A Saturday to scream. Never was a restart after a stop more welcome and spot on, so much so that we immediately had a nice full-blown feast. Atalanta-Juventus (15 pm), Milan-Naples (18 pm) and Turin-Inter (20.45 pm) promise to be highly tense and spectacular, almost as if the lords of the calendar wanted to be forgiven for the 15-day break that has just ended. We start from Bergamo and from a leaders without Cristiano Ronaldo, just like in the final half hour of the match against Milan.
This time, however, no substitution seasoned with Portuguese insults, but rather an agreed exclusion that still causes discussion. The 4 goals scored by CR7 in the national team made us think of a rediscovered form, but the knee still hurts, as confirmed by Sarri in the press conference.
“There was no need for any clarification between him and me after the substitution against Milan, these are normal things that have always happened – the Juventus coach said -. He won't be in Bergamo, we have studied a return program for the Champions League". However, not all evils have a silver lining: the physical problem will allow the player to return to 100% and to good Maurizio to avoid yet another difficult substitution.
At Gewiss Stadium Alex Sandro and Rabiot will also be missing, for the rest all skilled and enrolled for a 4-3-1-2 which will see Szczesny in goal, Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt and De Sciglio in defense, Khedira, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Bernardeschi (favorite over Ramsey and Douglas Costa) on the trocar, Higuain and Dybala in attack.
Important absences also for Gasperini, who in addition to the disqualified Ilicic and Malinovski will have to give up Zapata, still injured. The Nerazzurri coach will therefore have counted choices but will still be able to field a respectable 3-4-1-2 with Gollini between the posts, Toloi, Palomino and Masiello in the back, Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler and Gosens in the midfield, Pasalic behind the offensive duo made up of Gomez and Muriel. Immediately after the match in Bergamo it will be time to move to San Siro, where Milan and Naples will give life to a real last resort, obviously net of their respective ambitions.
In fact, if for the Rossoneri it is above all a matter of pride, for the Azzurri there is something at stake that goes beyond points: Ancelotti's bench wobbles and the break, as evidenced by the indiscretions from Castelvolturno (De Laurentiis seems determined to take legal action against his players for the now famous mutiny), hasn't calmed the spirits at all.
Paradoxically therefore, beyond a ranking that sees him in 14th place, it is Pioli who arrives more serene at the match, although the entry bonuses are over for him too. The balance of him at the helm of Milan sees uonly one win against one draw and three defeats: against Napoli, in short, a trend reversal is urgently needed.
“We will find a motivated and determined Napoli, but we will not be outdone in terms of quality and stimuli – explained the Rossoneri coach -. I want to see 200% from everyone, we have to start from the good performance in Turin". Returning to victory could entice Gazidis to open the purse strings, perhaps for give the Rossoneri people the much desired Ibrahimovic: however, we will only think about this in a while, because first we need to make the points.
Pioli, without the suspended Bennacer and Calhanoglu, will restart from a 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Hernandez in defense, Krunic, Biglia and Paquetà in midfield, Suso, Piatek and Bonaventura in attack. Ancelotti, also yesterday in press silence as per the company diktat, will respond with the usual 4-4-2, therefore Meret between the posts, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly and Luperto in the back department, Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz and Insigne in the midfield , in support of the Mertens-Lozano offensive duo.
The match between Turin and Inter will conclude the super Saturday in Serie A, with implications for the standings which, in the light of the afternoon's results, could get really interesting. The nerazzurri coach knows that this it's going to be quite an important week, given that, after today's match, the one in Prague will arrive, which is decisive for qualifying for the Champions League.
“I couldn't think about it even if I wanted to since no one has recovered from the injury – retorted Conte -. We are still in a great emergency, we have to grit our teeth and turn the situation into a stimulus. We have to do even more to make up for this situation, hoping that it will change in the future so that I too can make certain choices and let the players rest."
The mantra has therefore not changed but the club hopes that the results will also remain the same, at least in the league, where Inter are undoubtedly doing great things. To undo the away game in Turin, an important performance will be needed that the coach, without Sensi, Sanchez, Politano, Gagliardini and Asamoah, will try in the usual 3-5-2 with Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, De Vrij and Skriniar in defence, Candreva, Barella, Brozovic, Vecino and Biraghi in midfield, Lautaro Martinez and Lukaku in attack.
The same game system also for Mazzarri, who will try to give continuity to the victory in Brescia by relying on Sirigu between the posts, Izzo, Nkolou and Bremer in the back, Aina, Lukic, Rincon, Meité and Ansaldi in the midfield, in support of the offensive duo composed by Berenguer and Belotti.
