A game like this presents itself. No need to know that Juventus is having a terrible season, punctuated by multiple clashes with their own fans, or that Inter is trailing behind Roma by one point with an epic European confrontation on top their heads, in order to appreciate the meaning of such a fixture. The Calciopoli trials become obsolete for ninety minutes, in time for muscles to flexed, yellow cards to be shown and a little magic to be produced.
Inter: Julio Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti – Thiago Motta, Cambiasso – Eto’o, Snejder, Pandev – Milito.
Juventus: Buffon – Zebina, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso – Marchisio, Melo, Sissoko, Diego – Del Piero, Iaquinta
Juventus: Buffon – Zebina, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso – Marchisio, Melo, Sissoko, Diego – Del Piero, Iaquinta
The first minutes are all Juventus, and all on the left flank. Iaquinta tests Julico Cesar’s gloves within the first minute, by the second Del Piero tangos with Inter’s defence and forces the same Julio Cesar to a stretch save. Marchisio takes his chance as well with no success, Melo and Sissoko distribute tacles accordingly and Inter is lost. We have to wait until the tenth minute to see Inter bring the ball in Juve’s half for the first time. The game becomes an intense midfield battle, with a multitude of petty fouls from Chiellini’s elbow in Pandev’s neck to Samuel’s cleats in Diego’s heals. Fake rhythm, fouls, shirt pulling, infuriated coaches, fans who whistle, welcome to the serie A. Under the influence of a good Snejder, Inter starts to monopolize the ball and gets its first opportunity through Thiago Motta’s shot, well saved by a returning Buffon (16th). The pace quickens, the pitch becomes long, midfield become transparent and the first yellow cards fall. Make that five in just as many minutes: Snejder, Samuel, Thiago Motta, Sissoko and Melo (more on that later). To Grosso’s incessant dangerous crosses, the Nerazzuri answer with shots from Eto’o and Snejder, the first blocked at the last minute by a gigantic Sissoko (26th), the second saved by Buffon (31st). Samuel and Lucio are left alone to stop Juventus’ counterattacks, passes go astray, Pandev looses his hair, Cambiasso intercepts and Zebina plays in a three piece suit, elegantly that is. The possible turning point of the game comes at the 37th minute when Zanetti, with 500 games of Serie A behind him, pushes the referee to issue a second yellow card to Sissoko. The mission complicates itself for Zaccheroni who immediately replaces Del Piero with yet another clone of Nedved’s, namely Poulsen (40th). The Juve defence remains impenetrable, with Chiellini and Cannavaro both stepping up to the task of blocking Inter’s approaches. Iaquinta is left to take his chance from over 30 meters out (43rd), no problem for Julio Cesar. A couple of more fouls, a couple of more zooms on Mourinho, a couple of more minutes and the first half ends.
