Inter slows down again. After the successes against Cremonese and Milan, the Nerazzurri let themselves be blocked by a generous Sampdoria. The thirty-three point difference in the standings, between the second and penultimate strengths of the championship, are canceled by the excellent defensive performance of Stankovic’s team. Bad evening for LuLa, light years away from the havoc of the best times and Napoli took advantage of this misstep in the first place: the Scudetto race turns, week after week, into a walk and now the advantage points are even 15. Inzaghi keeps 3 lengths on the block of the third (Atalanta, Rome, Milan).
THE MATCH – In addition to choosing Acerbi for defense and Calhanoglu for directing, Inzaghi returns to relying on LuLa. The pair try to repay him immediately with two chances in the first 4 minutes: Audero takes cover in the corner from Lukaku’s insidious header after 95 seconds and then neutralizes the attempt by Lautaro, central, from the edge of the area.
Inter, aware of being able to assert their physical overwhelming power, does not raise the pace and works alongside Sampdoria. Management of the ball waiting for the right moment to strike. It could be in the 19th minute when Darmian suggests for Lautaro who sensationally misses the ball. Inzaghi’s team sets up tents in the opposing backline but Stankovic’s 3-man line holds. Shortly after half an hour the first goal for the hosts: Zanoli gains ground on the right and puts it on the near post where Lammers, with his back heel, creates various worries for Onana. Around Lautaro and Lukaku, with doubled or even tripled markings, the pressing attention of Amione and Nuytinck provides the results expected by Stankovic. Inter also tries with set pieces and in the 35th minute Gosens’s gap, following a Calhanoglu free-kick, comes out in a breath to Audero’s left.
Inzaghi leaves Gosens in the locker room and entrusts the left wing to Di Marco. It’s a second half played openly by both teams. Inter are looking for various solutions but Lukaku and Lauraro, caught in the Dorian grip, are out of breath. Di Marco, after various thrusts, went on his own in the 54th minute but his aim was slightly high. Sampdoria begins to gather courage and become dangerous with the counterattacks: in the 54th and 60th minutes the solution sought by Gabbiadini first with a left-footed and then with a header is just wide. The rhythms drop. In the 66th minute Inzaghi changes the face of his team with a variation by department: Lukaku, Barella and Darmian leave, Dzeko, Brozovic and Dumfries enter. The score doesn’t change and therefore, failing to be dangerous with the strikers, Inter relies on its snipers: Calhanoglu first calls Audero to save on the ground and then touches the post to his left.
Stankovic doesn’t have the same artillery and tries to protect himself: Murru and Rincon replace Djuricic and Gabbiadini, then Quagliarella and Paoletti enter for Lammers and Zanoli. In the 87th minute an unfortunate back pass from Dumfries “weapon” Quagliarella in front of Onana but the Sampdoria center forward was too far away to hurt. Five minutes of added time and three chances for the guests. In the 92nd minute Acerbi’s lash was deflected by Audero onto the crossbar. Shortly after Dzeko, under measure, puts his head out and finally, a clear example of Lautaro’s black evening, the Bull a stone’s throw from the Sampdoria goal misses the hook of the ball by collapsing on Murillo. It is the last scene of Marassi’s challenge. After months of bitterness, an injection of enthusiasm for the Sampdoria environment. Night of reflection, however, for Inzaghi.
