INTER IN THE RACE
Towards a comeback. Milito scores two more. Champions League is at -6.
Siena take the lead then the Inter player with a penalty reaches Napoli and again approaches nearer the third spot.
Milan – It is always him: Diego Alberto Milito. Another double, another victory for Inter with Il Principle’s goals which right now is at 20 league goals for this season. Two important goals that have allowed Inter, once again went behind, to continue dreaming of Europe. Perhaps, in May, they will even thank Juventus who beat Lazio today. But that’s another story. Inter are right now 6 points away from a Champions League spot and Udinese are the the gate waiting. This young coach, Andrea Stramaccioni, is working. Three games, 7 points. The one victory with many fireworks and three penalty against versus Genoa. Now this win with Siena, the most in form team at the moment (16 points in 7 games). In between, OK there’s the disappointment with Cagliari. But at least he is regaining the home field advantage at the San Siro and has an unbeaten record.
More green Oscillating between instincts and the risk for renovation with the hopes of Champions League, here is the idea of the day for Strama and Inter. A pair of young entries. Fresh lungs and legs in the midfield provided by the 20 year-old Obi because Guarin was not fully ready. In the trident, here is the youngster with a great desire to get noticed for the future: Ricky Alvarez. After months out with injuries, the Argentinian finally came back and took the place of Forlan who isn’t exactly loved by the fans. A discrete idea (Obi did very well and Alvarez saved after the break) even if it was not the key for this win. The key for success was the reason in the second half, the pressing and determination, rewarded by a penalty because of contact between Mannini and Nagatomo. Then came the victory because Siena practically disappeared after the interval.
Possession against superiority In the first half, Siena played in the best possible way. Inter were able to compile a lot of possession almost like Barcelona but they were never dangerous because Siena players occupied spaces very well and always had the superior number in the midfield because Alvarez and Zarate never pulled back. Sannino told before the game: “I have become less of a fundamentalist in terms of tactics.” Here, he opted for a 4-4-1-1 which was more like a 4-4-2 with Brienza and Mannini on the sides and D’Agostino, who hadn’t played since February, behind Destro. And from a stolen ball by D’Agostino to a Samuel who was always in difficulty, Siena lead was born immediately. An advantage rugby like: ball to Destro, saved, back to the feet of Brienza, another shot, another save and lastly D’Agostino did not do anything wrong. We were at the 6th minute. The reaction of Inter was only noticed at the half hour mark with a great exchange between Obi, Chivu and Milito who shot the ball straight at Pegolo. Came the equalizer thanks to a disastrous blunder by Pesoli. Il Principe made no mistake about it.
The turning point Inter in the second half of the game were a different team. Also Siena in fact but in the opposite way. They started to give a lot of space in the midfield. Only Destro that tried to keep the Inter defense busy. First it was Samuel, then it was Lucio who struggled to control the striker. In the second half, Stramaccioni had already replaced the injured Samuel with Nagatomo and moved Chivu in the center. The team become more fluid and convinced. Alvarez certainly awoke. We would like to know what Zanetti ate because the 38 year-old ran like lighting and even a Milito, who is only limited to scoring, started to chase everything and everyone. In general, Inter did a nice job of pushing forward and at the same time hiding its weaknesses: the faltering defense. In the final minutes, Siena had the chance of an equalizer but for Inter’s fortune, the ball ended at Gonzalez’s feet and not Destro’s. So for the desperate chase of the Champions League, Inter really needed that game.