Gazzetta dello Sport talk about Inter’s iron defence, but point out that it is starting to weaken in comparison to the beginning of the season. Gazzetta empathise: “7 goals scored in the last six games, including two opponents in the top six”. However Inter’s defence is no longer as compact, but Luciano Spalletti has not made any changes. In Rome they were lucky to not concede more as Roma hit the woodwork many times and were punished by Inter as a result (3 goals scored), now it seems Perisic, Icardi (who hit the woodwork three times against Sampdoria combined) and Vecino are also being prevented by the woodwork.

Although this does not change the fact -with the exception of Napoli – that Inter have conceded to Benevento, Milan (2), Sampdoria (2), Verona and Torino. Gazzetta identifies the reasons for this, with errors from Handanovic, Nagatomo, D’Ambrosio and Miranda who are always trying to play with risk. Now Inter have conceded 9 goals in comparison to their rivals, Roma (7 but with one less game played) and Napoli (8) who have made fewer individual errors.

Now for Spalletti, who has invested most of his time working on the movements and synchronisation of the back line, must now readdress the issue on a collective level. Due to the fact that the play must carry Icardi, with Borja Valero now  firmly becoming first choice trequartista, while Candreva and Perisic provide both offensive and defensive service. This must all be taken in while remembering the fact that Dalbert should be integrated soon after weeks of work at Pinetina on tactics – there could even be an opportunity for Ranoccchia as Miranda may be distrusted.