There are 810 minutes left at the end of the championship and the Verdetti are still to be written. Here is a reasoned guide to what you have to expect from here to 25 May
Less 810 minutes, which still means 13 and a half hours of football, more recoveries, to get to know the verdicts of an exciting season as rarely in the past. From the leaders Inter to the Coda Monza Fanalino, the truth is that at the abjuration of the final fee there is almost all in question with the exception, perhaps, of the relegation of the Brianzoli only whose ranking situation has deteriorated with the passing of the weeks. Scudetto, Champions League, a place in second and third level Europe: nothing is sculpted in the stone if not the security that, disposed of the last stop to leave room for the national team of Luciano Spalletti, from here on it will be a breathless sprint until the finish line of May 25.
What will happen? Impossible to say it in advance, there are too many variables in play starting from the joints with the calendar of those who have remained in the race in the international cups (Inter, Lazio and Fiorentina) and those who, instead, can play the chance of the Italian Cup starting from different points of view: it can be save season, a historical feat to be celebrated or simply the outline of a much richer dish. By changing the reasons, it is possible that the approach with its expenditure of psychological and physical energies also mute. Here, then, a reasoned guide to the last 810 minutes of the championship. Questions and answers, without presumption of having the complete picture in your pocket.
Is there a favorite in the Scudetto sprint? Do they only run Inter and Naples or even Atalanta?
The results of the last round before the stop changed the balance at the top of the ranking. It is as if Inter had made a tennis break against Naples and Atalanta. It is not so much the advantage (3 points are very few), as the weight of the new situation. Inzaghi is now favored for the tricolor, albeit of an enclosure; If, however, he should leave the next two days with a higher advantage (5 points?) Then the break would be consolidated with everything that follows. That’s why the double crossing Udinese and Parma for the Nerazzurri, Milan and Bologna for the Neapolitans is decisive. Atalanta is in the running only for arithmetic, but to climb to 84-85 points he should always win and the calendar does not help it.
Who has the best calendar between Inter and Naples?
Definitely Antonio Conte, as long as I leave unscathed from the first two Sundays. From then on, a long descent opens in which Napoli challenges lower opponents while Inter have the trip to Bologna and the double challenge with the Romans at San Siro in the midst of European commitments and the Italian Cup derby. In short, hell.
Juventus kicked Thiago Motta: was it a late move for the Champions League?
Without going into the merits of the story, the answer is no. The reasoning is simple: at 70 points the pass for the next Champions League is almost guaranteed and the Juventus are missing 18. It would be enough that Tudor would repeat the journey of a year ago with Lazio (last 9 on the bench with his 18 points taken) and the scan of the opponents says that the company is within reach: Genoa, Lecce, Parma, Monza, Udinese and Venice are worth a thread. Lazio as a reserve without excessive pressures.
Lazio has direct clashes in the house. Isn’t it the favorite?
Having said that he must also manage an Europa League in which he can think of reaching at least in the semifinal, which means the beginning of May, Baroni’s team appeared tired. Rome and Juventus in front of the friendly public are an advantage, but there are also travel to visit Atalanta and Inter complicating the path. The feeling? It has less chance of the bianconeri and Europe is a wonderful distraction since it could allow you to dream even largely with projection on the Champions League without going from the championship.
Bologna is in front of everyone: why can’t you do it?
Nobody excludes it, indeed. Italian leads a practically perfect team for intensity and quality of game at this moment. The calendar, however, is the worst of everyone among those who point in fourth place: Naples, Atalanta, Inter, Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina. Breathless. And in the middle the two semifinals of the Italian Cup, even if with Empoli, and the possible final of May 14 that would fall between the trips against Milan and Fiorentina. Chance? We unbalance ourselves: no more than 20%.
Is Milan already passed off?
Almost. The truth is that Conceiçao is hung on a thin thread in which the performance of the Rossoneri will weigh in the same way (at least 7 wins are needed and at most a defeat) and the hope that the many teams in front slow down by lowering the qualification share to the Champions League. In any case, the few chances will be immediately subject to verdict because after the trip to Naples (it cannot lose) there are Fiorentina, a trip to Udine and Atalanta. With less than 10 points the ‘game over’ would be almost a certainty.
And Ranieri’s Roma now that it is without midweek commitments?
Dybala’s injury in the decisive phase of the season is a bad blow. Not definitive, however. Much will go from the week from 6 to 13 April with Juventus at the Olimpico and then derby. With 6 points everything would become possible …
Fiorentina?
Too inconstant in his proceeding. To the eye it is that, together with the Milan that precedes in the ranking, in possession of smaller cards to play. Also because the Conference League is a remarkable temptation: there is a circle that remained open in the finals lost against West Ham and Olympiacos …
