Sunday of great celebrations: after Sinner and Antonelli, Inter's 21st Scudetto

Amidst choirs, chants and fireworks, while waiting for the final party on the 17th after Inter v Verona, there is one thing to be clearly repeated: that this new title has a name and a surname: Cristian Chivu. He is the true architect of a team, certainly the best equipped in our league, which last year came out of a double blow (Napoli and Psg) that could have been devastating.

Needless to mention here the bewilderment of an entire group that seemed to be heading for the end of the line. Chivu, on the other hand, with that slightly so-so air, soft and hard at the same time, a sort of black-and-white Ancelotti, was able to regenerate a team that had ended up in a corner. It was not easy, especially in an environment like the Inter one, easy to enthusiasm but even more prone to self-flagellation. It was not easy because the Romanian coach, despite having participated in the Triplete, came from a limited apprenticeship that could have harmed him if the club, thanks also to Marotta, had not protected him well. But then Chivu did it all on his own, growing with his own group, and now it will have to be seen whether he will finish the last lap in style or simply be renewed with some valuable pieces. We shall see.

The impression, if the Cup Italia (final on 13 May with Lazio) also arrives, is that it will be difficult to dismantle the whole toy. More likely is a soft refounding to try to make Inter not only the strongest Italian team but also one of the most feared in Europe. A goal, this one, much more complicated. Let us not forget that the only wound this season was the premature exit from the Champions. Having left that burden behind, Inter have resumed their flight, but the scar remains evident. The goal clearly is to bring it back to the top even outside the borders, not an easy task considering the overall drift of Italia football. Another striker will be needed, a valid touch-up in midfield, and above all a strengthening in defence, the weakest point of a team that makes offensive play its trademark.

Juventus v Verona 1-1. Forward with the shrimp. Spalletti's team also fully participates in this funny race for the Champions League that rewards those who go slowly, but less slowly than their rivals. The embarrassing home draw with Verona, already mathematically relegated to Serie B, in fact complicates Juve's path to fourth place, making them look bad in front of their fans who were already taking for granted the hooking of Milan, who remained third with two points more than the Bianconeri (65). Who in turn have three points more than Como (62).

Roma, on 61 points and tonight engaged with Fiorentina, therefore have a good chance of catching up. For Juve it was a Sunday to forget: down by a goal (Bowie in the 34th minute), they managed to equalise in the second half with a free kick from Vlahovic. In the final minutes, however, Verona hit a post with Zhegrova, deserving the applause of the Stadium in the end. 'We lack a trequartista who is good in the narrows, but we deserved to win,' Spalletti pointed out, forgetting that, in front, he did not have Bayern Munich but a team that is plummeting into B

But what is happening to Allegri's players? Are they infected by an alien virus? By an inexplicable disease that paralyses their heads and legs? Otherwise you can't understand it. There is something inexplicable, matter for scientists that must be discovered, in this incredible collective suicide that the Rossoneri are consummating, risking to compromise the Champions League. In Reggio Emilia, Milan never took the field: switched off, emptied, a ghost that scares itself. The chronicle is merciless. After five minutes, they went down by a goal of a super Berardi (who, if he always played against the Rossoneri, would compete with Mbappé and Yamal); after twenty-four minutes, they were left in ten for the expulsion of Tomori (double yellow). As if that wasn't enough, in the second minute of the second half they were again sunk by a shot from Armand Laurentiè, who was free to make his own mark.

Never a reaction, zero shots on goal. Leao throwing away a goal already scored. It is difficult to explain this beached whale shipwreck: is it possible that the absence of Modric (in any case a 40-year-old that Allegri should not have played all season) is enough to empty a team that, until a few weeks ago, was fighting for the title?

In order to win Europe, Milan need six points, but in these moonlight conditions nothing is certain. In the next round there is Atalanta, another team that walks with a walker, but it is not certain that, sniffing the blow, they will not suddenly wake up. In their last five games, Milan have scored one goal, scoring only four points. 'You cannot throw away the work of ten months,' thundered Allegri. But with this group everything comes into question. To say: Jashari, who replaced Modric, has not come in. Another indecipherable purchase. And Ricci? Why doesn't he play anymore? So many questions about the present and the future that inevitably affect both Allegri and the club once again crushed by a future all to be redesigned. The fans are also exasperated. At the end of the match they booed the Rossoneri players who, on the instructions of captain Maignan, did not go under the curve to avoid embarrassing situations. Still, ugly signs of a widespread malaise.

When Conte wants to harness the game to bring something home (in this case: the Champions League) he succeeds very well. The two teams end up cancelling each other out, leaving an aftertaste of boredom and tiredness. However, the Neapolitans got what they wanted, while the hosts (who missed two great chances, but a great crossbar by Politano should also be counted), only have to regret having missed another great chance to make the big jump. Fabregas, not very generously, but rightly, blames his forwards ("If you go three times in front of the goalkeeper and you don't score, you are missing something"), but the impression is that this Como, although brilliant, scores thirty and never thirty-one. A pity, because the Larians, in terms of game and courage, dominated. Nico Paz gave two pearls to Douvikas and Diao that ended up in the pigs' trough, while De Bruyne, almost bored, went off after an hour to general indifference. Amusing were the sparks between Fabregas and Conte: they are two cockerels from two different hen houses, if you put them near each other they can only fight. But between bullies they eventually understand each other.

How dull this goddess is! She no longer knows how to win. Almost like Milan. Two points in the last four games says it all. Not a good finish for Palladino's team, which is probably paying for the difficult start under Juric and the loss of goals. "We are lacklustre, we have to defend seventh place and nobody has to feel like a starter," warns Palladino aware that his creature is getting out of hand. Genoa, on the other hand, having nothing left to lose, play with ease. For Daniele De Rossi it was another step forward in the growth of his team. Getting to 40 points was not a foregone conclusion.

Pisa-Lecce 1-2

Udinese-Torino 2-0

Como-Napoli 0-0

Atalanta Genoa 0-0

Bologna-Cagliari 0-0

Sassuolo-Milan 2-0

Juventus-Verona 1-1

Inter v Parma 2-0

Cremonese v Lazio 18.30

Roma v Fiorentina 20.45