Counterattacks, Mirrored 3-5-2 Shapes & Set Pieces – Potential Tactical Keys To Inter Milan Vs Juventus Serie A Showdown

Identical-looking formations and tight margins on set pieces could be deciding factors in this evening’s clash between Inter Milan and Juventus.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.

Since Simone Inzaghi and Max Allegri took over at Inter and Juventus respectively, there has been little to split the two Derby d’Italia rivals in terms of their form in head-to-head matches.

The Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri have met eight times in all competitions since the summer of 2021.

Inter have prevailed on three occasions. Juventus have won three themselves. And then there have been two draws.

That is how close the two teams have been.

This recent record hardly portends a blowout either way in this evening’s Serie A showdown.

Both Inter and Juventus have the chance to push the title race in their own direction. But neither is likely to do it in truly emphatic fashion.

Tactical Keys To Inter Vs Juventus Serie A Clash

The first thing to notice about Inter and Juventus is that both use the same 3-5-2 formation. At least on paper.

Nearly as obvious is the fact that Inzaghi and Allegri utilize the shape in quite different ways.

For the Nerazzurri coach, the principles of play tend to be more proactive. Inzaghi likes to see his team press aggressively and control possession more than Allegri.

The Juventus coach, by contrast, has found great success using a very deep defense both to deny space in attack to the opposition, and to create space at the other end of the pitch to counterattack into.

So that is likely to be a dynamic that emerges in this evening’s match.

But there is more versatility to both teams’ and coaches’ approach than that might suggest.

In the last meeting, Allegri set up his team with the aim if disrupting Inter’s passing game with a very high press for periods of the match, particularly in the first half of the match.

The Bianconeri coach is nothing if not a pragmatist who will tinker with his approach to suit different opponents and moments in matches.

And Inzaghi has had his share of success playing a defend-and-counter style with Inter.

And with things so tight, things could come down to set pieces.

Juventus have scored the most goals – nine – from dead ball situations in Serie A this season. Inter are second in this statistic with seven goals.

And the Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri have the joint-best record as far as conceding from set pieces – one apiece.

So either side finding a way to break through from just such a moment could make all the difference.