Sarri’s team ahead with Felipe Anderson, then the Argentine enters and everything changes: brace. Gosens also scored, getting hurt. Nerazzurri with 57 points
After three consecutive league defeats at the San Siro, Inter beat Lazio and tied Roma and Milan in fourth place in the standings. Now the fight for qualification for the next Champions League will be beautiful and even the Biancocelesti, who seemed safe, are no longer safe, thanks to two consecutive knockouts. Inzaghi’s men deserved to win the direct match: more shots, more possession, more desire, more running and more grit. The semi-final of the Coppa Italia doesn’t weigh in the legs of D’Ambrosio and his companions who, despite going behind in the score, have the coolness and strength to overturn the result. Not a trivial feat if you are facing an opponent of this caliber who has had all week to prepare for the match. The brace from Lautaro, who came off the bench like Gosens, was decisive: this time Inzaghi’s substitutions made the difference and canceled the day to forget of two other ex-Biancocelesti, Acerbi and Correa, booed by San Siro. Even if in the end it’s applause for everyone, with thoughts already flying to the Euroderby on May 10th.
Acerbi, mistake from ex
—
Inzaghi changes four men compared to Wednesday’s victory against Juventus: in attack he lines up Lukaku and Correa, while D’Ambrosio in defense allows Darmian to advance and Dumfries to initially rest on the bench. Sarri focuses on Immobile from 1 ‘and leaves Pedro out in the trident. Lazio want to keep possession of the ball and manage the pace of the match, but Inter won’t let them because they play the game and get out of the opponent’s pressure well by turning the ball around or changing the offensive front. The Biancocelesti, while keeping the defensive line high, are good at not allowing Big Rom depth, but D’Ambrosio and his teammates still make themselves dangerous thanks above all to the resourcefulness of the midfielders. Brozovic is the first to let it be understood that it’s the day and, in addition to setting up well, calls for a great save from Provedel after 5’. Inter played better and the Lazio goalkeeper also had to defuse a shot from Mkhitaryan, served by Barella. The Armenian hits the mark in the 25th minute, on an assist from Correa, after a recovery from D’Ambrosio and a verticalization from Brozovic, but the Var canceled due to a millimeter offside from Tucu. Inter were in control until Acerbi combined a disaster and gave the opponents the 1-0 goal: an assist from Luis Alberto and a goal from Felipe Anderson. The Nerazzurri Meazza fell silent, but the team had the strength to react: Mkhitaryan and Barella tried but didn’t find Provedel’s mirror from a good position. In the recovery it is Lazio who go one step away from 2-0 thanks to another “blunder” by the ex Acerbi who frees Immobile with a shot: Onana saves, then Bastoni performs a miracle on Anderson’s tap-in.
Inzaghi changes
—
Inter are back on the pitch with Dumfries on the right, Darmian back in defense and D’Ambrosio a spectator. Sarri replies after a few minutes with the former Vecino in place of Cataldi. The tactical outline of the match doesn’t change: the Nerazzurri play the game, have more ball possession, finish more, but don’t find the goal. Barella served by Dimarco kicks off, then Luis Alberto calls Onana to save who is ready. The Curva Nord clamors for the entry of Lautaro in place of the disappointing Correa and Inzaghi throws Toro and Calhanoglu into the fray in place of Tucu and Mkhitaryan. The Turk gives a great ball to Dimarco who “shoots” without thinking about it, but Provedel keeps him afloat. It is Inter who commands the confrontation and Lukaku, revitalized by the entry of Martinez, with the first dangerous point of his performance, serves a great assist to Dumfries who is unable to deposit on the net. Inzaghi advances the center of gravity even further with Gosens in place of Bastoni (Dimarco moves back in defense) and Lautaro, launched on the counterattack, is unable to conclude due to the good recovery of Casale. The pressure from Inter materializes with a goal from Lautaro, served by Big Rom, but Gosens is very good at interrupting Lazio’s action and restarting his goals. Sarri feels the blow, also because his sons are no longer able to rekindle. San Siro pushes as in the best days and Lukaku, transformed in the second half, offers another assist that Gosens in acrobatics (and ahead of Marusic) deflects the net for the 2-1. Then he comes out injured in his right shoulder slammed in the impact on the ground: De Vrij keeps pace with him. Lazio doesn’t have the energy to react: they attack, but without malice and also suffer Martinez’s second personal goal, now at an altitude of 21 in the season and -4 from his record. The Meazza is a bedlam and Inter are fourth again (tied with Roma and Milan) in the Champions League race.
April 30, 2023 (change April 30, 2023 | 2:36 pm)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
