Italian journalist Matteo Marani feels that Inter largely looked to have been the better side against AC Milan in yesterday evening’s derby clash in Serie A despite losing to a late Olivier Giroud brace.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, the journalist highlighted the significance of Samir Handanovic’s weak effort to save Giroud’s second as a key moment in throwing away an otherwise solid performance by Inter.
The Nerazzurri had created more and better chances than their city rivals throughout the first half of yesterday evening’s derby, but as the clock ran down with only a one-goal advantage nerves began to set in.
First, the Rossoneri equalized through Giroud to make their pressure count, and then the Frenchman popped up minutes later with a second, rolling Stefan de Vrij and shooting on target.
The Frenchman’s effort for the second goal seemed to go right through the hand of Nerazzurri captain Handanovic, and had looked like it could have been a routine save.
Marani notes that overall the Nerazzurri looked to have been the stronger side but that these two key moments gave the Rossoneri three points and route back into a wide-open Scudetto race.
“Inter had dominated the derby until the 75th minute,” he writes, “conveying a sense of strength that the result doesn’t reflect, and they lost the game after two moments from Olivier Giroud, up to that point the worst among the 22 players on the pitch.”
He goes on that “But this is how it works in football, and Milan have gotten back to a position of breathing down the necks of their city rivals, who have yet to play their game in hand against Bologna.”
“It already seemed as though the result was not a fair reflection of play,” he continued, “given that in the first half Inter had five shots on goal compared to Tonali’s lone effort for Milan, and in the second the Nerazzurri’s control had even increased.”
“But three minutes later, Giroud scored a brace,” Marani continues, “showing great skill to turn past de Vrij and shooting past Handanovic.”
“If there are iconic goals in the history of this fixture for Milan fans, this will be right next to Hateley’s header flying over Collovati,” he adds.
“Looking at the other side of the story, Handanovic’s howler rekindles doubts and criticisms,” Marani writes, “in a season that has been a little less negative for him than last campaign all in all.”
“But it’s clear to anyone that Onana’s arrival next season is a necessity that can’t be put off any longer,” he emphasizes.
He reflects that “Inter, who were already beginning to feel the Scudetto sewn on to their chests with fifteen minutes to go, found themselves stunned by two late shots.”
“And now what happens?” Marani ponders, “Milan can begin to renew a sense of hope that had seemed lost, even if Inter impressed, as had also been the case in their only other Serie A defeat, against Lazio.”
“The title race that had looked to be all but over dramatically reopened in the space of 180 seconds,” he writes by way of a final analysis for the match.