Club captain Mauro Icardi scored the game’s solitary goal with a cool finish, ensuring Inter kept their 100% start to the season intact.
Both teams went into the match undefeated and sitting at the summit of the Serie A table, however it was Inter Milan who prevailed against the Gialloblu at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, coming out 1-0 winners in a hard-fought affair that could have easily gone the way of the home side.
Argentine front man Icardi opened his account for the season against Rolando Maran’s men only minutes before the interval, as veteran left-back Massimo Gobbi failed to clear a Geoffrey Kondogbia delivery into the box, with Inter’s number nine calmly cutting inside and tucking the ball past the onrushing Albano Bizzarri in goal for Chievo.
Another main talking point to come from the match includes the injury sustained to Inter’s all-action centre-back Jeison Murillo, who had to be withdrawn after the hour mark.
The Colombian’s injury means Inter will be without four of their five senior centre-backs, with out-of-favour Andrea Ranocchia the last man standing for the time being.
The hosts began the match in a positive fashion, as Argentine midfielder Lucas Castro attempted an audacious volley from the edge of the box, which was easily collected by Samir Handanovic.
New arrival Ivan Perišic then saw a mishit cross turn into a lobbed effort on goal that nearly caught Bizzarri off his line.
With Roberto Mancini’s side struggling to carve opportunities against a resolute and determined Chievo defence, it was the home side who gained control for much of the first half, with Handanovic denying Valter Birsa and Castro prior to Icardi’s goal.
Early in the second half, former Milan striker Alberto Paloschi saw his effort sail over the bar in what would have been a well struck equaliser for the home side.
Shortly after the hour-mark, makeshift centre-back Gary Medel made a crucial interception to ensure Riccardo Meggiorini did not have a tap in following a dangerous cross into the box.
Deep into the second half Perišic decided against laying the ball off for Rodrigo Palacio, free in the box, and eventually saw his effort blocked.
In the dying moments of the match, Chievo centre-back Bostjan Cesar saw his header from a corner whistle past Handanovic’s post, in what was a heart stopping moment for the Nerazzurri.
The affair was a scrappy one that lacked enough chances to satisfy the neutrals, though was one that saw both teams play with their hearts on their sleeves in what was a battle between two tacticians in Maran and Mancini.
Formations
Mancini made one change from last week’s encounter against AC Milan, with Brazilian left-back Alex Telles coming in for the injured Juan Jesus.
Inter Milan XI (4-3-1-2): Handanovic (GK); Santon, Medel, Murillo, Telles; Kondogbia, Melo, Guarín; Perišic; Jovetic, Icardi.
No alterations were made to the Chievo side that drew 1-1 at the Juventus Stadium against last season’s Champions League runners-up.
Chievo Verona XI (4-3-1-2): Bizarri (GK); Frey, Gamberini, Cesar, Gobbi; Hetemaj, Rigoni, Castro; Birsa; Meggiorini, Paloschi.
Yellow and blue wall absorbs Inter pressure
For much of the game, the Mussi Volanti sat back and allowed Mancini’s side to come at them, but to no avail for the Nerazzurri, who apart from the goal only really threatened from distance despite coming out eventual 1-0 winners.
Maran employed a rigid defensive unit that saw the midfield line up as the preliminary wall in front of the back four when Inter were in control of possession, whilst either Paloschi or Meggiorini were tasked with dropping deep inside their own half in order to aid the hosts in these defensive phases.
This was backed up by key defensive stats that saw Chievo make a staggering 35 interceptions in comparison to Inter Milan’s seven (28 of which were made inside the home side’s own half), whilst also making 27 successful tackles, 17 more than Inter. This is not due to the fact that Maran’s side spent a lot of time defending – which they did not – as the Gialloblu saw more of the ball in the opposition’s final third than Inter Milan (29% for Chievo and 26% for Inter).
The defensive unit set up by the hosts also enabled them to control the game for long periods, mainly the first half, and threaten in attacking situations, creating 11 chances in comparison to Inter’s five.
Regardless of the result, Maran and Chievo can hold their heads up high for the performance that was produced at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on Sunday.
Attacks down the left cause Inter headaches
Telles coming into the starting lineup for compatriot Juan provided a period of transition for an Inter side that has been mostly solid defensively in the opening rounds of Serie A this season.
Mainly a centre-back, the 24-year-old has been impressive on the left-side of Inter’s back four prior to his injury in the Milan derby. With Telles however, Mancini has a talented and natural option to fill in the position, though this was not on show for periods of the game against Chievo.
Despite fielding a narrow 4-3-1-2 formation, the Gialloblu had a lot of joy attacking down their right flank, and Telles was the man who was often caught out, with the hosts finding plenty of freedom required to cross and shoot from that side.
According to whoscored.com, the home side fired in 47% of their shots from Inter’s left side, with 47% also coming from the middle (by stark contrast, Internazionale had 79% in this area), and 7% coming down the left.
Now with his first Serie A start under his belt, 22-year-old Telles will be expected to soak up these experiences and make the left-back position his own this season.
Individual skill rather than tactical nous winning Inter games
It was yet another week in which a piece of fine individual play from one of Inter’s marquee men grabbed them maximum points.
Against Atalanta in the opening round it was Montenegrin striker Jovetic who provided a piece of magic, while round two against Serie A newcomers Carpi saw Fredy Guarín turn in an authoritative performance as he grabbed two assists. Last week against AC Milan was one that showcased yet another Guarín masterclass, who hit a sweet strike from distance.
Sunday’s game saw Icardi grab the headlines with a composed piece of skill in the box, something Inter fans have become used to from their captain.
Contento por el primer gol en Campionato ⚽️?⚫️ #MI9 #amala #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/ipv6OQTG1h
— MauroIcardi (@MauroIcardi) September 20, 2015
Tactically outclassed for much of the match, Mancini had to rely on the young Argentine to pry open the defensive deadlock that was Chievo Verona’s back four in this encounter.
Conclusion – Chievo Verona
It seems as if Maran has found the formula for relative success for his side, which, before this match, was sitting pretty in second and was one of the few sides yet to be beaten.
A 1-1 draw with last season’s champions last week was backed up by this performance, which did not deserve to see the home side go down.
If much of the same is repeated by the Gialloblu in the future then their Serie A status should be safely secured in due time.
Conclusion – Inter Milan
Inter Milan, on the other hand, did obtain maximum points, though not in an entirely convincing manner, much like their previous three matches this campaign.
One day the side’s luck will run out, and Mancini needs to find a way to inject some fluidity and creativity into the team’s playing style.
For now though, Inter have four wins from four and that must obviously be seen as a positive despite the manner in which these wins have been acquired.
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