The Italian Derby, classic of ‘calcio’, broke all the schemes. It was left without an owner, but it provided a spectacle that had not been seen in Serie A football for years. It was a constant back and forth more typical of the Premier than of transalpine football in recent years, a confrontation from another era that Inter Milan and Juventus tied 4-4, with eight goals, they were responsible for putting themselves back on the map as one of the most powerful parties of the moment.
Everything happened in the first half. Inter, champion of the last ‘Scudetto’, saw how ‘Juve’ came back from behind on two occasions. ‘Juve’, which had conceded only 1 goal in the first 8 games, received 3 in just 37 minutes, 4 in total. A ‘continuous give and take’. At more than a thousand revolutions in a historic square like San Siro that Yildiz, when his team seemed dead, was in charge of silencing with a final double that put the final tie.
The classic did not respect priors. He ignored numbers and statistics. Two teams that aspire to the title, separated only by one point in Serie A, in a bare-chested all or nothing. Directly for victory, without speculating. A duel between two fashionable coaches like Inzaghi and Motta who lived up to expectations. Each one with their tactical weapons, without losing the style that characterizes them. And with an attractive game.
Offensive show
The spectacle began early in favor of the locals, with an Inter that came out slightly better planted, in full swing with its dedicated fans. Thuram got ahead of Danilo inside the area and the Brazilian defender committed a penalty. The second of a not particularly good week in which he also made a mistake in the Champions League. Without Calhanoglu on the field, Lautaro Martínez seemed destined to score, but it was Zielinski who ended up taking responsibility and beating Di Gregorio in the 15th minute.
Inzaghi’s Inter promised them happily. But his peace of mind did not last long. Because the goal was like the bugle call that Motta’s ‘Juve’ needed to fuel themselves and become an unstoppable team. Fast attacks from both profiles. Perfect space occupation. And a sublime interpretation of the play. This was ‘Juve’ in the 15 minutes after the goal was conceded.
With a canine Conceicao on the wing, unstoppable in every one-on-one action, Motta’s men turned it around and silenced San Siro. First with Vlahovic’s goal in the 20th minute that was born from a perfect pass from Cabal behind Bastoni’s back, an even better drop shot from McKennie with first intention and a relentless definition from the Serbian.
With almost no time to celebrate or to accept the blow suffered, the unexpected comeback came. Again with Conceicao as the protagonist, with a dribble in which he sat down Mhkitaryan to give up Weah under the sticks and turn the duel upside down. ‘Juve’ had achieved the most difficult thing, they had gotten up after conceding and at the champion’s home they had put the ground in between with a double emotional blow.
Domain change
The tables turned, but the show did not stop. Just 7 minutes later, Inter found the tie again. It was Mhkitaryan with a great goal from the edge of the area. A Nerazzurri player. Double wall, first with Pavard and then with Thuram to gain space.
And, once again without time for anything, another great blow of the game arrived. For being so frequent, for the minute and for undermining all previous Juventus efforts. It was in the next play that Inter had, 1 minute after tying the score. Another collective play that ended with Kalulu knocking down Dumfries inside the area in a penalty very similar to Danilo’s. Zielinski completed the double in his first big night as an Interista and made it 3-2 at the end of a dazzling first half.
The break, in fact, suited Inter better than it did for ‘Juve’, who not for a moment seemed to lack the strength to recover. Dumfries warned with an opportunity as soon as he left the locker room and fulfilled his threat in the 53rd minute, when he caught a loose ball in the area after a corner kick that left the ‘Vecchia Signora’ almost out of combat.
Because since the Inter’s goal it seemed for 15 long minutes that there was no more game. Only Inter seemed to be at San Siro, with a carousel of chances that they failed to define, including two from Lautaro, and for which they ended up paying dearly.
Costly mistakes
He forgave and, in a game of this level, suffered the consequences. They went from having victory in hand, confidence once again restored to go after Naples, to settling for a draw.
The latter was caused by a great decision by Motta, who introduced Yildiz to leave with valuable loot.
It was the Turk who carried the weight of ‘Juve’ in the final minutes. The one who believed the most. The one who worked the most. The number ’10’, heir to Del Piero, made it 4-3 with a cross shot after the 70th minute. And the final 4-4 at the buzzer, in the 82nd minute, when ‘Juve’ went on the attack. The Italian classic was left without an owner, but it provided a spectacle that had not been seen in ‘calcio’ for years. The only one smiling is Naples, more leader than ever.
Milan / EFE
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