Date : 16/04/2016
Venue : Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Competition : Serie A 2015/2016, Matchday 33
The starting line ups:
Roberto Mancini seems like he has finally made his mind regarding his team’s formation choosing once again a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 shape. Samir Handanovic was under the posts, behind a defensive line that consisted of Nagatomo, D’Ambrosio, Miranda and Murillo. Kondogbia and Medel protected the defense, creating a double pivot while Perisic and Brozovic played as the wingers. Up front, Icardi was always trying to take advantage of Napoli’s high defensive line and possible mistakes with their offside traps, while having Jovetic behind him to connect.
Napoli on the other side started with Reina as their GK, behind a defense that included Strinic, Koulibaly, Albiol and Hysaj. Jorginho was the defensive midfielder with Hamsik and Allan some metres in front of him as CMs. Up front, due to Higuain’s suspension, Gabbiadini was the striker, with Insigne and Callejon on either side of him.
With Napoli, as always, playing their own game, that is adjusted to the opponent through small and subtle changes, it was up to Mancini and Inter to shape the game with their tactical plan. Will they try to take the initiative and attack a lot in a game that they must win or will they choose the more suitable to them option of sitting back and waiting for the counterattack, was thus a very interesting question before the match.
Whatever was the initial plan, however, it changed for Mancini, as his team managed to find a goal very early in the game, only in the 4th minute through Icardi.
Inter were now content to sit back and wait for the right moment to counterattack. They did this by sitting back in a 4-4-1 or 4-4 shape, with the two CBs always very close to Gabbiadini and two FBs that were always adjusting their positions depending on the opposition’s wingers, following them many times between the lines and more centrally.
These central movements by Insigne and Callejon were meant to provide space to the Hysaj and Strinic, who were kept quiet pretty match throughout the whole match, being followed by Inter’s wingers on high positions (something that created a situational 5-man defensive line for the nerazzurri).
Inter’s approach to the ball was passive, deciding to defend the central spaces rather than attack and put pressure on the ball carrier, except in occasions when they were either too close or the ball was returning back.
First half
After the first goal, Napoli dominated possession, taking sometimes advantage of Jovetic’s passive defense or Icardi’s and the Montenegrin’s inability to cut the passing lanes towards a Jorginho that made their life difficult by moving constantly in order to receive the ball from his teammates.
When they tried to attack, on the other side, Inter once again were unable to hold on to the ball, losing it almost immediately due to Napoli’s high pressing.
Possession doesn’t mean always domination however, as Napoli never actually managed to become too dangerous in the first half, testing Handanovic only through long shots in the first thirty minutes.
Unable to score a goal, Napoli were found 2-0, after an Inter transition that lead to Brozovic’s goal.
Koulibaly, as it can be seen in the image below, followed only Icardi’s dropping movement and then stopped, leaving him free to run in behind him, and assist his Croatian teammate.
Second Half
The second half started with Sarri substituting Strinic and Insigne with Ghoulam and Mertens, it was a change made primarily due to the bad performances of the Italian and Croatian and not a tactical move. Hence, the game continued in the same motive until Sarri decided to make his final move.
In the 73rd minute Jorginho was replaced by El Kaddouri. Napoli were now playing something like a 4-2-1-3, with Hamsik and Allan as the double pivot and El Kaddouri playing between Inter’s defensive and midfield line taking also advantage by the fact that the opposition defense was held back and pinned down by Mertens, Gabbiadini and Callejon.
Taking notice of this tactical change and realizing that sooner or later his team is going to get in trouble by the newcomer’s movements into dangerous positions, Mancini decided to change his team’s shape by bringing on Felipe Melo in Jovetic’s place.
Inter’s shape was now 4-1-4-1 during Napoli’s build-up, with Brozovic and Melo near the opposition DMs and ready to put pressure on them if they received the ball in order to force them move towards the less dangerous wings. When in their own half the shape was something between a 4-1-4-1 and 4-5-1 depending on Medel’s movements, with the Chilean and Felipe Melo marking and following the movements of whoever was between the lines and in front of their defense.
It was a tactical move that locked the game for Mancini and his team.
Conclusion
A great win for Inter against a Napoli side that without Higuain lost a big piece of their attacking threat, moves the nerazzurri closer to Roma and with easier fixtures still to play, some chances although not many are still here.
For more Inter and non-Inter related Tactical Analysis you can follow me on Twitter, @ThanosChelas.
