The first act of the “Napoli-Inter-Venice” plot sees the league leaders collapse under the blows of Atalanta. At that point, Inter needed a victory, and it arrived. The neroazzurri are now just one point behind Napoli, but they struggled extremely against Venezia. The victory came with just a goal from Lautaro Martinez with a header from a cross from Dimarco. Simone Inzaghi, however, risks the cuddle for the goal of the lagoon equalizer in the 97th minute, which was canceled only after a long consultation between the referee Ferrieri Caputi and the VAR for a handball.
After the doubts on the eve of the turnover, Inzaghi finally chose to field all his starting players, starting with captain Lautaro Martinez. Inter pushes at the start and the first to create danger is the Argentine himself, with a right-foot volley following an assist from Dumfries which goes just wide. The Nerazzurri then continued to create opportunities, wasting them repeatedly with Barella, Thuram (twice) and Mkhitaryan.
However, Inter confirm their ability not only to create danger, but also to distract themselves in the defensive phase. So the Inter defense leaves Idzes undisturbed to travel 40 meters before serving Pohjanpalo who goes wild, the ball ends up in Oristanio who, however, shoots at Sommer from a few steps away with the goal unguarded. In the second half, Di Francesco throws Busio into the fray for a more offensive Venezia. The lagoon players raise their center of gravity and pace, effectively uncorking the game so much so that Oristanio is almost on target after less than a minute, but is stopped by Bastoni at the last minute.
Inter found space and in fact broke the deadlock on the restart, with Dimarco serving Mkhitaryan, left-footed, and Stankovic beaten: the VAR, however, canceled it due to the winger’s offside position. Once the scare was over, the Venetians created another sensational opportunity, but Pohjanpalo kicked again at Sommer with a sure shot from inside the area.
“The goal disallowed? There isn’t one going around properly. I don’t think it’s as obvious as described, but if the regulation says this I don’t even want to discuss it. Sometimes I like refereeing more in the management of the general match which I think was a little more on the other side throughout the match. I don’t think there is a clear foul, but I don’t want to discuss this.” These are the words of Venezia coach Eusebio Di Francesco, interviewed by Dazn after the defeat against Inter. “I want to compliment my team because this comes through the mentality that the team had throughout the match, risking something but also creating those 3/4 scoring opportunities that we didn’t materialize – he continues -. Then there’s the possibility that Inter could score a goal for you at any moment. This goal would have been the right epilogue for what we showed on the pitch throughout the match, we would have deserved it. We’re keeping the excellent race, it’s a shame about the result.”
“We should have been more cynical, but to be honest I complimented the team even at the end of the first half. We missed some important goals, the match probably would have been easier. In the second half in the first quarter of an hour we lost some distance and conceded an opportunity in which Sommer was good. Once we found the advantage, the big flaw was not having doubled the lead and not having closed the game.” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi interviewed by Dazn after the victory against Venezia. “We know Serie A, the matches always remain in the balance – Inzaghi said again -. On the last occasion I reviewed it calmly, in addition to the handball there was the push on Bisseck. But beyond this, we clearly had to be cynical because with all the opportunities created you can’t get to the seventh minute of injury time when you’re only 1-0. But honor to Venezia who came to San Siro to play an excellent match. It will be a very balanced and open championship, we are all there and these matches can make the difference.” “The direct clash with Napoli? No turning point, it will be an important match but in two and a half days we will be on the field against one of the strongest teams in Europe. At the moment my thoughts are on Arsenal,” concluded the Inter coach.
But, beyond the merits of Venezia and the uncertainty of this championship, the Nerazzurri coach would do well to urgently adjust the defense and better stimulate the attackers who continually waste in front of the net.
