The Derby d’Italia goes to Juve. Inter also lose second place

After only nine minutes, thanks to the usual prowess of Osimhen, who lands his head flying higher than everyone else, the party has already begun. Then, in a riot of blue flags, the rest arrived: another goal by the Nigerian striker (21 goals in Serie A), the penalty by Kvaratskhelia and the flicker by Ndombele who, signing the poker, sealed the 23rd victory for the grandchildren of Maradona out of 26 games played. Even useless to talk about the grenade mistakes, almost in awe of a team with such perfect synchronies. Even Spalletti, always chilly when it gets hot, struggles to hide his enthusiasm. «This team is increasingly hungry, it is a pleasure to coach them», says the coach, also paying special praise for Osimhen («he is a unique striker»). Clearly Spalletti, with a team without limits, either in Italy or in Europe, is trying to throw buckets of water on the excesses of enthusiasm that often play tricks in Naples. But even this dreaded sword of Damocles seems to be ancient stuff, from another Naples, from another city that was imprisoned in its old clichés. This is very different, certainly celebrating, but with a serene and positive cheerfulness that makes the march towards the third Scudetto in Azzurri history even more compact.

At Lazio the Capitoline derby

The challenge between Lazio and Rome ended with a narrow victory (1-0) for the Biancocelesti. The decisive goal, a fine jab, came from Zaccagni in the second half when the derby was already largely compromised for the Giallorossi, who were left with ten players following the expulsion of Ibanez, for a second yellow card which he could have avoided. More determined, and benefiting from numerical superiority, Lazio cornered a Rome that was already not very brilliant in itself and was more inclined to save its skin than to reverse the situation. Although thin, it is a very precious success for Sarri’s team, which hooks Inter in second place leaving the Giallorossi five points below. It’s not a good time for Mourinho’s Roma, only partially consoled by having found a place in the top eight of the Europa League. Extremely nervous, Special One even quarreled, at the end of the game, with the president of Lazio, Lotito, guilty of having looked at him wrong. New comedy, between the two litigants, soon on the screens.

The new relapse of Milan

“Poor devil what a pity you make me” would sing Riccardo Cocciante throwing more salt on the new wounds of the Rossoneri. Go understand this Mllan who collapses in January, is reborn in February, entering the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and falls back in March into a new devastating crisis. Like those sick people who, after a too casual convalescence, end up on a drip again in the hospital. The 3-1 in Udine is an almost embarrassing misstep, difficult to explain. It’s not enough to point out that Udinese played one of their best games of the season. Thanks a lot, everyone is playing a thousand against the Italian champions. Even Fiorentina and also Salernitana. A point in three games is not conceivable. Especially not having a guaranteed place in Europe. One can understand a few days of hangover after the feat with Tottenham, but immediately afterwards a team with European ambitions gets back on track. “The experience to play as Italian champions is lacking,” Ibrahimovic commented bitterly. The Swede, who by scoring the Rossoneri’s penalty became the oldest scorer in Serie A (41 and 166 days), is aware of the bad turn taken by the team. However, having to resort to a 41-year-old center forward, in addition to not being very encouraging for the future, confirms that, even in football, the retirement threshold has moved further and further (could Fornero be involved?).
But the offensive department is not the only weakness of Milan. There is also a physical and mental decline, a retiree-like reactivity stopped in front of the construction site that must make Pioli think. Even on the defence, back to four again, there’s something not right. Changing form every week is not a good encouragement to prepare for the Champions League match with a Napoli that is asphalting everyone.

Florentine seven beauties

The Viola team, after the success in the Conference League, still finds the energy to achieve its seventh consecutive victory. And he does so by overcoming Lecce thanks to an own goal by Gallo which however allows Fiorentina to continue its climb up the standings. It’s a magical moment for the Italian coach’s team who are learning to win even without going full throttle. Winning games where you risk going under is a double win.

Atalanta also did well, beating Empoli 2-1 on Saturday and returned to winning ways after a lean period in which they had picked up just one point in four games. Gasperini’s team, winning in comeback thanks to a last-gasp goal by Hojlund, didn’t exactly shine, quite the contrary. But he put his heart into it. And when you put your heart into it, luck also lends a hand.