The Italian derby is tinged with Nerazzurri. An own goal from Gatti was enough for Inter to win the direct match against Juventus and fly to +4 in the standings with a game to recover, giving a break in the championship race. A heartfelt victory, creating and wasting especially at the start of the second half and keeping Allegri’s men standing, tough and never subdued until the 95th minute even if the inspiration from men of greater offensive quality such as Vlahovic and Chiesa was lacking. The three points sound like a strong message to the championship from Inzaghi’s team, in a sprint start to 2024: just when the Nerazzurri often struggled, i.e. in the first matches of the new year, this time they are flying, having achieved six victories in the first six matches for the third time in history (after 1943 and 2007). Driven by the 75 thousand at San Siro (revenue of 6.3 million euros, the second highest in history in Serie A), Inter starts forward, so much so that after just 50 seconds they appear in the Juventus area with a poisonous cross from Thuram on which Mkhitaryan is anticipated at the last minute. The Nerazzurri controlled the game, so much so that in the first 10 minutes ball possession was around 80%, but without being able to find gaps in the well-deployed Juventus defence. The hosts’ first real chance comes with a left-footed shot from Dimarco, who, served by Pavard, shoots badly on the volley. The Nerazzurri only find space on the restart, like when Calhanoglu finds Dimarco with a great vertical ball, the blue serves Thuram but Bremer saves everything with a great slide. Inter slows down to catch their breath, Juventus takes control of the game and, not surprisingly, immediately creates a danger: a break from McKennie in midfield, the American serves Vlahovic who, however, face to face with Sommer, misses the stop and is put back together from Pavard. The Frenchman himself was also decisive in the Juventus area, leading to Inter’s advantage: on the overhead kick from the former Bayern player, served by Barella, Gatti pushed the ball into his own goal to try to anticipate Thuram. In the second half Juventus tried to raise the pace and center of gravity, but Inter were still dangerous on the counter with a left-footed shot from Dimarco that went wide. Not only that, because shortly after following a throw-in Calhanoglu found the outside post with a right-footed shot from the edge. And immediately afterwards the Nerazzurri were too coy, Pavard missing the last touch in the area for Lautaro instead of kicking with Gatti who recovered at the last minute from the Argentine. Juve, however, is present, Kostic kicks with his left foot in the middle of the area but is saved by Mkhitaryan. The match starts with continuous reversals, Thuram can’t find Dimarco in the area and on the other side Vlahovic is unable to deflect a dirty left-footed shot from Kostic, then in the following corner the Serbian again misses the target with a bicycle kick. Gatti was also dangerous, with a great right from the edge just wide. Inter responds with Barella, who finds a super response from Szczesny on a flying right foot served by Dimarco. Allegri plays the Church card, while Inzaghi takes away a tired Thuram to insert Arnautovic. It is the Austrian who has the ball to close the match, but he wastes it by kicking at Szcesny alone in front of the Pole. But it is the last emotion, because the final assault by the Bianconeri brings no results: San Siro is seething, singing “the league leaders are leaving” because now the table says +4 for the Nerazzurri over their direct opponents.
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