porto in the summer – commented the Certaldo coach. – It's our great opportunity to enter the most beautiful competition of all, that's why I want to see the same concentration as last Sunday against Juve”.
If Roma always played as they did back then, Roma would probably be in front of everyone, which is why in the Capital, in addition to the pride for having beaten the strongest, a pinch of regret has also grown for the many points lost against the small teams, which proved to be decisive for the championship speech. "They will rightly win, they have proven to be the strongest" Spalletti glossed over, evidently not inclined to believe in something that, barring incredible twists and turns, is made possible only by mathematics. Better to think about Chievo then, to face with all the best men available. At the Bentegodi it will be 4-2-3-1 with Szczesny in goal, Rudiger, Manolas, Fazio and Emerson in defense, De Rossi and Strootman in midfield, Salah, Nainggolan and El Shaarawy behind Dzeko. 4-3-1-2 instead for Maran, who will respond with Sorrentino in goal, Cacciatore, Gamberini, Cesar and Gobbi in the back, Castro, Radovanovic and Bastien in the midfield, Birsa supporting the English-Pellissier attack duo.
Once the Bentegodi match has been filed, the spotlights will move to the San Paolo, which at 20.45 will host the very interesting match between Naples and Fiorentina. A delicate match for both, with the Azzurri having to win in order not to lose ground against Roma (or to take advantage of a possible misstep) and the Viola having to do the same to aim again for sixth place. “We have to think about the historical record of points, there are only 3 left – Sarri's speech. – We will do everything possible, then we will see what Roma will do. The important thing is not to have any regrets, ours is a pleasant football but then the goal is to win, but it is clear that whoever has the most money ends up buying the most luxurious car”.
Any reference to Juventus' turnover was not purely coincidental, so much so that Andrea Agnelli's reply came from Turin himself. “These criticisms are ends in themselves – thundered the president. – Let's remember what Juve was in 2010 and what turnover they had compared to those who accuse today. International visibility makes teams grow, playing for Bayern, Barcelona or Real, winning or losing, makes them grow”. And since Napoli would really like to face these teams, tonight's one becomes a decisive match, to be won at all costs. Sarri will rely on the usual 4-3-3 with Reina in goal, Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Zielinski, Jorginho and Hamsik in midfield, Callejon, Mertens and Insigne in attack. Paulo Sousa will respond with a 3-4-2-1 formation that will see Tatarusanu in goal, Salcedo, Rodriguez and Tomovic in the back, Chiesa, Vecino, Badelj and Olivera in the midfield, Bernardeschi and Cristoforo behind the lone striker Kalinic.
