Goals from Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perišic gave Inter their 20th win of the season.
Inter Milan secured fourth spot as well as victory over Empoli at the San Siro on Saturday, condemning the Tuscans to a 2-1 defeat with all goals coming in the first half.
Internazionale captain Icardi struck in the 12th minute following a swift counter-attacking move. Croatian winger Perišic cut open Empoli’s defensive unit with ease following a strong run down the left-flank before squaring the ball to the unmarked Icardi, who thrashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Despite creating the majority of goalscoring chances, there were warning signs for the Nerazzurri. They did eventually concede, arguably against the run of play, as veteran striker Massimo Maccarone played in Manuel Pucciarelli to move in ahead of Juan Jesus and finish clinically past Samir Handanovic in the 37th minute.
Unfortunately for the away side, the restoration of parity did not last too long. Three minutes after the equaliser a mistake in their own half saw the Azzurri defence unable to shake off Inter’s incoming forward pressure.
Icardi played Stevan Jovetic in on goal, however he could only force second choice keeper Alberto Pelagotti into a parried save. Luckily, Perišic was ahead of the trailing Empoli defenders to slide the ball into the empty net and bag a goal to go with his earlier assist.
Twenty-three-year-old Argentine Icardi also had the chance near the end of the first half to extend his side’s lead as well as his own tally in the match after skilfully getting away from his marker. He blasted the ball over the bar in a one-on-one with Pelagotti, however.
A slightly worrisome sign was sighted 20 minutes into the second half as the striker’s night was cut to a premature following a collision in Empoli’s penalty. With just one match of the season left and fourth place wrapped up, though, the injury should not have such an impact unless it is one for the long term.
In the final minute of stoppage time, Marco Giampaolo’s side nearly snatched a late equaliser as a corner went in from Leandro Paredes and found its way to Andrea Costa. The Italian’s volleyed effort, however, whistled just wide of Handanovic’s goal.
Victory in their final home game of the season sees Roberto Mancini’s side achieve its best league finish for five years, when they were runners-up, as well as guarantee Europa League football in 2016-17. Empoli, meanwhile, remain in mid-table and will host Torino on the final day of the season.
Formations
Mancini made just two changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Lazio last time out. Juan Jesus came in for the suspended Jeison Murillo at centre-back whilst Felipe Melo started in the place of Gary Medel.
Inter Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Handanovic (GK); D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Juan, Nagatomo; Melo, Kondogbia; Brozovic, Jovetic, Perišic; Icardi
By contrast, Giampaolo made four changes to the side that was involved in a 0-0 stalemate with Bologna. Luca Bittante and Uroš Cosic made way in defence for Marco Zambelli and Lorenzo Tonelli respectively, whilst midfielders Assane Diousse and Daniele Croce were replaced by Paredes and Marcel Büchel.
Empoli XI (4-3-1-2): Pelagotti (GK); Zambelli, Tonelli, Costa, Rui; Zielinski, Paredes, Büchel; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone
Sweeping Inter counter-attacks devastating
It could be argued that Inter played their best free flowing, attacking football in midfield of all season in the first half of this match. It may have been direct, but it was incisive and clinical.
It all began from Geoffrey Kondogbia. The Frenchman would sweep up in front of the back four and lay the ball off to better ball-playing teammates such as Marcelo Brozovic, Jovetic and Perišic. From there, the trio would launch attacks with quick-minded defence-splitting passes, or strong runs with the ball, deep into Empoli territory.
Countless chances were created by Inter in that opening 45 minutes, and the counter-attacking threat on display had the away side’s defence scrambling to organise numbers to repel these attacks. Both of the Nerazzurri’s goals in this match came from such chances, and Mancini may get the best out of his men employing these tactics.
Empoli too easily bypassed in midfield
Although the Tuscans did carry a midfield threat going forward, they were too easily exposed when defending in the first half, with their lack of defensive output in midfield leaving the Azzurri back-four an increasingly difficult task.
Far too often in the opening 45 minutes, Inter were given the time and space to play out from midfield and launch attacks either by long balls, short and quick passes or dribbles. There was not a true defensive-midfielder in Empoli’s starting XI, with Paredes (the man tasked with sitting in the middle) a more attack-minded individual. In saying this, he has impressed in that role this season.
The away side’s right flank, in particular, was under distress fairly often, with Zambelli afforded minimal assistance when dealing with the powerful Perišic. The former Borussia Dortmund man was one of the chief creators in the match, linking with Jovetic and Brozovic and taking the ball into dangerous areas himself.
Inter sit back in second half, Empoli press forward
It was a match of two halves at the San Siro as Inter’s midfield productivity dissipated and Empoli began to make their dominance of possession count and control the game in the second half.
As often seen throughout the campaign, Inter’s midfield was non-existent and they had not outlet to get the ball to in order to create opportunities. They simply took the unambitious route and seemingly went into their shell in the hope of preserving their lead. Empoli, by contrast, took the game to the home side and were unfortunate to come away with nothing in the end.
Paredes and Piotr Zielinski were key in midfield as they spread the play from the middle of the park, and Büchel’s energy and drive did not go unnoticed. Linking with Riccardo Saponara did not prove too difficult, however the Nerazzurri back four did do an apt job of not allowing their opponents to threaten Handanovic’s goal.
Conclusion
Inter Milan looked as threatening in this game as they have all season, creating numerous chances and cutting the Azzurri defence apart. Their second half showing, however, was much of the same as we have seen them throughout the campaign, and they were lucky to scrape through with three points in the end.
Empoli seemed unable to cope with the pressure applied to them on the counter, with their midfield unable to help the defence quell the threat that came from Inter’s front four. They looked much better in the second half, though that was more due to the fact that Mancini’s side withdrew all attacking intentions and attempted to shut up shop.
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