Arrigo Sacchi expects “a more uncertain and balanced title race” this season, with Juventus having to fight off Inter and “surprise package Lazio.”
The Scudetto race is surprisingly open as we approach the midway stage, as Juve and Inter are joint leaders on 42 points, followed by Lazio (who have a game in hand) on 36.
Roma aren’t too far behind on 35, then Atalanta are on 31, but have so far been distracted by the Champions League.
Arrigo Sacchi expects “a more uncertain and balanced title race” this season, with Juventus having to fight off Inter and “surprise package Lazio.”
The Scudetto race is surprisingly open as we approach the midway stage, as Juve and Inter are joint leaders on 42 points, followed by Lazio (who have a game in hand) on 36.
Roma aren’t too far behind on 35, then Atalanta are on 31, but have so far been distracted by the Champions League.
“The Juve side that dominated over eight years will now have to deal with not only the surprise package Lazio, but also Antonio Conte’s Inter,” wrote Milan legend Sacchi in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Inter are going to be a tough opponent to the very end. Their team spirit and motivation are already sky high, the capabilities of their coach beyond question.
“This is going to be a more uncertain and balanced title race than in previous seasons. I hope it’ll be more entertaining and that at the end of the day, the team that deserves it the most comes out victorious.”
Missing Lautaro Martinez and Marcelo Brozovic through suspension, Sacchi saw Inter’s 4-0 win over Genoa as a sign of what is to come.
“The Nerazzurri, despite the many injuries, comfortably shrugged off Genoa 4-0. Inter played very well at the weekend, with good moves and evident progress in their football.
“It was the usual 3-5-2 formation, but with a much more attacking interpretation, both from the three defenders, but above all Cristiano Biraghi and Antonio Candreva on the wings.
“When going forward, Conte’s men practiced quick possession, keeping the ball to feet with continual changes of play. They advance more with passes than long balls, keep small distances between players and can rely on the brute force of a centre-forward like Romelu Lukaku, the generous protagonist of the game.
“The biggest development for Inter was the pressing, which kept Genoa in a constant state of confusion.”