The time has come. The Italian Super Cup is up for grabs in Riyadh (17.45 pm) and Juventus and Lazio want to raise it, on pain of spending a decidedly sadder Christmas than expected. It's a minor trophy compared to the others, there's no doubt about that, but it's still a trophy and no one likes the idea of letting it slip away at the very last moment. This year then the Italian champions and the winners of the national cup are really playing it, unlike the last few times, when Juve simply challenged the "least worst". What makes everything more interesting, however, is the fact that Lazio was the only team capable of beating the black and whites this season, moreover just two weeks ago: in short, balance should not be lacking, indeed never like this time is uncertainty to reign supreme.
“Last year I made three finals, so I feel like the others – glossed over Sarri in the press conference. – I only know that we always need great motivation, we are playing with great continuity, in 23 games we lost one. In the last three games we have conceded two goals, one of which in the 95th minute at 3-0. Put like this it seems to take a goal every five minutes. The reality is different, we are making mistakes but this is part of the process and of a very expensive module…”. Precisely this seems to be the focal point on which pro and anti Sarri are divided: the former appreciate the pursuit of the good game, the latter point the finger at the too many risks they were not used to, at least in Italy. Then came the words of Allegri during the week, who branded tactical schemes and theories as "Italian bullshit": it is inevitable to bring everything back to the current Juventus coach, one who built his career precisely on these.
“I hope the presidents don't notice otherwise they'll cut our salaries – he retorted piquedly. – I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle, a coach shouldn't overwhelm the players to train himself, but then he has to influence the organization of a team. Allegri and I understand the same job in a different way…”. Only time will tell who, between the two litigants, is really right, certainly the Super Cup can give a first, albeit not definitive, answer. Sarri knows that a defeat would create many problems for him, which is why he will go in search of success with the 4-3-3 of the last few matches, enhanced by the offensive super trident that is the envy of all of Europe. In defense, in front of Szczesny's goal, space for Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt and Alex Sandro, with Bentancur, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield and Dybala, Higuain and Ronaldo in attack.
“We are in an excellent moment, we come from eight victories in a row, we have found certainties, we know each other, in three and a half years of work it is the fourth final – the proud thought of Inzaghi. – Now we are in a very good moment but this is a game in itself, very different from the championship: in 90′ you play for a trophy, so you won't have to make mistakes. Two teams face each other that can hurt at any moment. Furthermore, I am convinced that the criticisms after the defeat against us have charged them even more…”. In short, no proclamations, but not even fear: if there is a team that can create problems for Juventus, as has been amply demonstrated, it is Lazio.
Inzaghi will play with the typical 3-5-2, therefore Strakosha between the posts, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Radu in the back, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto and Lulic in the midfield, behind the offensive couple made up of Immobile and Correa. Kick-off, Italian time, at 17.45 under the orders of Calvarese, the referee chosen to manage the extremely delicate final in front of one hundred Lazio players, eight hundred Juventus players and…twenty thousand Arabs. Oddities of a football increasingly distant from traditions, yet always able to give emotions. And this, after all, is still the thing that matters most.
