Genoa-Inter 0-0, D’Ambrosio’s crossbar. Inzaghi, no connection to Milan

A draw that should worry Inzaghi more than the home defeat against Sassuolo. Because Inter, which does not take advantage of AC Milan’s 1-1 with Udinese, which was worth the match, and which runs aground in a sad 0-0 at Marassi against Genoa with all heart and little technique, this time did not even produce game and occasions. There remains the crossbar of D’Ambrosio, some unfortunate scrum and a general braking that photographs a championship in a minor tone and a ranking that could favor the return of Juve and Atalanta.

Surprise choices

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There is no shortage of surprises when reading the formations. Blessin keeps Rovella, Amiri and Destro on the bench, focusing on Melegoni with Yeboah and Gudmundsson and thickening the midfield with Badelj and Portanova alongside Sturaro. Inzaghi instead prefers D’Ambrosio and Sanchez to Skriniar and Lautaro. On the flanks there are Dumfries and Perisic. Bastoni and Brozovic are back, disqualified against Sassuolo.

First half

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Inter try to get the scoring monkey off his shoulder immediately. Perisic and Calha (right out of an amen) knock on Sirigu’s door, but behind on the left something doesn’t work if at 7 ‘Gudmundsson can slip between Bastoni and Perisic and touch the advantage with his left-handed. The flashes of the blonde pay, with the Nerazzurri not very reactive to read the opponent’s cuts on another couple of occasions. Despite the strong wind, some trajectories are distorted, the guests struggle to break through in the center also due to the frenzied pressing of the Griffin and attempt the encirclement to then trigger Dzeko with high balls that however exalt Maksimovic. The disagreements between Barella and Dumfries first and between Brozovic and Perisic then certify that the team has lost a bit of serenity. Just Epic, after a similar error by Bastoni, lost a bloody ball in the 28th minute and Handanovic had to parry Melegoni’s right foot made poisonous by the wind in his own way. Inzaghi’s team is having a harder time than usual to bring men into the opponent’s area. When he does, Sanchez and Dumfries lose the moment, while at 38 ‘Calha from an excellent position is blocked by Vazquez on the usual Perisic incursion. We go to the interval without networks. Relative surprise, given that they are two of the most sterile teams in the second round: just 9 goals (Genoa 3, Inter Milan 6) in thirteen and a half games.

Second half

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Same 22 at the beginning of recovery. Inter tries to pick up the pace, but it makes a beastly effort to come out with clean balls and now that it faces the trocar, Genoa is very well placed and also keeps high balls. At 53 ‘, however, Maksimovic (muscular problem) had to give way to Cambiaso, with Vazquez centering alongside Ostigard. The southpaw, however, is really unlucky because after blocking Calhanoglu a few steps from the goal he injures his left knee and in the 60 ‘he leaves the field to Calafiori, with Kallon taking over Yeboah. On the corner of the Turkish, D’Ambrosio heads off well but hits the lower part of the crossbar and Sirigu is saved in the fray. Inter tries to gain meters, but too often gets bogged down in a series of melee that enhance a strong Genoa who, however, manages to get close to Handanovic only in the 70th minute with Calafiori after a mistake by D’Ambrosio. Inzaghi waits for the 73rd minute to try to clear the deck with Vidal and Lautaro for Calha and Sanchez. Lucidity and technical cleanliness, however, remain an optional and in the 78th minute Sturaro could punish another defensive stammer from the Nerazzurri but kicks high from the edge. Lautaro engages Sirigu from the outside, but we proceed in tears. Perisic and a Barella who confirms that he is out of sorts (Melegoni and Badelj’s revs are tender) give way to Dimarco and Vecino. The left-handed player immediately hits a great corner, but no teammate manages to intervene. When Lautaro gets blocked by Hefti and the former Caicedo – whistled – misses three out of three balls, it becomes clear that the two teams could try for another 24 hours without scoring. The curtain falls. And it’s better this way.