Inter’s pragmatic performance against Sassuolo last night was a dictionary definition of ‘Contismo’ (Conte-ball), according to a report in the Italian media today.
As per Tuttosport’s print edition, the Nerazzurri enjoyed just 29.9% of possession during their 2-1 win over Roberto De Zerbi’s side at San Siro.
Inter’s lack of possession should not come as a surprise given that they only had 35% in the reverse fixture, when they won 3-0 at the Mapei Stadium back in November.
Antonio Conte made a clear choice to leave Sassuolo with the ball, the Turin-based paper explained, so that Inter could hit the visitors on the counterattack.
Inter’s victory was their 12th consecutive win at home and moved them 11 points clear at the top of Serie A.
The Nerazzurri have also become the first team since Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan in 1989-90 to win their first 10 games during the second half of a Serie A season.
AC Milan were beaten to the Scudetto that year by Diego Maradona’s Napoli, but Conte’s men seem well on course now to crack open the champagne in a few weeks’ time.