Champions race, it begins again.
Waiting for Milan derby tomorrow evening and, more generally, of the other matches (the round will end on Tuesday with Salernitana-Juventus), the championship restarts with Rome-Empoli e Sassuolo-Atalanta, therefore with a specific focus on the fight for the first four places in the standings. The calendar, at least on paper, it would seem to smile a Mourinho e Gasperini, given that someone will lose points at San Siro (perhaps both, in the event of a draw), but Zanetti e Dionysus have already shown that they don't particularly like the role of sacrificial victim: ask Inzaghi e Pioli for confirmation... Both Roma and Atalanta also come from two bad eliminations in the Italian Cup, even if the most sensational flop is certainly that of the Giallorossi, beaten at home by Cremonese and forced to deal with a clear step backwards compared to the last matches: immediate redemption is urgent, also in order not to throw further fuel on an environment already "heated" by the Zaniolo affair.
Rome – Empoli (18pm, Dazn)
So the Olimpico will need one Roma very different from Wednesday, because if the defeat in Naples had been more than honorable, the same cannot be said of the one against Cremonese, which cost a final that was objectively within reach. Mourinho pointed the finger on the rose, reiterating how it is not structured to play every three days, but this was not enough to avoid the criticism from the press and fans, compact in criticizing the choice of turnover in a quarter-final. But now it's back to the championship and the Giallorossi, apart from Naples, come from one period certainly positive, in which, accomplice the penalty of Juventus, they have seen increase the chances of the Champions League. beat theEmpoli, fresh from the victory over Inter and the draw with Turin, thus becomes mandatory, otherwise dreams of glory could quickly return to the drawer.
Zaniolo presents a medical certificate: "Not fit to train for 30 days"
To complete the black week of Rome there is then the Zaniolo case, which became chronic after the market closed. Club and player will have to like this stay together almeno until June, but coexistence promises to be really complicated: i Friedkin, enraged by the failure to transfer to Bournemouth (and, more generally, by Zaniolo's attitude), have imposed a hard line, thus "ripping up" Nicolò's gesture of peace, expressed through a questionable letter, in which missing the word "sorry". Don't deceive Mourinho's gesture, he has it included in the UEFA list only for settlement agreement matters: Zaniolo is no longer part of the technical project of Rome and will not be seen in Trigoria for at least a month, as evidenced by the medical certificate (presented by himself) which declares him "unfit to train".
Rome – Empoli, the formations: Mou relaunches Dybala and Abraham from the start
Mourinho already has metabolized the problem, but now we need to understand if the team will do the same. Compared to Wednesday will be back there starting team, therefore 3-4-2-1 with Rui Patricio in goal, Mancini, Smalling and Ibanez in defense, Zalewski, Cristante, Matic and El Shaarawy in midfield, Pellegrini and Dybala in the trocar, Abraham in attack. Zanetti, refreshed by the latest results (and by a tenth place which puts him away from the relegation zone), will try the coup with a 4-3-1-2 which will see Vicario between the posts, Ebuehi, De Winter, Luperto and Parisi in the back department, Akpa Akpro, Marin and Bandinelli in the median, Baldanzi behind the offensive duo made up of Satriano and Caputo.
Sassuolo – Atalanta (20.45 pm, Dazn and Sky Sport)
Il evening postponement will be staged in Reggio Emilia, where the Sassuolo of Dionysus will host the 'Gasperini's Atalanta. Until a week ago there would have been no doubts about defining the favorite Goddess, but now, while maintaining a good margin, the distances have narrowed. THE Bergamo have failed the exam of Milan, not so much for the defeat itself (all things considered, losing to Inter), but for the way it arrived: the Nerazzurri have been dangerous on very few occasions, betraying the usual fighting spirit that distinguishes them . The Sassuolo, for its part, comes from sensational victory over Milan, a 5-2 (and at San Siro too) which can't fail to have boosted morale: one swallow doesn't make spring, all right, but Dionisi couldn't have asked for a better kick to revive his championship.
Gasperini doesn't trust him: "Sassuolo are not a low-ranking team"
"L 'Inter Tuesday did something more than us, if we want, she was even more cynical in realizing the chances that happened – theGasperini's analysis -. We've come close to this cup twice in the last few years, in which we've smashed all previous records, these are our trophies. The 5-2 at Milan was sensational, in any case Sassuolo have a rather low ranking despite top-level performances. Even in the first leg against us, despite the defeat, he showed remarkable teamwork and individual qualities. If you give 5 to a team, however in difficulty, it means that you have important values…”.
Sassuolo - Atalanta, the formations: the starting trident Boga-Hojlund-Lookman is back
Partita that you shaping up fun and spectacular, between two teams built primarily to attack. Gasperini knows that these 3 points would be very important in terms of the Champions League, which is why he preferred to make a turnover in the Italian Cup and save the starters for today. The his 3-4-3 Thus he will see Musso in goal, Toloi, Djimsiti and Scalvini in defence, Hateboer, De Roon, Koopmeiners and Maehle in midfield, Boga, Hojlund and Lookman in attack. System of offensive play also for Dionysus, which after winning in Milan will try to repeat with a 4-3-3 with Consigli between the posts, Zortea, Erlic, Ferrari and Rogerio in the back department, Frattesi, Obiang and Bajrami in the midfield, Berardi, Defrel and Laurienté in the offensive trident.
