Mauro Icardi was back on the scoresheet to hand his side their first victory in the league since round five, coming at the expense of Delio Rossi’s Bologna.
Inter Milan overcame the 18th placed side with a 1-0 victory at the Stadio Renato Dell’Ara, with the game’s solitary goal coming from captain Icardi in the 67th minute.
Marcelo Brozovic’s through ball was not dealt with well by 21-year-old defender Alex Ferrari, allowing Adem Ljajic to go through on goal, who unselfishly squared to the onrushing Icardi for a tap into the empty net. This was despite being a man down, after Felipe Melo was harshly sent-off on the hour mark for a challenge that saw him see his second yellow card of the match.
The home side, who were unbeaten in three meetings against the Nerazzurri, began the brighter of the two and gained territory deep inside the opposition half, but not posing a distinct threat on Samir Handanovic’s goal.
Just before the half-hour mark though, Inter should have hit the lead. Ljajic delivered a free-kick from wide into the box, with Ivan Perišic getting himself free to head the ball past Angelo da Costa in goal for Bologna. However, the Croatian could not get enough contact onto it, glancing his headed effort well wide for a throw-in.
Rossi’s men then contrived their first threatening moment on goal, as on-loan Sunderland winger Emanuele Giaccherini escaped the attentions of two Internazionale players inside his own half and lobbed a wide ball through for Matteo Mancosu to run onto. Mancosu reached the box and played a low cross in for Anthony Mounier, though the Frenchman could not get a toe onto the delivery.
Ferrari made his way into the Bologna box with superb skill moments later, though his effort was well blocked by Davide Santon. Ljajic then had a further chance to put his side up going into the interval, though his long-range free-kick was held onto by by the goalkeeper.
The second-half began in differing circumstances, with 22-year-old Icardi nearly opening the scoring. His header, however, fell straight into the grasp of Bologna’s Brazilian shot-stopper.
Brozovic attempted an ambitious long-range volley, which was held onto by da Costa once more, before 32-year-old Melo was given his marching orders in harsh circumstances after allegedly blocking Luca Rizzo off the ball, receiving his second yellow for the night.
Shortly after, the lethal Argentine Icardi scored what would be the winning goal for Roberto Mancini’s side with a simple tap in.
Much like Inter’s last match against Palermo, the side seemingly clicked into gear after going down to 10 men, though nearly conceded an equaliser in the final minute of extra-time.
Inter Milan youth product Mattia Destro came-off the bench late in the game and received a ball on the edge of the six-yard box, only for his volley to be brilliantly kept out at point-blank range by Handanovic, preserving the three points for the away side and sending them back to the summit of the Serie A standings. Meanwhile, Bologna could potentially slip back to the foot of the table if results elsewhere do not go their way.
Formations
Returning to where it all began for Mancini in his professional career, the 50-year-old made six personnel changes to the side that drew 1-1 away at Palermo, with the weekend’s clash against AS Roma in mind for the Italian manager. Yuto Nagatomo, Alex Telles and Fredy Guarín returned to the bench, while Jeison Murillo served his one-match ban for his sending-off in Inter’s most recent clash, with Gary Medel and Stevan Jovetic also falling out of the starting lineup. Santon, Andrea Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Melo, Brozovic and Ljajic all came into the side.
Inter Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Handanovic (GK); Santon, Miranda, Ranocchia, Juan; Kondogbia, Melo; Brozovic, Ljajic, Perišic; Icardi
54-year-old Rossi kept the formation heading into this clash though made four alterations to his side, with Emil Krafth, Marios Oikonomou, Godfred Donsah and Destro making way for Ferrari, Luca Rossettini, Saphir Taïder and Mancosu.
Bologna XI (4-3-3): da Costa (GK); Ferrari, Gastaldello, Rossettini, Masina; Taïder, Diawara, Giaccherini; Mounier, Mancosu, Rizzo
Inter utilise right-wing for attacks
21-year-old Moroccan left-back Adam Masina was constantly targeted as Inter ran rampant down Bologna’s left-flank, creating the bulk of their chances from that side. Masina did not have an overly poor night by any means, though often gave too much respect to the man on the ball on Inter’s right-wing and occasionally had players run in-behind him.
53% of the Nerazzurri’s attacks came down the right-flank, with just 21% and 26% coming through the middle respectively. As well as this, of the 18 crosses Inter created, 16 came from the right.
It appears Mancini’s side has finally found an avenue in which to create opportunities, with Santon’s overlapping runs benefiting the side. Juan, on the other side though (who is naturally a centre-back), does not do this as often, and Inter may find more advantage with having someone such as Alex Telles marauding down the left.
Bologna defence caught
For the most part, the home side’s defence was able to deal with whatever the Nerazzurri hurled its way. A real telling moment in the match, however, came when Brozovic’s ball cut through Bologna’s defence and allowed Ljajic to run through onto goal before setting up Icardi.
Although it was Ferrari’s missed interception that proved crucial for the goal, the home side’s two centre-backs in Daniele Gastaldello and Luca Rossettini were too far apart from each other to be on hand to cover Ferrari if he missed the interception, which he did.
Brozovic, Ljajic and Perišic interchanging
A key theme of the match that allowed the away side to create a few chances, particularly down the right, was the interchanging roles between the two Croatians and the Serbian. The switch in formation to one with wingers was fundamental to this and Mancini deserves credit for this tactical decision, even though it was long overdue.
The way the three attackers interchanged confused the Rossoblu’s defenders and ensured more space was created up front for Icardi, who got into the game a lot more than what he had been in recent weeks.
Conclusion
An admirable performance by the home side did not result in any reward, with Rossi still under pressure to haul his side away from the relegation zone. Elementary errors at the back cost the team, though encouraging signs were on show.
Inter, meanwhile, are beginning to click somewhat in attack. More synergy and fluidity in midfield is needed, however, though Mancini seems to have done the correct thing in playing players most players in their strongest positions – Perišic being the prime example here. A significant level of improvement is needed if the Nerazzurri are to overcome Roma on the weekend, though.
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