A Derby d’Italia with massive title implications.
The big one is here. Inter vs Juventus is always an occasion, but this edition of the Derby d’Italia rises above and beyond. Just one point separates the two at the top of the Serie A standings, with Inter the ones slightly ahead in what has been a classic title race. A long-awaited head-to-head clash gives the Nerazzurri the chance to open up a bit of breathing room, but anything less than all 3 points for the good guys keeps things as tight as ever.
Juventus hasn’t lost since September, matching Inter stride for stride over the past few months. It hasn’t been quite as flashy (its goal differential is just +23 compared to Inter’s +40), as is expected with a Massimiliano Allegri side, but the results keep piling up. In fact, the first and only time it dropped points since early December was as recent as last week in a 1-1 draw with Empoli. Other than that, Juventus has been a wall defensively with only 13 conceded (2nd behind Inter), which makes its solid but not spectacular attack good enough 90% of the time. The Old Lady has the 4th most goals scored, led by Dusan Vlahovic (12 goals and 3 assists) and Federico Chiesa (6g, 1a). Keeping those two and Adrien Rabiot (3g, 3a) under wraps will be Inter’s main priority on Sunday – by no means can it let Juventus score first and then bunker because that’s Allegri’s bread and butter.
Inter, meanwhile, comes into this weekend having played one game less due to its Supercoppa adventures, although there was no trophy hangover in last week’s 1-0 win at Fiorentina. Though the Nerazzurri will need to step its performance up quite a bit for Juventus, getting all three points by any means possible against the Viola was a must after Juventus tied Empoli. Inter can now enter the derby already in first and not trying to play catch-up – though the pressure will certainly be on no matter what.
Projected Inter lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro.
Projected Juventus lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Vlahovic, Yildiz.
Inter-Juventus is set to kick off on Sunday, February 4 at 20:45 CET / 14:45 EST.
It’s done! Big, big win, and fully deserved. I wouldn’t be surprised if our xG is around 3 tonight. And ultimately a professional performance in the back end of the game to keep things tight.
Proud of our boys!
Holy crap how did Arna not score that?
He has had 2 incredible saves Sczeny. Also on the Barella volley.
Bravo guys. No scudetto yet, the season is still long. But it is surely a massive win on towards it.
All men played really well, but Hakan, Mkhi, Barella, Pavard, Bastoni and Acerbi stood out today.
I don’t want to jinx it, but Pavard has been exceptional today, on both ends of the pitch.
Lol Bastoni with the sprint, the clearance off of McKennie, then celebrating like he scored a goal is epic!
Gooooool Thuram!! Or Gatti?
Assist of the season for Pavard lol, if he touched it…
He might have touched it a little bit, but it was definitely an own goal by Gatti. Very well pressed by Thuram though.
Wow, stunning vertical pass by Mkhi(?) , and the ball is just behind Thuram for the tap in. What a play…
Is it just me, or is Mkhi getting more buff by the week? My man hitting the gym on the regular, it seems…
I am getting to old for this shit….
Early perfect wingplay. I was just wondering why Dimarco wasn’t in the build up play and way out of position, then Pavard picks him out with a peach of a cross. Dimarco has way better quality than that volley though.
Glad to have Barella and Hakan back for this game. I expect it to be a tight, cagey affair, with only mistakes letting in goals.
I don’t think Dumfries is fully fit yet from Inzaghi’s pre-match comments, so I guess Darmian will continue to start, which will also give us a bit more defensive shape on that side. Expect most, if not all attacks to go through the left with Dimarco, Bastoni and Mkhi combining.
The match is what one could expect: we have most possession and most big chances, but the scumbags hasn’t just loaded up with non-lethal powder. And they might have been better than expected. That said it is a well deserved lead at the interval.
You can see our players are really focused, and aren’t trying to force anything. On the other side we aren’t using the handbrake either. Very fine balance. Barella especially looks focused, and hasn’t thrown any antics yet.
Forza Ragazzi, Forza Nerazzurri🖤💙
As my danish commentator said when Hakan delivered that exquisite ball to DiMarco:
You don’t get it better than that, anywhere in the world!