Vlahovic, Calhanoglu Lautaro Martinez (photo Lapresse)
Inter-Juventus, Italian derby decided by Gatti’s own goal
The night of the Italian derby slows down Juventus in key to the Scudetto and launches Inter’s escape who won 1-0 thanks to Gatti’s own goal, gave the feeling of being the absolute master of the match beyond the three points and flew to +4 over their rivals with a game in hand (on 28 February at San Siro they will recover the match against Atalanta).
Inter-Juventus Top&Flop – Vlahovic-Yildiz e Lautaro male, Calhaglou re at San Siro
Black night for Vlahovic: Dusan arrives at San Siro fresh from an excellent growing season (12 goals and 2 assists in the league) and in a moment of great form and confidence (6 goals in the 4 games preceding the Meazza match), but against Inter he did not never manages to be dangerous. It must be said that the team doesn’t help him almost at all, giving him few playable balls. On the only occasion, born from one nice initiative from McKennie (author of a good first half and best of his in the middle of the pitch), blocks the ball badly, allowing Pavard to anticipate it. Then in the second half an overhead kick that ends up high. The Turkish gem Yildiz also disappoints who is never seen in the first half and does little even in the second half until the moment of substitution (at the 21st minute of the second half he comes on Chiesa who at least gives a little more liveliness to Juve’s maneuver).
Rabiot is a bit disappointing in the middle of the fieldreturning after muscle problems. And then there’s Gatti: flop for the unfortunate own goal that decides the Italian derby, but his overall defensive performance is good (nice closing on Mkhitaryan at the start for example) and he also comes close to scoring the equalizer with a shot just wide.
(Lapresse photo)
In Juventus the best on the pitch is Szczesny: blameless on the own goal, excellent save on Barella’s right-footed volley and a late save on Arnautovic to avoid the 2-0. Bremer’s performance was also excellenta practically perfect match in the middle of the defense and with the splendid closure on Thuram in the 25th minute which brought applause.
Lautaro is rarely seen in the Inter team that is chasing the Scudetto who fights a lot, but is unable to find great ideas capable of putting the Juventus rearguard in difficulty. A little better Thuramwho puts his own spin on Gatti’s own goal: he runs and sprints without ever stopping, but the Juventus defense contains him and Bremer denies him the joy of scoring on the cross drawn by Dimarco (thorn in the side for Juventus on the left). Simone Inzaghi’s team is dominant in midfield thanks to the usual Barella – who also starts the action to make it 1-0 and severely challenges Szczesny with a great right-footed volley – and above all to a sumptuous Calhanoglu: quality plays and an outside post for the Turkish champion. And with them an excellent one Mkhitaryan: he presses, runs and is the author of a very substantial performance.
But the defense also passed with flying colours: Sommer had a relaxing evening with Pavard-Acerbi-Bastoni protecting him.