Inter defeated Serie A’s current runners-up to reduce the deficit on third place and strike a critical blow to Napoli’s slim title chances.
The Nerazzurri put on quite a show for the home support at the San Siro on Saturday night, convincingly defeating Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli 2-0.
Much like the last Serie A fixture between the two sides, an early blow was struck. This time it was Inter to draw first blood, with Mauro Icardi delicately controlling a lobbed pass from Gary Medel and calmly lifting the ball over the oncoming Pepe Reina in the fourth minute.
Napoli controlled possession and play for much of the first-half after that, however, the hosts launched a fatal counter-attack just a minute before stoppage-time. Another lobbed ball to Icardi – this time from Stevan Jovetic – was received by the striker, who unselfishly played Marcelo Brozovic through on goal to finish and double Inter’s lead.
Despite the away side dominating possession for most of the game, they were unable to create enough chances to worry the opposition back four and test Samir Handanovic in goal.
The victory sees the gab between third place AS Roma and Roberto Mancini’s side reduced to just three points momentarily, while Juventus could extend their lead at the top to nine points should they defeat Palermo on Sunday.
POPULAR ARTICLES
EPL – Player Ratings – Chelsea 0 Manchester City 3
What We Learned – EPL – Chelsea 0 Manchester City 3
EPL – What We Learned – West Brom 0 Watford 1
Formations
Mancini decided upon changing the 4-4-2 formation that helped overcome Frosinone in the previous round, switching to 4-3-3. As well as that, four personnel changes were made going into this clash. João Miranda and Yuto Nagatomo returned from suspension and went straight into the starting lineup at the expense of Juan Jesus and Alex Telles, while Jonathan Biabiany and Felipe Melo made way for Medel and Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Inter Milan XI (4-3-3): Handanovic (GK); D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Nagatomo; Brozovic, Medel, Kondogbia; Jovetic, Icardi, Perišic
Sarri stuck to his preferred 4-3-3 formation and made just three changes to his squad. Vlad Chiriches and Faouzi Ghoulam made way in defence for Kalidou Koulibaly and Ivan Strinic. David López was also replaced by Allan in midfield.
Napoli XI (4-3-3): Reina (GK); Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Strinic; Allan, Jorginho, Hamšík; Callejón, Gabbiadini, Insigne
Jovetic key to unlocking Napoli defence
Starting in his second consecutive game for Inter since late last year, the Montenegrin put in another impressive showing, but this time against higher calibre opponents.
Starting off on the right-wing, the 26-year-old was given a free role to roam about the pitch and contribute in as many areas as he could. He did this to great effect, sometimes popping up on both wings or through the centre as well, where he had his most influential moments. Indeed, it was in the middle where Jovetic linked up with his teammates to create goal scoring opportunities, such as that lobbed through ball to Icardi before Inter’s second goal.
The former Fiorentina man’s vision, ingenuity and work rate were key in this game to unlocking the away side’s back four, and he was vital to Inter’s success on the day.
https://youtu.be/Pi-BCn7g93w
Partenopei defence caught square in key moments
When up against a player like Icardi, one who sits on the shoulder of the defender and makes runs in behind, it is wise to have someone sweeping up in-behind. For both of the home side’s goals, however, Napoli’s back-four (Raul Albiol and Koulibably at centre-back, in particular) were caught square and Icardi was the main beneficiary from this, scoring one and creating another.
Admittedly, there was a hint of offside for the match’s first goal, though the defence still made elementary errors that cost them dearly in this encounter. For a side boasting the second best defence in the league so far this season, this is disappointing.
Napoli unable to penetrate key areas
Despite dominating possession by 64% to 36%, the visitors could make their way into the opponents’ penalty area. Even when they did gain territory inside the box, Inter were easily able to quell any Partenopei movement and stop goal scoring opportunities in their tracks.
Out of the 10 shots Napoli had throughout the duration of the 90 minutes, 70% of these were from outside the box, highlighting the brilliant work done by Inter’s back-four and midfield. In comparison to the home side’s 11 shots, just 45% of these were from outside the area.
An organised Inter back-four, seen so often in the early stages of the current season, was key to this occurrence and Mancini has to be credited with drilling these instructions into his charges.
Nerazzurri midfield fluid in one of its best games of the season
Inter have been at the summit of the table for a period of the season and looked good on their lead. However, even in these moments there was a lot lacking from the Milanese side’s midfield.
It has taken until only recently for Inter Milan to regain an identity in their play and fluidity and creativity in midfield, with the performance against Napoli one of the best in the middle of the park the club has produced this season. Despite allowing Sarri’s men more passes in midfield, Internazionale were unusually efficient when they did have time on the ball.
Kondogbia looked assured and powerful in midfield as he contributed in both attack and defence extremely well, while Medel as always was a rock in front of the back four, rarely letting anything through. Brozovic was arguably the most essential of the three though, getting the ball forward quickly and linking up well with his teammates. He even managed to slot Inter’s second in a brilliant performance for his side.
Conclusion
The home side’s defence was as stringent as ever, performing as a unit as it resembled an impassible barrier, reducing Sarri’s side to shots from distance. The midfield was just as good, though, linking up well and getting the ball forward quickly and efficiently to cause considerable damage to Napoli’s back four.
The Neapolitans will now have to ensure Roma do not sneak up and steal second place from underneath them following this defeat. By doing so, Sarri must ensure similar errors are not made in defence. They also must do a better job at inolving Manolo Gabbiadini in their play more frequently for their next match, with Gonzalo Higuaín out for one more game after his ban was reduced to three matches.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
