Looking back, it seemed like the apotheosis of the Inzaghi band and the scudetto of the coveted second star already writtenthe but Inter’s path has not been without pitfalls. Over the course of this season, the Nerazzurri have broken the resistance of their rivals one at a time, building step by step the unbridgeable advantage that closed the accounts. Let’s go over the ten together key matches who guaranteed this well-deserved triumph to the Beloved.
Inter-Fiorentina 4-0 (3/9)
After an overall quiet start to the season, the Viola’s arrival at San Siro was the first challenge really complicated for Inter, with their minds already on the derby after the international break. From the first minutes you can sense it fierce determination of the Nerazzurri to tear their opponent to pieces but, after Thuram’s goal, many opportunities were shattered by the Tuscan defense.
And here we notice a feature that would have made the difference in the long run: the tenacity of this Inter, which then spreads once they scored 2-0 in the second half. The signal to our rivals is very clear: we are serious.
Inter-Milan 5-1 (16/9)
It only takes 5 minutes and Thuram’s ringworm to understand that the competitive fury he is always alive. Mkhitaryan’s move is just the start of a siege: when Milan plays it comes shot restarting from a deadly Thuram but Inter don’t close the game straight away.
Leao’s goal in the second half seems like the start of the comeback but it is a fire in the pan: Mkhitaryan’s brace, former Calhanoglu’s penalty and new entry Frattesi’s strike mark one of the defeats heavier of the recent history of the Rossoneri. Here, many Inter fans began to understand that it would be the right season.
Atalanta-Inter 1-2 (4/11)
Feeling the breath of Juventus on your neck and having to face one mangy team like Gasp’s Atalanta, it’s not the best. Pavard’s injury seemed to paint a complicated evening but yet another penalty from the sniper Calhanoglu puts Inter back on track.
The Nerazzurri return to the field with the right attitude and seem to settle the score with the gluttonous by Lautaro Martinez but Atalanta finds it immediately the 1-2 with Scamacca, And here Inter shows that they also know suffer, withstand the impact and strike on the counterattack, coming close to scoring the third goal several times. A heavy victory especially from the point of view mental.
Juventus-Inter 1-1 (26/11)
Speak about match points in November it is perhaps absurd but the feeling of many was that it would have been the match at the Allianz Stadium in set the tone to the central phase of the season. The point-to-point fight between the two historic rivals would be decided in Italian derby. The first half was balanced but when Chiesa gave Vlahovic the opening goal many feared Juve can spread.
Nothing of the sort: all it takes is a restart and Toro takes care of equalizing the score with an assist from Thuram, who overcame the difficult Bremer. After playing the match, Inter don’t have the badness to land the winning move, closing with a draw that leaves still lives the hopes of the Bianconeri.
Napoli-Inter 0-3 (3/12)
Given Juve’s victory in Monza, Inter arrive at Maradona with one enormous pressure on their shoulders, having to compete with the reigning Italian champions. Mazzarri’s Napoli starts off well puts you on the ropes the Nerazzurri, who held up in an orderly manner even when the former Politano hit the crossbar.
When the Neapolitans take a breath, here it is lashed of Calhanoglu who however does not close the accounts. An excellent Sommer was needed to deny Kvaratskhelia a goal in the second half until the end Barella’s slalom which sinks Napoli. Thuram’s goal is just the icing on the cake.
Lazio-Inter 0-2 (17/12)
Juventus’ draw in Genoa offers the Inzaghi gang agreat opportunity to get ahead of the rival. Having to do it, however, at the Olimpico against Lazio would not have been easy at all. The first half of Sarri’s eleven was convincing until the end suicidal backpass by Marusic who sets up an easy goal for Lautaro Martinez.
The Eagles are not there and come close to equalizing with Rovella but it’s not evening. Yet another counterattack and Thuram’s 2-0 arrives, sending the Capitoline team into disarray: without Provedel’s miracles the score could have been even rounder. Now that Juve are at minus four, we can finally breathe.
Monza-Inter 1-5 (13/1)
The start of the return round on a never simple pitch like the former Brianteo seemed like the right opportunity to revive hopes of the pursuers. Inter takes the field with the right attitude and passes immediately. Calhanoglu’s penalty was doubled by Lautaro’s goal from the restart but the match continued it is not closed at all.
Monza holds on and is still dangerous but has to raise the white flag when the Turk doubles their lead. Pessina’s penalty is just one episode before the final that sees Inter spread with Lautaro’s penalty and Thuram’s counterattack goal. Inter wins, convinces and has fun: Juve is warned.
Inter-Juventus 1-0 (4/2)
After the draw in Empoli, the last hopes Juventus’ comebacks will all be played out in the second leg of the Italian derby at San Siro, given the match against Atalanta to recover. Inter struggled a bit to overcome the Juventus defence, pulling a little in the first 20 minutes until Bremer’s sensational intervention which takes away a goal scored by Thuram.
When Vlahovic wastes an excellent opportunity on the counterattack it is only the prelude to the action daring which is worth Gatti’s own goal. From here on, Inter came close to doubling their lead several times, with Calhanoglu’s post and a couple of goals miracles by Szczesny but, in the end, he takes home three decisive points. The championship, more or less, it ends here.
Roma-Inter 2-4 (10/2)
Having to follow the victory over Juventus with a trip to the Olimpico against one Rome revitalized since the arrival of De Rossi it could have greatly complicated the championship race. Sommer’s miracle over El Shaarawy and Acerbi’s advantage seem to portend an outcome quiet evening but things won’t go that way at all. Mancini and El Shaarawy they overturn all in just a few minutes before half-time.
Upon returning from the locker rooms, instead of slipping, Inter finds immediately equal with Thuram and then took the lead with Angelino’s own goal. When Sommer takes the equalizer away from former Lukaku, everything is clear: this is Inter unstoppable. Bastoni’s goal on the counterattack in injury time only made the result more rounded. Game, set, match.
Inter-Atalanta 4-0 (28/2)
The remaining hopes of Inter’s rivals all clung to that asterisk, the home match with one of the best teams at the moment, Atalanta. A defeat could have keep alive the hopes of Milan and Juve, considering that the Nerazzurri seemed to have their sights set on the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. When the Dea’s advantage was canceled out by Miranchuk’s handball, Inter goes wildtaking the lead with Darmian.
The opportunities abounded in a few minutes, until Lautaro doubled the lead and seemed to close the score. Residual hopes they evaporate when Dimarco bursts in following Toro’s error from the spot to make it 3-0.
There is also room for Frattesi’s poker but the signal is clear: mathematics aside, Inter is already champion.
Tags: Inter ten key stages victory