The second half starts with Stankovic’s appearance on the pitch. The ball possession is fully Inter’s now, ten-men Juventus forced to play the counter attack scheme. Marchisio and Diego are deprived of suitable balls (not in the figurative way…) and Inter now starts using the whole width of the pitch. And that is where most of the problem is: for the next thirty minute, Mourinho’s team will be ultra dominant, with a series of chances, but lack the incisiveness to break the deadlock. With Balotelli’s fresh legs now on the field too, the Nerazzuri miss just about every kind of opportunity to score: Eto’o’s speed sends the ball in the stands (54th), Milito stares at his close range attempt gently evade the post (57th), Stankovic sees his shot saved by a super-Buffon (64th), Milito (again) eats himself on an über-close range (again) header (69th) and Snejder puts his two shots off target (70th and 71st). I know this is not the most poetically put sentence, yet there is no other way to describe the opportunities left unconcluded by the Nerazzuri, who still remain undisputed in ball possession and (hence?) clueless as to how pierce Buffon’s net. What this game needed was a spark, some spice, a moment of fantasy, properly supplied by Maicon. At the 75th minute, after thirty minutes of unfruitful efforts, the right back receives the ball on a corner kick: the first touch, with the right thigh, is to control the ball; the second, with the right foot, is to eliminate an improbable defensive Amauri; the third, again with the right thigh, is to bring the ball back to shooting height; the fourth, back the right foot, is to crucify Buffon with a superb volley in the corner of the net. Note, the ball hasn’t touched the ground since. A goal for the books, a goal for youtube. Magic indeed that serves as a reminder: Maicon is Brazilian, and possibly the best right back in the world. The fans are in heaven, Mourinho can sigh of relief. 1-0. The game is now unlocked and Inter can recite in peace. Balotelli sends a beautiful free kick on Paralysed-Buffon’s crossbar (80th), Zanetti devours the right and left flank. Diego kick Juve’s only hope (a free kick outside the box) into Julio Cesar’s hands. Inter finally add the long awaited second goal at the 92nd, when Muntari miserably misfires, giving Eto’o the opportunity to score in an empty net. 2-0, final score. Inter seem over the crisis and ready to confront Barcelona, although the Blaugrana won’t be ten but eleven, and although Juve can only very limitedly be compared to the Catalan ogres. For Juventus, the season needs to end as three more points slip away.
Grades
Inter – 6.5: Took advantage of the numeric superiority well by monopolizing the ball although the munitions seemed to run a bit short before Maicon’s miracle. Now Barcelona.
Julio Cesar - 6: Few saves, the ones he did, he did well. Comforting (at least).
Maicon – 7: It’s not only the goal, defensively and offensively the Brazilian is a model of willingness and technical ability. If he has to miss every other shot in order to transform this one, then so be it.
Lucio – 6: Relatively calm night for Lucio. The night seemed rough at the start, the job was done equally as well.
Samuel – 6: Gave himself more than enough on the duels, most of which he won, discovered his left foot today.
Zanetti – 500: After Facchetti and Bergomi, Inter produce another giant. Grazie Capitano!
Cambiasso – 6: Uneasy during the first half, El Gaucho had all the space he wanted in the second accompanied by his usual precious interceptions.
Thiago Motta – 6: Showed his muscles all throughout the first half, noticeably with a good opportunity, was replaced after.
Eto’o – 5,5: It is undeniable, Eto’o has acquired a work aspect to his game, an important one too, but it’s always better to pass to Milito than to send the ball in the stands.
Snejder – 5.5: Wesley seemed more comfortable with a dense opposition around him, hence during the first half.
Pandev – 5.5: Some good movements, Goran was much more of a utility player today. I still want to see his left foot rip one.
Milito – 5 or 7: This troubles me: should I grade the Principe poorly because he missed evident goals or reward him for his constant work even on an unlucky day (see the pass to Muntari on the last goal)
.Stankovic – 6: Dejan showed what he does best, taking the ball running straight and unleashing a pachydermic shot (sometimes on target).
.Balotelli – 5.5: Apart from that free kick, SuperMario didn’t show great things and often lost the ball in easy situations.
.Muntari – N/A: his only shot of the night became a pass.
Julio Cesar - 6: Few saves, the ones he did, he did well. Comforting (at least).
Maicon – 7: It’s not only the goal, defensively and offensively the Brazilian is a model of willingness and technical ability. If he has to miss every other shot in order to transform this one, then so be it.
Lucio – 6: Relatively calm night for Lucio. The night seemed rough at the start, the job was done equally as well.
Samuel – 6: Gave himself more than enough on the duels, most of which he won, discovered his left foot today.
Zanetti – 500: After Facchetti and Bergomi, Inter produce another giant. Grazie Capitano!
Cambiasso – 6: Uneasy during the first half, El Gaucho had all the space he wanted in the second accompanied by his usual precious interceptions.
Thiago Motta – 6: Showed his muscles all throughout the first half, noticeably with a good opportunity, was replaced after.
Eto’o – 5,5: It is undeniable, Eto’o has acquired a work aspect to his game, an important one too, but it’s always better to pass to Milito than to send the ball in the stands.
