Inzaghi’s team has the best attack in the championship (55 goals) and in Serie A they have scored 12 different players, 14 considering all competitions
– MILAN
Simone Inzaghi has built a perfect goal machine, which runs at full speed even when Lautaro doesn’t score. Because it doesn’t depend on the streak of the championship’s top scorer, but… on the game, the guiding star of a team that manages to put down almost all its opponents (we have 19 wins in 23 games played in Serie A). There is no doubt that Inter’s staff is of absolute value. Ditto that compared to last season the quality of the squad has been further increased with targeted additions. One might say with… added starters. Behind the best goal difference of the five main European championships (+43) and behind the ferocity in direct clashes (9 wins and 1 draw in 10 championship matches; 2 victories out of 2 in the Super Cup), however, there are not only transfer choices. Inter are built piece by piece in the Appiano Gentile “laboratory”, repeating screens and movements with and without the ball during the week. The result is that everyone knows what they have to do to create difficulties for their opponents. There is only one implacable in front of goal like Toro, but Inzaghi now has several potential goalscorers. And above all he can count on a very strong group at the head level, which never gives up.
NUMBERS
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Inter have the best attack in the championship with 55 goals scored and 12 different scorers (they become 14 considering the other competitions as well). The average held so far (2.4 goals per match) would lead the Nerazzurri to score 91 goals at the end of the tournament. More than Napoli and Milan who won the last two tricolors. But also more than second-placed Inter in 2021-22 (closed on 84). In Serie A so far Lautaro and his teammates have scored 5 goals on 2 occasions and have scored a poker 4 times. Behind the Argentine, best striker of the tournament with 19 centres, there are Thuram and Calhanoglu with 9. Inzaghi’s men score in almost every way (6 times with a header, 9 from penalties etc.; again 0 from direct free kicks) , but above all they distribute their goals quite evenly over the 90 minutes. However, one fact stands out: in the last quarter of an hour plus added time in the first half they beat the opposing goalkeeper 13 times, in the last quarter of an hour plus added time in the second half, a whopping 15. A sign that Inter will last until the end . Indeed, it increases the engine speed when the others feel fatigue. Physical condition certainly has something to do with it (Lega Serie A data puts Inter high in the rankings for kilometers traveled and sprints), but the head plays an important role.
HEAD AND RUN
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Because Inter always knows what they have to do on the pitch: Calhanoglu has become a decisive director in both phases, Mkhitaryan and Barella have running and quality, the wingers push, those who enter always do so with the right mentality and then there are the “arms” Pavard and Bastoni advancing ball and chain. The two were instrumental in the claims against Juventus and Roma respectively. Certainly not by chance. This is the tactical weapon that Inzaghi uses more consistently than in the past. To create numerical superiority on the wings and attack the spaces left open. More generally, however, what makes the difference is the spirit of sacrifice, clarity and the way in which everyone puts themselves at the service of the collective. As if the victory of the second star was a way to make up for some disappointments of the recent past (the tricolor missed out two years ago, the Champions League lost in Istanbul last June). At the Olimpico, when Roma were ahead 2-1 at half-time, the words of Inzaghi and those of his deputy Farris were enough to transform the group, so that everyone went back to doing what had been prepared during the week. After returning from the changing rooms, the Nerazzurri turned the match around in 11 minutes and then closed it out in injury time with Bastoni, another defender who joined the list of strikers.
ATTACKERS
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And speaking of strikers, if it is true that the reserve attackers are struggling, at the Olimpico Arnautovic provided the assist for the 4-2 to Bastoni, while Sanchez protected and managed one of the last balls well, when Roma were trying the last assault. It is undeniable that their goals are missing (2 each), but it is equally true that Inzaghi made up for it with those of the others from Frattesi, a part time striker with his 4 centres, or with the 3 from Dimarco, relentless on the left. The Nerazzurri car travels at full speed and Simone can smile.
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