La ending that was supposed to be. The Supercoppa Italiana they'll play it Napoli e Inter, the team that won the championship against the one that won the Italian Cup. Nothing in particular, except that the new formula expanded to four could have provided surprises, as well as awarding the trophy to those who, last season, raised none to the skies. It won't be like this, because the Azzurri and Nerazzurri have it won the semi-finals by a landslide with Fiorentina and Lazio, deserving this tasty face-to-face on Arab soil.
Napoli – Inter (20pm, Channel 5)
Never respective 3-0 they must not deceive: if Inter dominated far and wide, the same cannot be said of Napoli, which survived unscathed from a huge crossroads such as the penalty kicked to the stars by Ikoné. The season, after all, doesn't lie and makes it impossible to put the two teams on the same level, both from a technical and mental point of view. This one though it's a final, a one-off match without even the possibility of extra time (in the event of a draw there will immediately be a penalty shoot-out), therefore more subject to episodes and less “predictable”: of course, the same was also true for the semi-finals, but there the values emerged without surprises.
If this is the case, Inter will win today too, whose strength is unquestionably superior to that of Napoli, but if the Azzurri manage to limit their opponents then they will be able to play as best they can, perhaps hoping for a bad day for the Nerazzurri's top players. It must be said that the Inzaghi's team, after a period of cloudiness (of play, not of results) seen between Christmas and New Year, has found an excellent state of form, as seen in Monza and against Lazio. The Napoli instead it didn't give the same feeling, either due to the numerous absences (Osimhen and Anguissa above all), or due to a season that began badly and has not yet been straightened out. Mazzarri however he gave a very clear signal by changing the game system and redesigning the team in his image and likeness, the rest is being done by the transfer market, undoubtedly the most active of all the big teams (Ngonge and Traoré will be available already this evening, Mazzocchi will has been going on for some time): the Super Cup would not be enough to change opinions, but it would help significantly to better face the next few months.
Mazzarri: "I'm not signing for a draw, we'll play it on equal terms with them"
"I don't sign for equals - has explained Mazzarri -. Let's not forget that I am training boys who are Italian champions, until someone else wins the scudetto. With Inter in the championship we had superior ball possession, but we lost 3-0 on the counterattack: we played the game with ball possession and scoring opportunities, they scored three times. Football is a particular subject, which must be interpreted in a certain way. With me I have strong guys, we are lacking in terms of personnel because we have several defections, but in terms of mentality we'll play it on equal terms with Inter".
Inzaghi: “The Super Cup record? I care, but more for Inter than for myself."
"It's a final, competitions like these can be decided by episodes – he replied Inzaghi, who this evening could become the coach with the most Super Cups under his belt (5, one more than Lippi and Capello) -. We have to be very careful, plus it's a match to be organized in two and a half days, in less than 72 hours. It presents pitfalls, but the team must continue to work as it has done in this period. We come from an excellent semi-final, we are playing against the Italian champions who also won 3-0, they had some problems in the championship and changed coach, but it is a team with a long squad and a lot of quality. The record? I care, but more for Inter than for myself."
Napoli – Inter, the lineups: Mazzarri confirms the three-man defence, Inzaghi loses Bastoni
At the level of formations there will be no big surprises, even if Inzaghi will have to give up Bastoni, who stopped due to a hardening of the adductor. The Napoli, who from tonight will be able to count on the new signings Ngonge and Traoré, he will rely on a 3-4-3 with Gollini in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani and Juan Jesus in defense, Mazzocchi, Cajuste, Lobotka and Mario Rui in midfield, Politano, Simeone and Kvaratskhelia in attack. 3-5-2 instead for Inter, who will respond with Sommer between the posts, Pavard, De Vrij and Acerbi in the defensive department, Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in the midfield, Thuram and Lautaro as an offensive pair.
