This Wednesday 2 March 2016, Inter take on Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg at the San Siro (kick off 20:45CET).
Inter come into this game looking to play for pride after they were battered 3-0 at the Juventus Stadium in the first leg and beat again in Turin at the weekend in the league 2-0.
Roberto Mancini prepared for the recent league match against Juve by focusing on defence and chose to mirror the Bianconeri’s 3-5-2 formation.
In the first half the strategy held out and who knows what would have happened in the second half if Danilo D’Ambrosio hadn’t assisted Leonardo Bonucci after 64 seconds but with so much attacking abundance on the bench, again Mancini has lacked courage against an attacking opponent.
It is difficult to hope to win when Inter’s first shot on target didn’t come until the 87th min and this side is showing signs of resorting back to the days of Walter Mazzarri both tactically and mentally.
Yes, we all knew that building a team to qualify for the Champions League and challenge for the Scudetto would take time but this team has no identity and it seems like Mancini is still undecided on a formation and his starting eleven, which is so unbalanced right now.
Inter should take a leaf from Milan’s book, as much as it pains me to say it. Sinisa Mihajlovic has stuck with a formation and a set starting eleven with balance which has paid off with his team improving their results and giving the Rossoneri continuity and confidence.
Max Allegri’s Juventus come into this game knowing that they could probably put out a youth team and still go through to the final thanks to a 3-0 win in the first leg and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did just that to be honest, just to rub salt into Inter’s wounds, against a Nerazzurri side who in 2016, have only achieved two more points than bottom of the table Hellas, a figure that speaks for itself.
Juve will likely start very fast so they can get that killer fourth goal to end the tie and if they do then Allegri will have confidence in the fact that Inter haven’t managed a comeback win this season.
Here is the Inter team news and probable line-up as reported by Sky Sport Italia at the time of writing this article:
Samir Handanovic is expected to start in goal but Roberto Mancini has problems defensively with Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo suspended and question marks over Gary Medel and Alex Telles after picking up knocks at the weekend.
Davide Santon is expected to come in at right back alongside a centre back partnership of Danilo D’Ambrosio and Juan Jesus with Yuto Nagatomo at left back.
In a midfield three Sky report that Marcelo Brozovic returns from suspension to partner Geoffrey Kondogbia and a possible surprise inclusion, Assane Gnoukouri.
In a front three Adem Ljajic is expected to start on the right with Ivan Perisic on the left behind Eder as the central striker. Captain Mauro Icardi is expected to be on the bench and Stevan Jovetic is out after picking up a knock in training.
Probable Inter line-up (subject to change): (4-3-3) Handanovic; Santon, D’Ambrosio, Jesus, Nagatomo; Brozovic, Gnoukouri, Kondogbia; Ljajic, Eder, Perisic
Bench: Carrizo, Berni, Della Giovanna, Gyamfi, Telles, Biabiany, Melo, Medel, Icardi, Palacio, Manaj
Some Stats:
Inter qualified for this season’s semi-finals by beating Cagliari(3-0) and Napoli(0-2).
Juventus qualified for the semi-finals by beating Torino(4-0) and Lazio(0-1).
Gianfranco Zola holds the record of being the oldest goal-scorer in the Coppa Italia after a goal against Inter in a 1-1 draw at the age of 38 years 10 months and seven days on May 12 2005.
Ex Inter striker Giampaolo Pazzini is the Coppa Italia’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals in his 32 appearances with four clubs, one ahead of Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero on 21 goals in 29 appearances.
Player to Watch: Adem Ljajic – The Serbian is a creative force. It wasn’t a surprise that when he entered the game in Turin at the weekend Inter finally managed to have a shot on target.
My Prediction: Inter 1-2 Juventus
Scorers: Ljajic (Inter), Cuadrado, Zaza (Juventus)
Officials: Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Assistants: Giallatini, Dobosz
Fourth Official: Giacomelli
Author’s Note: Inter’s best chance is to attack in this game if they are to pull back three goals. It’s likely there will be changes from the teams that started at the weekend and if Inter could get an early goal it could change the balance of the game however the Nerazzurri have only scored once in the first 15 minutes of a match this season. Inter and Mancini need a miracle to turn this round and unfortunately I don’t have confidence that they can do it. Prove me wrong Inter!
just play the primavera we will loose anyway
everyone relax the healer in the mountain shaqiri talked about told me we will win 3-0 and medel jj will play in defence.
Santon, D’Ambrosio, Jesus, Nagatomo;
Horror defense line.
Better not watch the game.
d’ambrosio on CB, 1-2 for Juve.
I can see the logic here on the prediction.
Ohhh please not Dumb’rosio again!! Pick my grandma, Donald Trump or a water bottle. Anyone or anything but not him. I can’t stand watching Dumb’rosio and Nagatomo together like the dumb and dumber pair reborn.
jovetic still injured ?
D’ambrosio centre back?? That guy should be no where near the starting lineup. Hell I’d even play razvan popa..
so the player who makes defensive error last match against the same team will be play as CB.. talking about logic here..
Mancini will fielded 3 GK on the field, what a chicken sh1t coach
D’Ambrosio in central defense?
Besides that, this could be an interesting formation regarding the midfield and attack.
BTW. Some good points in the article about the unbalanced team and MAncini being undecided on a formation/identity whereas Sinisa (who I laughed at as Milans coach) is seeing results now.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Inter lose with 0-3 lol. Anyway I am not going to watch this match just a waist of time tbh
if mancio chooses to attack, that will be a bitter sweet and worth to watch, even if we lose. who knows if we can play like the match against spurs when we demolished them 4-1 in strama’s era