For the past couple of weeks SempreInter.com’s new editorialist, Richard Hall, has taken a look back at the glorious history of Inter by highlighting a certain match, hero or any other event in Inter’s history worthy of being labelled Nerazzurri Classic’s. Ahead of Monday’s home fixture against Chievo, Richard looks back at a fixture between the two teams which was too close for comfort for the Nerazzurri.
In the penultimate game of the 2009/10 championship, Inter faced Chievo in an enthralling encounter. This was the famous treble winning side that is much maligned but in fairness the Scudetto was only clinched by two points. The Flying Donkeys could have easily over turned the apple cart.
The game started with bright sunshine enveloping the San Siro allowing the familiar shadows to spread over the pitch. Dejan Stankovic saw an early long range effort bounce off the cross bar and supporters of the Milanese outfit felt as though this could be an easy day.
It was because of this quick start that the first goal came as a shock. An innocuous free kick was floated into the box and although Walter Samuel was under pressure few expected him to turn it into his own net even if it did hit Thiago Motta on the way through.
Inter responded quickly with a bit of luck for themselves. Samuel Eto’o produced some clever trickery in the box and when his shot-come cross deflected off Andrea Mantovani the Curva celebrated in style.
Inter now piled on the pressure and ten minutes before half time a cavalier style run from full back Maicon resulted in his looping cross being met by Esteban Cambiasso at the back post. It was a deft touch that was more in keeping with a finish from Milito but that did not bother Inter as the Argentine wheeled away in celebration.
Diego Milito then decided that he would get in on the action moments later and when he received a neat pass from Eto’o on the edge of the box he delicately chipped the keeper from 20 yards. It was a goal that the fans dream of seeing before as they go to bed the night before. It may have taken the slightest of deflections but the Nerazzurri didn’t care, they went into the break at 3-1.
After the break a long ball over the top found Mario Balotelli who chipped the ball over the onrushing custodian to make the game safe for Inter at 4-1. The celebrations saw Balotelli even crack a smile, this must have been a good year for Mourinho’s men.
It was at this point that the home side took their foot of the gas somewhat and a long drive at goal instinctively tapped in by Pablo Granoche. The ball deceived Julio Cesar and the game was at 4-2 with 30 minutes still to play. With the game still looking like it would fizzle out with Inter collecting an easy three points but then the unthinkable happened. ‘Il Capitano’ Javier Zanetti played an uncharacteristic lazy cross field pass. This was intercepted by Sergio Pellissier who managed to wrong foot Samuel and sprint towards the Inter goal. The calmly slotted past Julio Cesar and the Nerazzurri suddenly felt that title could be in jeopardy.
The home side held out and but the nerves went into the next game when they had to wait an hour before Diego Milito clinched the title against Siena. Inter v Chievo this year may still be a recent game but it will go down in history as a very, very close shave.
