Entertainment at Derby d'Italia

Internationale Milano vs Juventus Match Report - 15 September 2013

The Derby d’Italia was a showcase of Serie A on its very best of days. 

The battle between Inter and Juve at the Giuseppe Meazza was a tactical battle of the highest standards but it was also a very entertaining affair. 

Both teams began the match with similar formations albeit with different individual orders to their charges. Juventus began the game as the dominant side with Conte ordering his midfield and forwards to pressure the Inter defense. 

Juve’s high pressure resulted in Inter losing possession frequently as Tevez and Vucinic pressed against the Nerazzuri back three while Pogba and Vidal choked out any passing options to Inter’s fullbacks. 

Juventus kept the lion’s share of possession for long periods of the first half and lined-up as follows: 

The Bianconeri looked well drilled in building up the attack from the back and with Inter dropping deeper Chiellini was positioned as the center midfield partner to Pirlo. 

Despite Juve’s dominance they failed to create any clear-cut chances worth mentioning as Inter relied on their fullbacks and their center midfielders to nullify Lichtsteiner and Asamoah who could influence the Juventus attacking play. 

Guarin and Jonathan doubled up on Asamoah while Nagatomo and the hard-working Taider cancelled out Lichtsteiner’s attacking impetus. 

Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal were also denied the space they require as Inter’s compact midfield and defense ensured that Juventus were allowed to hold possession in deeper areas but they simply could not threaten Handanovic's goal. 

Tevez in the trequarista role attempted to break between the lines but with Vucinic lacking the intelligent movement required, the Bainconeri could not break down Inter’s stubborn defense. 

In the rare occasion of Inter holding possession during the first half, the Nerazzuri looked to counterattack through their fullbacks who almost immediately took advanced wing positions. Juve seemed ready for this tactic as they closed down any passing options and eventually outmuscled the Inter player holding-on to the ball. 

A flaw in Inter’s attack during the first half was the distance between their midfielders and forwards. Rodrigo Palacio was hovering next to Juve’s center backs who relied on their superior physical capabilities to negate the Argentine’s influence. 

Ricky Alvarez was very mobile but he also struggled when outnumbered by Conte’s big men in midfield and defense. 

The tactical stand-off between the sides lead to an expected goal-less half. 

The second half began with Conte bringing on Isla for the disappointing Lichtsteiner. 

Mazzarri’s changes at half-time were more profound as he asked his team to take a more dominant stance in the second half. The center defenders took a position closer to the half-way line while the full backs were now deployed to out-number Conte’s men in midfield. Rodrigo Palacio was also asked to drop deeper now so that he would be able to influence the attack more. 

With Jonathan and Nagatomo pushing forward, the Nerazzuri midfield pushed ahead as well with Guarin moving closer to the opposition penalty box. This in-turn forced Asamoah and Isla to retreat. 

As the half wore on, Juventus became restricted to counter attacking and on one occasion Tevez nearly setup Vucinic only for the chance to go begging as the Montenegrin footballer strayed offside. 

Tevez again was the architect of a Juventus attack as he disposed Nagatomo on the right wing and his pass finding Vidal; the Chilean star could not hit the target and the Inter fans at Giuseppe Meazza could breathe again. 

Ricky Alvarez was key for Internationale in the second half with his attacking movement and perhaps even more importantly through his pressing up the pitch as well as his close marking of Andrea Pirlo when Juventus held possession. This tactical order by Mazzarri paid dividends in the 73rd minute. 

The energetic Alvarez stole the ball off Chiellini in center midfield and moved patiently forward and delivered the perfect pass to substitute Mauricio Icardi – the Italy youth international rifled the shot past Buffon to give Inter a deserved lead. 

Mazzarri’s elation on the sidelines was short lived though as Asamoah used his strength to break into the Internationale penalty box from the left and setup Vidal for a quick equalizer. 

Juventus immediately showing the winning mentality instilled by their coach Antonio Conte. 

The Bianconeri continued their assault on the bewildered Inter defense and nearly took the lead through Carlos Tevez but the Argentine could not finish. 

With Inter’s South American contingent clearly tiring after their involvement with their international teams, Juventus reclaimed their dominance with Pogba and Isla close to winning the game for Antonio Conte. 

A thrilling Derby d’Italia draws to a close with a fair one-all score line. Walter Mazzarri maintains his undefeated start to life at Giuseppe Meazza. His brave tactical switch in the second half could have earned his team all three points but with Conte this Juventus team always seems to find a way to get the result required.