Inter Milan play out feisty 0-0 draw against Juventus to go 2nd by goal difference in the Serie A
Both sides had different motivation coming into the game. While Inter were hoping to end the night on top of the Serie A table after Fiorentina slipped up against Napoli, Juventus who have started the season poorly were hoping to lift themselves from 14th position and elevate themselves higher up the standings.
Starting Line-ups:
Internazionale: Handanovic; Santon, Miranda, Murillo, Jesus; Medel, Melo, Brozovic; Perisic, Jovetic, Icardi.
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Zaza, Morata.
Neither side gave their opponents any quarter, every loose ball was a 50-50 and everyone was playing under constant pressure regardless of which side they were on. There were tackles flying everywhere, some were timed to perfection, others taking more of the opponent than the ball. It was turning out to be a quintessential Italian derby with between two of Serie A’s biggest teams butting heads once again transporting the onlookers to a generation prior to theirs.
The referee had a role to play, he dished out 4 yellow cards in the first 15 minutes, 2-a-piece, but they were all warranted. This was an official who tended to let things go, play the advantages and let the game flow of his own volition. It made for some scintillating football.
It started off with both sides trying to unlock each other and players being scythed down in the process. Gradually, Roberto Mancini’s side started to push back the Juventus side with their persistent attempts to find spaces especially down the sides. Perisic and Brozovic tormented Barzagli and Evra without letting up for almost the whole half.
After Stevan Jovetic’s direct freekick went a couple of yards wide and Simone Zaza had an opportunity for Juventus from a counter, Brozovic came the closest to scoring when his cross-shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Buffon.
But before that there was a call that the referee did not make and it was one that would Mancini would not be happy with. Brozovic’s cross aimed at Perisic was lower than the forward expected and he dove to try and reach it and in the process directed it towards Bonucci whose hand made contact with the ball and it seemed like a possible penalty but Perisic’s appeals fell on deaf ears.
Zaza was also wasteful more than once for Juventus but neither side had a clear-cut opportunity to score thanks to some superb defending on both ends. Murillo and Miranda ensured that Morata did not have much of an effect on proceedings while Zaza troubled them on a few occasions but could not break through.
At the other end, Bonucci and Chiellini were repeatedly tested by Jovetic and Icardi who had loads of support but so did the defensive duo as the midfield was quick to form defensive cover for their backline.
While defensively fulfilling their duties, both sides were frustrated in attack as passes ad runs were often cut out by some good positioning and the uncannily Italian ability to steal the ball away despite being in an unfavourable position in relation to the attacker.
Just as Juventus were starting to seize some control of the game, Mancini was the first to roll the dice when he replaced Felipe Melo with Freddy Guarin in the 64th minutes and the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza roared in approval.
In the immediate aftermath of the substitution, Juventus created a splendid chance that Sami Khedira should have put away but he could only direct his shot from Morata’s pass onto the post from only a few yards out. It would be the striker’s last meaningful contribution of the game before Mario Mandzukic came on to replace him.
It was a story of two incredibly resolute defences, even when at times they were both subjected to continuous attacks, both in their own quiet manner repelled them, no fuss. But as the game wore on towards the end, the focus for both sides was up front and in that interest Max Allegri brought on Paolo Dybala to replace Simone Zaza who was a frustrated man at this point.
Inter had a late chance as Perisic was brought down a few yards outside the box and Jovetic stepped up to take it as he had done all game, but his shot just came off Juve’s wall disappointingly. Just minutes later, Brozovic won another dangerous freekick, this time Perisic took it but it sailed over everything including the goal.
The game ended disappointingly for both sides, though Inter’s point puts them level with Fiorentina but second by goal difference. Juventus still languish in the lower half of the table but their performances look more convincing now.