Friendlies: Dzeko and Lukaku score, Inter beat Reggina. Rome also wins, Lazio loses

Friendly successes of Inter (2-0 against Reggina) e Rome (3-0 to the Dutch side Waalwijk) while the Lazio they succumbed 2-0 in Spain to Almeria.

In Reggio Calabria, in the derby on the bench between the brothers Inzaghiyou have a good view Interdragged by Dzeko and Lukaku, in the penultimate test before the resumption of the championship. Simone tested what should be the starting lineup against Napoli on 4 January (with the only exception being Dumfries who will take over for Bellanova). Dzeko, after wasting several chances, made up for it in the 81st minute, breaking the deadlock with a header from a Calhanoglu corner. Lukaku, who was back on the pitch 54 days after his last appearance for the Nerazzurri, last October 29 against Sampdoria, closed the score in the 87th minute thanks to an assist from Dimarco. Dzeko and Lukaku (who also hit the post with a header) are currently the only ones available to the coach given the unavailability of Correa and awaiting the return of Lautaro Martinez after the success at the World Cup. In addition to the two attackers, Dimarco and Gosens also did well, as did Onana, providential at the start on a header from Gagliolo. In the final a post denied Canotto the goal of the flag after Cordaz was beaten. Barella and his teammates will return to the field against Sassuolo on 29 December.

Rome, trio at the Waalwijk signed Abraham, El Shaarawy and Zaniolo

There Rome he closed the retreat in the Algarve with a smile. All easy in Albufeira against modest RKC Waalwijk. The goals of Abraham, El Shaarawy and Zaniolo decided. Mourinho gave up on Smalling, who came out battered with an ankle injury after the friendly against Casa Pia, and for a while he experimented with the 4-man defense with Celik and Zalewski as wingers and Kumbulla and Ibanez as central players. The team performed well with a single slip that almost cost the equalizer in the 8′, 6′ minute immediately after Abraham’s valuable goal, which arrived at the end of a good combination with Pellegrini: Jozefzoon presented himself face to face you with Rui Patricio but he kicked high. Roma doubled their lead in the 19th minute with El Shaarawy, unmarked in front of goal by Zaniolo and then, after a post hit by Zalewski, they tripled at the start of the second half with Zaniolo himself, served by Abraham, good at stealing the ball from an opposing defender. In the 75th minute Waalwjik wasted the opportunity to shorten the distance by sending a penalty on the crossbar with Seuntjens awarded for a hold by Kumbulla on Biereth. At the end of the game Mourinho said goodbye to the team who returned to Italy in the evening. The Portuguese will spend Christmas in Portugal, as well as Rui Patricio and dg Tiago Pinto. The Special One had intense talks with Pinto himself upon returning to the hotel. It is probable that there has been talk of the offer from Portugal that would like him on the national team bench.

Lazio ends 2022 by losing 2-0 at Almeria

There Lazio greeted 2022 with a knockout, albeit painless: in the friendly match at Almeria, the biancocelesti were unable to give continuity to the good victories obtained in the tests in Turkey against Galatasaray and Hatayspor. Against the Spaniards, Sarri had to give up Casale, called up by Roberto Mancini for an internship in Coverciano and replaced him in central defense with Patric. Even Zaccagni, very brilliant against Hatayspor, had to forfeit due to some flu symptoms. Starting jersey then for Pedro and Luis Alberto in the midfield instead of Milinkovic-Savic. The match was not full of ideas until the 36th minute when Patric involuntarily deflected a cross from Pozo fouled by Tourè on goal. The reaction of the biancocelesti was immediate with Immobile who forced Martinez to deflect the ball for a corner from a distance. After Just a minute after the start of the second half, Almeria doubled with a personal escape from Ramazani, who overtook Patric and pierced a not faultless Provedel. Nice ending first Milinkovic and then Basic failed to shorten the distances.