by Paolo Tomaselli
An uneventful match at San Siro, Inter started strongly and scored a trio of goals in the first half, Salernitana were knocked out. Inzaghi changes strikers at the start of the second half
MILAN Fourteen shots in the first forty minutes, with three goals, a post, a crossbar, a miracle from the goalkeeper, a couple of quite sensational errors. This Inter is in a damned hurry and emerges polished from Friday’s general rehearsals against Salernitana who are last in the standings: tests of a definitive escape towards the Scudetto, with a temporary advantage of 10 points over Juve on the pitch today (Wednesday 28th is the recovery of the Nerazzurri against Atalanta). And of course also Champions League matches, because Cholo Simeone’s Atletico Madrid arrive at San Siro on Tuesday evening for the most anticipated, tense and balanced match of all the round of 16.
However it ends up (the return leg is on March 13th), Inzaghi’s team did everything to get to the top in the match with Europe and to extend their lead in the championship at a record pace. In 2024, eight victories out of eight arrived and it had never happened at the beginning of the calendar year in the club’s history; With yesterday’s goal, Lautaro equals Meazza and Nyers, the only two – in the mists of footballing time – to score 20 goals for at least three years in a row in the league with Inter; while Sommer finished his 15th match without conceding a goal and legitimately aims to beat Buffon’s record (21). And then there is everything that the numbers don’t tell, like Barella’s movements without the ball, Bastoni’s inspiration, Calhanoglu’s slides, Pavard’s technical leadership: the San Siro people are also rehearsing for Tuesday, well aware that an Inter like this will be needed for 90 minutes and beyond. A mission that is neither easy nor obvious.
And considering Inzaghi’s initial choices against his friend Liverani on his debut on the bench which until a few days ago belonged to Pippo, there is no doubt that the scudetto remains the absolute priority for the Nerazzurri coach, who does not want a drop in tension and of pace and rests only the two wingers. However, there are various ways to practice the turnover: instead of doing it at the beginning, Inter applies it in the second half by removing Lautaro, Thuram, Calha and Mkhitaryan, after having crushed the opponent in their own half of the pitch, as if it were training « attack against defense.”
The start is a shock for Liverani, who for the third time out of four (always knocked out) makes his debut on the bench against Inter. The Nerazzurri are almost frantic, they want to close it out immediately and the impact is terrible for Salernitana. After several missed opportunities, it was one of the two reservists, Carlos Augusto, who broke through on the left, ending the run with a low cross to Thuram, undisturbed in the area: the Frenchman reached double figures with a flat shot. Immediately afterwards it was Lautaro’s turn to break the two-game drought that hadn’t happened since September: another deep throw from Augusto on the left, Toro took center stage and hit a great shot.
Inter wanted to avoid any waste of energy (the Canadian Buchanan made his debut at the end as a left winger) and succeeded in his aim: great ball from Lautaro for Barella, who put it in from the left and found the awkward deflection first from Pellegrino and then from Ochoa, who provides the assist for Dumfries. Arnautovic completed the work from two steps in the 90th minute for the 4-0. The welcoming committee for the Champions League is ready, even in words: «Psg’s possible attack on Lautaro? I don’t see a difference between us and them” comments the CEO. Marotta. Inter wants to treat themselves to other special nights.
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February 16, 2024 (modified February 16, 2024 | 11.34 pm)
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