The final for third place has arrived. The challenge at the Olimpico (20.45 pm) will put Rome and Inter at a crossroads: either the games close immediately (Fiorentina permitting, of course), or they reopen sensationally. In fact, the 5 points gap in the standings obliges the Nerazzurri to win, or at least not to lose, in order to really get back into the race, vice versa the Giallorossi, in the event of success, can mortgage the Champions League position. In short, the match is one that weighs heavily, also because both Roma and Inter seem unable to do without the "big-eared cup": a question of budgets but also of sporting ambitions. On paper, Spalletti's team seems to be the favorite and not just because they play at the Olimpico: the 8 consecutive victories give the sensation of a group found again, almost wasted for a goal which, at the beginning of the season, was even taken for granted. “They started to win the Scudetto, they have always been considered among the strongest – confirmed Mancini. – Spalletti has some merits but I think Garcia did a great job too and this shouldn't be forgotten. In any case, it won't be a decisive match, clear that if we lose everything it would become more difficult but there would still be 24 points available".
Words that the Giallorossi coach did not like at all, immediately ready to respond in kind. “There is someone who believes they are in line with his goals in fifth place in the standings, it seems to me that Thohir has a happy face – he replied from the Trigoria press room. – For me, however, this match will be fundamental, we have to reach third place at all costs and I'm happy that it's pressure: I like having it, in fact I'm really going to look for it ". Skirmishes on the eve, on the other hand the match, of course, is really worth a lot. Roma, as previously mentioned, seems to get there better: the 8 consecutive victories, to use an expression so dear to Garcia, have put the church back in the center of the village, but now we have to be careful not to ruin everything. In fact, after Inter there will be the derby with Lazio: two tough obstacles which, if overcome, could end any discussion concerning third place. Inter, on the other hand, arrives at the Olimpico with a standings to shorten, moreover without two important men like Icardi and Palacio. It's hard to stop Roma like this but the last 3 performances (as many victories with Juve in the Italian Cup, Palermo and Bologna in the league) lead to optimism: the nerazzurri are not yet those of the first leg (won 1-0 with goals from Medel ) but not even those of the black period that risked ruining everything. “The great regret is having lost so many points in the second round – commented Mancini. – But now we can get back in a good position, this means that we had done something good. We'll try to win, then we'll see what happens." Injuries and suspensions almost completely reduce the formation choices, so much so that, for once, there seems to be no doubt about the Nerazzurri's 11th. The Jesi coach will confirm last Saturday's 4-2-3-1 formation with Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo and Nagatomo in defence, Kondogbia and Medel in midfield, Brozovic (favorite over Biabiany), Ljajic and Perisic in trocar, Eder in attack. Many certainties also for Spalletti, now stabilized on that 4-2-3-1 formation which is giving a lot of satisfaction: Szczesny between the posts, Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger and Digne in the back, Pjanic and Nainggolan in the midfield, Salah, Perotti and El Shaarawy on the trocar behind the lone striker Dzeko. Nothing to do instead for Totti, more and more on the margins of the Giallorossi world. "Let's give Francesco and the president time to clarify, the more we talk about it and the more we end up trivializing the issue" Spalletti glossed over, confirming that the marriage between the Captain and Roma, never like this time, really seems to have come to an end.