Snejder – 5.5: Wesley seemed more comfortable with a dense opposition around him, hence during the first half.
Pandev – 5.5: Some good movements, Goran was much more of a utility player today. I still want to see his left foot rip one.
Milito – 5 or 7: This troubles me: should I grade the Principe poorly because he missed evident goals or reward him for his constant work even on an unlucky day (see the pass to Muntari on the last goal)
.Stankovic – 6: Dejan showed what he does best, taking the ball running straight and unleashing a pachydermic shot (sometimes on target).
.Balotelli – 5.5: Apart from that free kick, SuperMario didn’t show great things and often lost the ball in easy situations.
.Muntari – N/A: his only shot of the night became a pass.
Juventus – 6: Unfortunate night for the Bianconeri who found themselves more or less unfairly reduced to ten men. Held off the attempts well, sign of a stable defence. Come back next year for more.
Buffon - 7: Excellent saves, stability in the air, not guilty on any of the goals.
Zebina – 5: Elegant, precise, Jonathan was much more worried by the defence than delivering his usual crosses. Got tired very quickly.
Chiellini – 7: It might seem contradictory to give a defense 7 on a loss, but on more than one occasion, Giorgio-the-man-made-of-marble saved the burning building.
Cannavaro – 7: *Copy paste text for Chiellini* + replace “Giorgio-the-man-made-of-marble” by “Cannavaro-Il-Presidente”
Grosso – 6: Fabio is already thinking of the World Cup and the crosses he will deliver to Gilardino’s head.
Marchisio – 6: After a good start between Del Piero and Diego, unfortunately became transparent.
Felipe Melo – 5.5: After everyone realized the rip off he was, Felipe delivered an erratic game.
Sissoko – 6: ‘Momo’ delivered a good game until it was cut short by a harsh referee. Unfortunate as his rule was expanding over the midfield.
Diego – 5: His technical abilities are evident, his place on the pitch much less. Left stranded by most of his teammates.
Del Piero – 6: I think it was a mistake to take the Pinturricchio off after Sissoko’s expulsion, his talent and charisma serve much more than a long tall post up in front.
Iaquinta – 5: He might work a lot, he still remains awful to look at...
.Poulsen – 5: Came in to no effect.
.Amauri – 4: Just as you thought it couldn’t get worse than the other tall useless striker in the starting line up, Amauri shows up with his straight hair…
Buffon - 7: Excellent saves, stability in the air, not guilty on any of the goals.
Zebina – 5: Elegant, precise, Jonathan was much more worried by the defence than delivering his usual crosses. Got tired very quickly.
Chiellini – 7: It might seem contradictory to give a defense 7 on a loss, but on more than one occasion, Giorgio-the-man-made-of-marble saved the burning building.
Cannavaro – 7: *Copy paste text for Chiellini* + replace “Giorgio-the-man-made-of-marble” by “Cannavaro-Il-Presidente”
Grosso – 6: Fabio is already thinking of the World Cup and the crosses he will deliver to Gilardino’s head.
Marchisio – 6: After a good start between Del Piero and Diego, unfortunately became transparent.
Felipe Melo – 5.5: After everyone realized the rip off he was, Felipe delivered an erratic game.
Sissoko – 6: ‘Momo’ delivered a good game until it was cut short by a harsh referee. Unfortunate as his rule was expanding over the midfield.
Diego – 5: His technical abilities are evident, his place on the pitch much less. Left stranded by most of his teammates.
Del Piero – 6: I think it was a mistake to take the Pinturricchio off after Sissoko’s expulsion, his talent and charisma serve much more than a long tall post up in front.
Iaquinta – 5: He might work a lot, he still remains awful to look at...
.Poulsen – 5: Came in to no effect.
.Amauri – 4: Just as you thought it couldn’t get worse than the other tall useless striker in the starting line up, Amauri shows up with his straight hair…
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