Inter Milan’s Serie A win over Napoli proved to be the ideal response to Juventus winning at the start of the weekend.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The newspaper particularly hail the Nerazzurri’s defensive effort.
Inter will undoubtedly have been feeling the pressure from Juventus in the buildup to yesterday’s match.
The Bianconeri had taken three points from their away trip to Monza on Friday. This followed a dramatic climax, with defender Federico Gatti scoring in stoppage time.
Inter had two whole days to think about the importance of getting a result in Naples.
And the response on the pitch could not have been much more perfect.
Inter may not have dominated for ninety minutes. That was never likely to be the case in an away stadium that has seen just one Nerazzurri win in the last seventeen attempts.
But the defensive effort was highly effective in restricting Napoli, no matter how much pressure the reigning Italian champions applied.
Inter Win Vs Napoli – The Perfect Response To Juventus
As the Gazzetta note, yesterday was the fourth time that Inter had to respond to being temporarily overtaken at the top of the Serie A table so far this season.
The Nerazzurri had beaten Salernitana to regain their spot at the top from Milan in September.
Then there were wins over Roma and Frosinone to haul back Juventus.
But yesterday evening’s match was, at least on paper, the toughest test yet in this regard.
But there were few doubts from Inter.
It was a composed, organized, and at times gritty performance without the ball.
And when Inter had possession they were clinical.
The Nerazzurri looked like a well-oiled machine in terms of fast diagonal movements to get the ball forward.
And the finishing from Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, and Marcus Thuram was pitch-perfect.
It would have been easy to crumble under the pressure, from both Juvetnus and Napoli.
But far from doing so, the Nerazzurri only emerged looking stronger and more resilient.
