A season in a few days. Today begins the point of no return for Rome and Naples, engaged in the first advance of the 27th day (15 pm) in the basin of the Olympic stadium. A very delicate match for both, a sort of decisive turning point to understand what the continuation of the season will be like. The Giallorossi play a lot, forced to win to stay in Juve's wake and, above all, secure second place, even more the Azzurri, called to react in order not to risk losing even the last step of the podium. In addition to points, serenity is up for grabs, a far from secondary factor in two environments prone to easy enthusiasm but also to nervous breakdowns. Napoli, for example, has never been the same since Madrid: victory against Chievo, all right, but above all defeats against Atalanta and Juventus, the latter followed by a trickle of controversies that do not bode well . Darkness also at home in Rome: the success of the San Siro had set the square on fire, the defeat in the derby definitely cooled it down. In short, this afternoon there will be no room for errors of any kind and the discussion, ça va sans dire, applies to both.
“We knew the cycle that would await us but we are ready – explained Spalletti in the press conference. – It's a delicate and difficult game, we'll have to know how to suffer, defend and understand the right moment to push. I've already said everything about Sarri's team, now it's time to play and we'll do it on equal terms." Instead, no comment from Naples where silence, apart from Giuntoli's post-Italian Cup, continues to reign supreme. A strange choice for the Azzurri: self-armoring to protect themselves from controversies and then fueling them with decidedly colorful outbursts and tweets. We'll see if today's match can change anything also by virtue of the presence in the stands of De Laurentiis, who has returned from Los Angeles and is ready to embrace (?) Sarri again after the last match-clash in Madrid. For the rest, the pitch will do the talking, with two teams devoted to attacking and ready to challenge each other openly. Spalletti, after Wednesday's mini-turnover, will return to the eleven type, therefore 3-4-2-1 with Szczesny in goal, Manolas, Fazio and Rudiger in defense, Bruno Peres, De Rossi, Strootman and Emerson in midfield, Salah and Nainggolan in support of the lone striker Dzeko. No turnover even for Sarri, who despite the looming challenge with Real Madrid will field the best possible formation. His 4-3-3 will therefore see Reina in goal, Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in the back, Zielinski, Diawara and Hamsik in the midfield, Callejon, Mertens and Insigne in attack.
