Roma-Inter 0-1: goal from Bonny

The Roman Ottobrata remembered it exactly like this: twenty degrees in the afternoon and a little jacket in the evening, with three points in his pocket. Chivu reaches out to his old Roma for the first time as coach, wins 1-0 at the Olimpico and takes the lead for a night, catching up with Napoli and Gasperini, who he joined at Inter 14 years ago.

bonny’s goal: verticality

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Another Cristian and also another Gian Piero, who this time gets the strategy wrong, wasting time. The Inter taboo continues: ninth defeat in a row against the Nerazzurri. The last success dates back to 2018, 4-1 in Bergamo. Chivu, on the other hand, achieved his sixth consecutive victory between the championship and the Champions League and laughed at his key principles. Under “advantage” “verticality” should be written. In the 7th minute Barella receives the ball from Akanji on the right, in a situation of pure management where the Italian has at least three choices: the back pass, the support for Dumfries and the change of play. Nico – yet another great test – drops the long-sought ace, that is, the vertical pass to Bonny which surprises the high defense. Celik keeps him in the game, he gallops, kicks and passes Svilar, who is guilty of the goal. The ball escapes under his arm onto his post. The manifesto of what Chivu asks for: less phrasing to reach the king with more verticality and checkmate. Second goal in a row for the Frenchman, the third in the championship.

gasp wastes time

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After three minutes, half of Olimpico had already asked himself: “But why did Gasperini deploy Wesley on the left? And Ndicka on the right? And Celik on the outside again instead?”. Roma dueled against Inter with rooks instead of bishops and the queen isolated in front. Paulo Dybala, deployed on a false nine, was sucked in by the usual Acerbi, who took to the pitch with the famous hole in his boot. The Argentine lit up a couple of times in the second half (Sommer did well), returning to his place after Dovbyk’s entry in the second half. He had the best chance: a high header into an empty net in the 59th minute, after an unfortunate exit by Sommer following a corner kick. Gasp made the wrong strategy and tried to regain the game in the second half: the high pressing exposed the defense, which was attacked several times on the counterattack by an aggressive Inter. Better in the second half, where the Giallorossi – driven by the usual sold-out Olimpico – took advantage of the flanks to reach the checkers.

Inter are in the lead

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The Nerazzurri’s first half deserved a high rating, the second a pass. In the second half Chivu thanked good luck: Celik’s outside post and Dovbyk’s header into an empty net. But the defense held its ground. Barella, now reborn, did well, Akanji and Bastoni da braccetti and Dimarco on the left. Mention for Mkhitaryan, who at almost 37 years old played a game as a strategist. He made a save in midfield in the 30th minute after passing Konè. Unlucky with the post at the end. Inter bid farewell to the capital with the navigator already set: Union St. Gilloise in Brussels and Napoli at Maradona. Two fundamental junctions on multiple fronts. But in the meantime, how beautiful it is to enjoy Rome at night, with its play of lights. Especially at the top of the rankings.