07/25/2020 - 11:31
- Clarín.com
- sports
Inter Milan this afternoon to visit the Luigi Ferraris Genoa, one of the most compelling matchups Date of Series 36 to which both come with the urgency of winning.
However, that imperious need of both teams is caused by very different situations due to their positions in the Calcio table.
The local is committed to saving itself from relegation, while those led by Antonio Conte want to close the championship leaving a better image than that offered in the resumption of football .
Lautaro Martinez is in the sights of Barcelona to reinforce the first team. (Photo: AP / Luca Bruno).
Inter comes preceded by the bitter goalless draw against Fiorentina in Milan that relegated him to third place in the table, while Genoa upstairs toned for his win in the Derby della Lanterna against Sampdoria after a long time .
The Conte team will not include the Dutchman Stefan de Vrij, who is suffering from an illness, nor the suspended Nicoló Barella, in a section of the tournament in which the fatigue accumulated by the rush "begins to make itself felt", acknowledges the coach.
Even though he himself stated a few days ago that finishing second is like "being the first of the losers", it would be worse to be third, as Inter is today and could be tomorrow as well depending on what happens with Atalanta against Milan.
Lautaro Martinez returns to start at Inter after exhibiting an irregular level since the resumption of the tournament. (Photo: Daniele Mascolo / Reuters).
According to Conte, the slump that his team experienced responds to this "unprecedented experience" derived from the coronavirus pandemic . And it is somewhat generalized: just look at the Juventus campaign after the forced recess and not to mention Lazio.
"We are training and playing with extremely high temperatures every three days to be able to meet the schedule," he stressed, predicting that "I hope this experience is not repeated because some sequels will be seen even in the next season."
Conte acknowledges that he will have to appeal to the rotation in the squad to dose energies , which is why Andrea Ranocchia would start in defense and the offensive duo would once again be made up of Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku .
The Belgian and the Argentine have not shared an attack for a long time, either due to injuries (such as Lukaku's) or due to a technical decision, because when the Chilean Alexis Sánchez entered, he fully complied and it was very difficult to replace him.
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez will share the attack at Inter Milan against Genoa again. (Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters).
Conte must regulate efforts because the last two Inter games in the championship will be against Napoli and Atalanta and then he will have to complete his duels with Getafe for the eighth finals of the Europa League. "
The first match, which was never disputed by the pandemic, will be on August 5, and the coach will try to take advantage of the last commitments in the championship to outline and prepare for that duel.
Meanwhile, some dream of a somewhat more fortunate future and today some media point to the possible arrival of the Argentine star Lionel Messi in the middle of next year , when his contract with Barcelona ends.
A rumor that was strengthened when it was reported that Messi's father traveled to Milan and was observing a house located steps from Inter's headquarters, but that the Spanish media came out to deny almost immediately.
The truth for now is that even Conte is not guaranteed its continuity, according to what is said, just as Genoa is not guaranteed theirs even in the highest category as it has four points of advantage to Lecce, who would descend today.
Antonio Conte's continuity at Inter is tied to meeting the team's goals and volume of play at the end of the season. (Photo: AP / Luca Bruno).
"We played against Inter. There is not much more to say except that facing an opponent of that stature forces concentration to remain high," Nicola said, acknowledging that the advantage over the immediate follower in the table is still insufficient.
"We have an incredible hunger for points, but we know that Inter is a difficult team, well organized and very physically strong," warns the coach of a Genoa who beat Spal, Lecce and Sampdoria and is going for more.
In the Genoese team, the Argentine Cristian Romero is announced from the start, who must alternate with the Colombian Cristian Zapata the mark of his compatriot Martínez and Lukaku, two fearsome strikers with a thirst for revenge as well.
Lasse Schone celebrates with his teammates Genoa's goal, for Serie A. (Photo: EFE / EPA / SIMONE ARVEDA).
Possible formations
Genoa : Perin; Biraschi, Romero, Zapata and Criscito; Falque, Behrami, Schöne and Jagiello; Pandev and Pinamonti. DT: Davide Nicola.
Inter Milan : Handanovic; Skriniar, Ranocchia, Bastoni; Moses, Brozovic, Gagliardini, Young; Eriksen; Lautaro Martínez, Lukaku. DT: Antonio Conte
Stadium : Luigi Ferraris.
Hours : 14:30 (Argentine time)
TV : ESPN 2.
Referee : Davide Massa.