Inter dominated Milan and took a decisive step towards the Scudetto, applying to be the team that will interrupt Juventus' winning streak, while Roma impacted on the wall erected by Filippo Inzaghi's Benevento. Fonseca is responsible for this draw, the Giallorossi are now called to win the direct clash against Pioli's Milan, but now we will see in detail.
Juventus returned to march with great personality and strength, crushing Stroppa's Crotone, last in the Serie A standings. A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Weston McKennie have given Pirlo a new important sprint in the standings: they are now back in third position, overtaking Roma. Important victories also for Lazio and Atalanta, respectively against Sampdoria and Napoli.
Derby della Madonnina & Scudetto?
Inter won with a convincing performance against Pioli's Milan. There was never a chance for Rossoneri, from Lautaro Martinez's goal at the start of the match to the 3-0, signed by Romelu Lukaku, increasingly leader of the Nerazzurri, increasingly fundamental in the Scudetto fight.
Conte has now recovered Christian Eriksen too, who is not at the level seen at Tottenham, but who is starting to have an important impact on the team's play. Nothing to do for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his boys. Romagnoli and Kjaer played badly, Zlatan had a couple of chances but the long-distance challenge with Lukaku was clearly won by the Belgian. Since his last injury Ibra has struggled to lead Milan.
Inter have now gone to +4, and according to many journalists, they put their hands on the Scudetto. Maybe it's still too early. As it is too early to pronounce definitive sentences on Paulo Fonseca and his Roma, still fourth in the standings, even if Benevento prevented a great opportunity for Roma to meet Milan in second place. Fonseca fielded a rather senseless formation, with Spinazzola central defender in the 3-way line and was unable to affect the game from the bench. This time he lost the points even with a small team, something that had never happened since the beginning of the year: a victory must arrive with Milan or the risk of being sixth or seventh at the end of the next week will be real.
Juventus bounce back
Andrea Pirlo and his Juventus team reacted in the best possible way to the poor figure remedied on Wednesday with Porto, bringing home the 3 points at stake with Crotone and practically without suffering.
Although the top of the table is far away and it is difficult to imagine Juventus fighting until the end, Ronaldo is leading Juve to qualify for the Champions League. Napoli are unable to get up with continuity: Gattuso continues to live in a situation of uncertainty, the two consecutive knockouts against Granada and Atalanta continue to shake his position. Gasperini's men crushed the Neapolitans, thus putting themselves behind Roma and launching themselves for the race to the next Champions League. Inzaghi's Lazio have the same points as Atalanta, although they always seem unconvincing. Also this weekend, for example: the 3 points have arrived, but what a struggle against Claudio Ranieri's Sampdoria, who also missed a penalty.
At the bottom of the table, however, there is an increasingly black crisis for Cagliari, which lost against Torino in the direct match, a defeat that cost Eusebio Di Francesco his seat on the bench. To think that only a few years ago he almost reached the Champions League semi-final with Roma, losing to Liverpool. His heir will be Leonardo Semplici. We'll see if he can save the Sardinians from a relegation that seems closer game after game.
Results:
Fiorentina 3 – 0 Spezia
Milan 0 – 3 Inter
Top goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo 18, Lukaku 17, Ibrahimovic-Immobile-Muriel 14, Lautaro Martinez 13.
