Between Europe and salvation. The advances of 35th day, which began yesterday with draw between Turin e Bologna (0-0), will live under the banner of the two races still open in the championship, with Monza-Lazio (18 pm) e Sassuolo v Inter (20.45pm) to shift the balance both up and down. The Nerazzurri league leaders, fresh from the Scudetto, obviously have nothing more to ask for, but beware of thinking that they can give anything away: there are some records to be achieved at stake (but not the points record, tied to Juventus' 102 in 2013/14), as well as a hint of revenge towards those who, a couple of years ago, handed the tricolor to Milan without putting up any resistance.
Sassuolo – Inter (20.45pm, Dazn and Sky)
For Sassuolo it is a'last chance, or at least something that closely resembles it. Ballardini's team, in fact, occupies a very sad penultimate place, minus 5 from the safety quota, currently held by Verona, Frosinone and Empoli, all tied on 31 points. Winning against Inter, therefore, would not be enough to return to breathing deeply and this says a lot about how complicated the situation is, but the neroverdi must at least try, perhaps hoping for an Inter addicted to the Scudetto celebrations. This is unlikely to be the case, because if it is true that the Nerazzurri, even if only unconsciously, might be less hungry than usual, it is also true that no one likes bad performances, let alone those who have just triumphed.
Furthermore, Inzaghi's team wants to finish at the level of the progress made, both for give yourself some records in addition (there is the issue of clean sheets at stake) than to guarantee the regularity of the championship. Of course, Sassuolo's motivations are enormously greater and this could be a factor, on the other hand, however, the technical difference is abysmal and the precedent of 27 September last (1-2 at San Siro, only defeat in the championship for Inzaghi) leaves the time he finds: that, in fact, risks remaining one of the very few positive memories of this black-green season.
Sassuolo – Inter, the probable lineups
Sassuolo (4-2-3-1): Advice; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Doig; Thorstvedt, Henrique, Volpato, Bajrami, Laurienté; Pinamonti
- Coach: Ballardini
- Disqualified: Ruan Tressoldi
- Unavailable: Berardi, Castillejo
Inter (3-5-2): Audero; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Frattesi, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Sanchez, Lautaro
- Coach: Inzaghi
- Disqualified: none
- Unavailable: Unripe
Monza – Lazio (18pm, Dazn)
Hot spots even on the lawn U Power Stadium, Where the Lazio of Tudor will go looking for a victory that would keep them alive Champions League hopes. The Biancocelesti are grappling with a run-up that would be sensational, especially considering where it started: last March 30, the day of the Croatian coach's debut, the distance from fourth place was almost abysmal. Since then, however, many things have changed, starting with the certainty of being able to enter even as fifth, passing through a very important path that saw five successes and only one defeat (in the derby) in six games. There Tudor cure is working, there is no doubt about this, but to ensure that it can have visible effects already in the current season we need to win again, as well as hope for the missteps of Atalanta and Rome. Complex scenario, not impossible: in a week the Bergamo players and the Giallorossi will compete in a direct match at the Gewiss Stadium, so the distances could narrow further.
Il Monza for his part, he no longer seems to have much to ask of his championship, given that the Conference dream has collided with only two points collected in the last five matchdays: the successes against Genoa and Cagliari had sparked the fantasies of Galliani and Palladino, but then came the defeats against Turin, Naples and Atalanta and the draws with Bologna and Lecce.
Monza – Lazio, the probable lineups
Monza (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Birindelli, Izzo, Pablo Marì, Kyriakopoulos; Bondo, Akpa Akpro; Colpani, Pessina, Zerbin; Djuric
- Coach: Palladino
- Disqualified: Gagliardini
- Unavailable: Ciurria, Gomez
Lazio (3-4-2-1): Mandas; Patric, Romagnoli, Casale; Marusic, Guendouzi, Kamada, Zaccagni; Felipe Anderson, Luis Alberto; Castellanos
- Coach: Tudor
- Disqualified: none
- Unavailable: Gila, Lazzari
