Serie A – What We Learned – Hellas Verona 3 Inter Milan...

Serie A – What We Learned – Hellas Verona 3 Inter Milan 3

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Ivan Perišic rescued a point for the Nerazzurri in a high-scoring affair against bottom-placed side Hellas.

Inter Milan made a late comeback against rock-bottom Hellas Verona, drawing 3-3 at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on Sunday, with second-half goals from Mauro Icardi and Perišic ensuring Roberto Mancini’s side did not leave empty-handed.

Centre-back Jeison Murillo was first to hit the back of the net with a towering header from a corner, which forced a quick reply from Luigi Delneri’s side as Filip Helander and Eros Pisano had headed efforts of their own from set pieces make their way past Samir Handanovic in goal for Inter to complete the turnaround.

Hellas added to their lead less than 15 minutes into the second half as Artur Ionita put a third Gialloblu header into the back of the net from a set piece, however Icardi reacted just five minutes later with a composed finish from close range to claw back the deficit for Inter Milan.

And the comeback was completed in the 78th minute as Perišic got on the end of Rodrigo Palacio’s whipped ball into the box, with Pierluigi Gollini powerless to keep the effort out of his own net.

The result means Inter have won just once in their last six league outings and failed to capitalise on Fiorentina’s 1-1 draw against Bologna and make their way back into the top three, while Hellas – who only grabbed their first win of the season in the previous round – are still nine points from safety.

Disorganised defence minus Miranda

Due to accumulating five yellow cards throughout the course of the current Serie A campaign, João Miranda was suspended, leaving Murillo and Juan Jesus to deputise in his absence.

What ensued at the heart of the Nerazzurri defence may not have encouraged Mancini to the extent he was hoping, with Inter conceding three goals from set pieces and allowing Delneri’s side to occasionally slip through the cracks.

The way in which Murillo and Juan lost their markers or missed headers during the processes in which the Gialloblu scored their goals would concern the former Manchester City manager, with Mancini himself purposely building a team full of lumbering, powerful players who dominate the game in certain areas on the pitch with their strength as well as in the air with their height – something that was evidently not on display at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

This result means Mancini’s side has moved further away from reclaiming its title of boasting the tightest defence in Serie A. Miranda’s absence may well have been crucial in this occurrence.

Hellas Verona’s ability on set pieces could help in relegation battle

What was Inter’s undoing was what inevitably brought about Verona’s success during this encounter – the ability to react on set pieces.

In Luca Marrone, Hellas have a talented set piece technician, with the man on loan from Juventus delivering threatening balls into Inter’s penalty area from corners and free kicks. Inter themselves are one of, if not the, tallest sides in the league, yet were powerless to deny the Veronese side a triplet of goals from set pieces.

With Luca Toni, Giampaolo Pazzini, Helander and Vangelis Moras (among others) in the side, Hellas carry an aerial threat, and with the side just nine points adrift from safety it is not impossible to for Delneri’s men to climb the table and retain their Serie A status. In making the most of this ability from set pieces, Hellas Verona stand a chance, even if it is a very slim one at that, of surviving the drop. The fact they are undefeated in their last five shows this.

Perišic a better option than those starting alongside Icardi

With Eder and Rodrigo Palacio starting alongisde the mercurial Icardi in the last two games, the Croatian has had to settle for a place on the bench.

As the two alongside Inter’s captain failed to make the most of their possession and pose a threat to one of Serie A’s leakiest defences in the first half, Perišic was sent on in the second to make an impact – something he did to great effect.

First assisting his captain to ensure the Milanese side got back into the match, the former Wolfsburg man then completed the comeback with a powerful finish following an intelligent run to the back post.

It is only a matter of consistency for the 27-year-old, and if he can put in similar showings to the one against Hellas he may permanently displace the pair in Inter’s starting XI. He has proved in this match he is more dangerous.

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