The ranking shortens. From second to seventh place, in fact, there are six teams in just four points, determined to compete for the precious Champions League places, but also for the remaining ones for Europe and the Conference League. Lazio, Atalanta and Rome they won their respective challenges with Sassuolo, Salernitana and Fiorentina, thus responding to Inter and, above all, taking advantage of the missteps of Milan and Juventus.
The championship, excluding the leaders Napoli, so far absolutely unstoppable, thus confirms itself as very balanced and open to any scenario, because if it is true that Pioli, Allegri and Inzaghi have more supplied squads (at least on paper), it is also true that Sarri, Gasperini and Mourinho have no intention of giving up, especially as the next round will offer fiery direct clashes like Lazio-Milan and Juventus-Atalanta.
Rome - Fiorentina 2-0, Mourinho stings the club: "Nice victory, but I would like to have more quality"
Let's start from the last match played, namely last night's postponement between Roma and Fiorentina. An important exam for the Giallorossi, who first of all had to answer to Lazio and Atalanta, but also confirm the good results obtained recently. Mission accomplished thanks to Dybala, a true Giallorossi driving force, capable of deciding the match with a brace, as well as giving away those classy shots absent from the Olimpico for a while, but also to Dodò, unfortunate in getting two yellow cards in just 24' and leave the Viola in 10. For Mourinho, back from a complicated week from controversy with Candela (and Zaniolo, the object of the dispute, called himself out of the game due to a last-minute fever), it is a nice breath of fresh air: the game continues to struggle, but with these results, the criticisms can remain in the attic. “It was a difficult game against an excellent team, even last year, always in numerical superiority, we struggled – the analysis of the Special One -. With our qualities we defended well and were in control, without having difficult situations to manage. I wish I had more quality and have more players willing to handle the ball. In terms of organization and tactical management, I have nothing to say to my players, but I need more quality with the ball at my feet. I don't expect new players to arrive, sporting director Pinto was honest and direct, he said things that coaches don't like to hear. Everyone would like to have a lot of money to buy anyone and make an incredible team, it would be everyone's dream and in some clubs I had this feeling. It's not our profile, we work and give everything with the quality we have".
Sassuolo – Lazio 0-2: Sarri regains victory, but Immobile goes out
Positive day also on the other bank of the Tiber, albeit with a bitter aftertaste. The victory over Sassuolo needed air and Lazio found it thanks to the usual Zaccagni and Felipe Anderson, but Immobile's injury (flexor distraction, exams in 24-48 hours) it's a pretty big tile. Sarri crosses his fingers and hopes it's nothing serious, because if it's true that the team has already known (yesterday and on other occasions) to do without him, it's also true that his game cannot ignore Ciro, who is fundamental for goals than for attacking movements that benefit others. In the meantime the technician has collected the positive responses of the others: from Zaccagni and Felipe Anderson, now essential from all points of view, a Luis Alberto, protagonist again after months of many shadows and few lights.
“In the last 40 days he was the player in the best condition, I said it several times, then unfortunately he had to stop due to a little problem – explained Sarri -. Today he played the best game he has played since I've been around. Playing like this, we can afford everything. What is missing for the definitive leap in quality? It is a mix of two aspects, we need to make the available players progress and make investments in what we believe we may be missing. Difficult to move forward only on a market level or only on an individual level”.
Atalanta – Salernitana 8-2: the Goddess enjoys the party, Nicola towards the exemption
However, the most bombastic success on Sunday was that of Atalanta, victorious over Salernitana with a score from another era. The 8-2 final, in fact, hasn't been seen in our championship since an Inter-Padua match in 1995/96, yet it became reality thanks to a super performance from the Bergamo players, obviously combined with the unspeakable one from the grenades. It is no coincidence that Iervolino, furious at the end of the match, now seems determined to exonerate David Nicola, whose adventure in Salerno is now at the end of the line: D'Aversa is on pole to replace him, but also watch out for Semplici and Di Francesco.
Atalanta, for its part, enjoys their second consecutive victory after that of Bologna and also the newfound verve of their forwards, all scoring with the exception of Zapata (who took over during the match). Lookman (brace) and Hojlund made sparks, as did Boga, Koopmeiners, Ederson, Scalvini and Zortea, even if Salernitana (networked with Dia and Nicolussi Caviglia) certainly contributed with a staggering defensive performance.
“When you get a result like this, you also accept the goals conceded, they are fine – explained Gasperini -. At the moment of the first goal we weren't so happy, because we had just made it 1-0 and we found ourselves equal, but then the team put in a great performance. We have always developed the game well, this certainly gives us morale for the continuation of the championship. For us it's a very good ranking at the moment, now we're going to play on the Juventus pitch and it will be a very difficult match, but one that can also give us the measure of our growth".
