Inter made it six games unbeaten after a dour 0-0 draw at home to Chievo Verona, with both teams’ profligacy in front of goal meaning neither side was able to make the breakthrough.
Over 33,000 attended the San Siro and witnessed a dull affair between the two sides, as the Nerazzurri wasted every chance that came their way whilst the Gialloblu were unsuccessful in their attempts to find a way past the brilliant Samir Handanovic.
Inter dominated the early proceedings and carved open its opponent’s defence at will, but failed to hit the back of the net, with Fredy Guarin, Mauro Icardi, and Marcelo Brozovic nearly finding a way past Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri.
Internazionale stepped up its pursuit for a goal in the second half with more fluid ball movement. However, Rolando Maran’s men were able to create chances of their own through quick and incisive counter attacks, and Roberto Mancini will be thanking Handanovic for helping salvage a point for the Nerazzurri.
Finishing letting Inter down
For all the chances it created, Inter Milan was unable to get past Argentine goalkeeper Bizzarri in goal for Chievo. The team mustered 17 shots throughout the whole game (13 off target and four on target), yet in doing so, it failed to test Bizzarri into making a meaningful save.
Guarin’s curled effort on seven minutes, Icardi’s powerful header in the 20th minute, and Brozovic’s over-hit cross on 27 minutes were the closest that Mancini’s charges came to putting themselves ahead in the first half.
Add a miss-hit and off target attempt each from Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri in the 76th and 77th minute respectively as well as an audacious overhead kick from Icardi on 79 minutes and there are enough chances for the Nerazzurri to, realistically speaking, be at least three ahead of their opponents on the night.
A different formation may need to be utilised for Inter Milan
Roberto Mancini has stuck with the 4-3-1-2 formation for the majority of his time at the helm of the Nerazzurri. With many talented central and attacking midfielders and not enough capable wingers in the squad this is understandable.
However, the January additions of Podolski and Shaqiri gave Inter’s manager the option to utilise a formation based around width. He has, though, rarely deployed this formation perhaps due to the minimal impact the two aforementioned players have had since their arrivals.
In saying this, today’s match was the perfect one for such a formation. Chievo’s full-backs Cristiano Biraghi and former Inter man Ezequiel Schelotto got forward regularly throughout the match and it was in these areas where the team from Verona was able to start its counter attacks. Deploying wingers would mean that they would be able to track the opposition full-backs and help stop the Gialloblu’s forays forward.
As well as this, most of Inter’s chances also began from wide areas. In the first half, the centre of the pitch was packed so Guarin and Brozovic peeled wide on seperate occasions, and both times Inter Milan nearly took the lead. The introduction of wingers in Podolski and Shaqiri in the second half also brought about more chances for the Nerazzurri.
Handanovic will be in high demand in the transfer window
Another point-saving performance was produced by the Slovenian shot-stopper at the San Siro. Handanovic denied former AC Milan striker Alberto Paloschi on three occasions in the second half (the last of the three in the final minute of stoppage time) as well as Riccardo Meggiorini on 70 minutes.
Ever since his arrival from Udinese in 2012, the 30-year-old has consistently turned in scintillating performances, many of which have won his team games.
Tottenham is rumoured to be interested in the Slovenian and may pursue him in the coming transfer window. Should David de Gea leave Manchester United for Real Madrid, the Red Devils may go after Hugo Lloris. With Inter unlikely to make it into Europe at all next season, it seems as if there is potential for the deal to occur.
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