Antonio Conte played a crucial role in Inter’s win at Torino yesterday despite being banned from the touchline, according to a report in the Italian media today.
The Nerazzurri secured a 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino thanks to a second-half penalty from Romelu Lukaku and a late header from Lautaro Martinez.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition explained that Conte watched the match from a box high in the stands at Turin and ordered assistant coach Cristian Stellini on the phone to bring on Christian Eriksen and Alexis Sanchez.
These substitutions were ultimately game-changing in a match that appeared to be headed for a draw, but which ultimately allowed Inter to pull nine points clear at the top of Serie A.
Eriksen came on in place of Roberto Gagliardini and provided the ball to Lautaro which ended up with Lautaro winning Inter their penalty just after the hour mark.
After Torino had pulled themselves level through Antonio Sanabria, Sanchez was sent on and delivered the cross that Lautaro headed home to put Inter 2-1 up.