TOPS/FLOPS – Inter Milan overthrew their rival AC Milan (0-2) with great control and a high-flying first period. This is what caught the attention of our editors.
TOPS
The steamroller is interist
The first period was one-sided with a large domination of Inter Milan. The Rossoneri were plunged into the hell of the Nerazzurri. With enormous intensity and big-game aggression, Simone Inzaghi’s players gave their rivals no chance. In just 8 minutes of play, Inter opened the scoring in the wake of Edin Dzeko (8th, 0-1), doubled the bet on a strike from Henrikh Mkhitaryan (10th, 0-2) and touched the left post from Mike Maignan on a powerful shot from Hakan Çalhanoğlu (16th). A few minutes later, Lautaro Martinez even provoked a penalty whistled by the referee, then judged by the VAR (32nd). A total and clear domination against an AC Milan team unable to get a single chance or get out of its surface.
Sandro Tonali, alone in the world
In the collective doldrums of AC Milan, one individual stood out and deserves a real mention. The young Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali (23) was the only element capable of bringing danger and a semblance of reaction. In attitude as in the game, he was always available. The Italian even came very close to reducing the score on a powerful strike which crashed into the post of André Onana (64th). Throughout the meeting, he did everything to create while standing out in the axis. Sandro Tonali finished the match with 62 balls touched and almost 80% of successful passes. He won half of his duels and caused two fouls.
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FLOPS
The lack of realism of the Rossoneri
For 90 minutes, AC Milan was unable to react, except for the post found by Sandro Tonali. All the strikes seemed desperate, with no real creation. Many false notes and technical errors in the animation. At the break, the Rossoneri had attempted just five shots for no shots on target. It’s not much better in the second half since Stefano Pioli’s players finished the game with 13 shots attempted for only two on target. A very meager ratio explained by a cruel lack of realism and efficiency. As well as a slightly too discreet Olivier Giroud.
The sterile axial play of AC Milan
Apart from Sandro Tonali, singular light, AC Milan accuses the blow especially in midfield and generally in the axis. The poor performance of Rade Krunic, added to the injury of Ismaël Bennacer, the Rossoneri were unable to move forward with their centrals. Worse still, in the first period, the unpleasant impression of false numerical inferiority was made. feel, as the Interists advanced too easily, without any player coming to put pressure. Even wingers Brahim Diaz and Alexis Saelemaekers have too rarely transplanted in the axis. One of the keys to reworking for the return match will be this axial play, fundamental in modern football for balance in a collective. The Milan game lacked a binder.
