All in one night. Inter and Juventus are preparing for the 230th Italian derby (the 194th in the league) with two very different moods. On the one hand the black and whites, with full points in the standings and strong in indisputable technical dominance, on the other the black and blues, forced to react after a very difficult start, which culminated in Thursday's defeat in the Cup.
On paper it would seem that there was no match, yet history teaches that anything can happen on such evenings. The stars on the pitch are many and all worthy of attention, but the focus will be above all on Frank De Boer, the special observer of this Inter-Juventus. To date, his score as a Nerazzurri coach includes only one victory (in the photo finish against Pescara), one draw and two defeats, the last disconcerting one against the semi-unknown Israelis of Hapoel Beer Sheva. It's difficult to question a coach who has only arrived 40 days and is therefore full of alibis, yet there are already many doubts about the solidity of his bench.
“It's normal to have this kind of pressure, I'm in a big club and the results aren't coming – admitted the Dutchman. – You can't change everything in a month but we are working hard, we do better every week. I feel the support of the club and I am convinced that this match will be completely different, we are confident and we hope that the public will give us a decisive push". However, the proclamations will have to be followed by an important performance, possibly accompanied by a positive result. The Inter seen on Thursday is too bad to be true, it is no coincidence that the Chinese owners turned up their noses and expect immediate improvements. De Boer is then grappling with the Brozovic case, left home for disciplinary reasons (he didn't take the replacement with Hapole well): yet another sign that something is wrong even at group level, a concept unknown up to now for his Inter . The Dutchman will try to get back up by relying on a 4-2-3-1 with Handanovic in goal, Santon, Miranda, Murillo and Nagatomo in defense, Joao Mario and Medel in midfield, Candreva, Banega and Perisic in the trocar behind the lone striker Icardi.
Very different climate at Juventus, albeit less bubbly than a few days ago. The draw with Sevilla left a bad taste in the mouth and Bonucci's words (“I didn't like our fans, they had to support us and instead they were already moaning in the 20th minute) fully demonstrate it. The black and white army flies to the league but has not yet managed to do the same in the Champions League, hence the discontent (so to speak) of an environment now addicted to victories and therefore at risk of saturation.
“We all have to get our feet back on the ground, winning the sixth Scudetto in a row is by no means a foregone conclusion – thought Allegri. – This match against Inter will be very important for us, I think it's the first turning point for the title even if we're only at the beginning. But beware of underestimating your opponents: they will want to make up for Thursday's defeat and will have the support of 80 fans." Many will be black and white but it doesn't matter: the coach is well aware that the only real great obstacle to victory is represented by Juve itself, which is why he always tries to keep everyone on edge. To conquer the Italian derby he will use the usual 3-5-2 with Buffon in goal, Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini in defense, Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Lemina, Pjanic and Alex Sandro in midfield, Higuain and Dybala in attack. It will be played at 18pm in a San Siro that is sold out in every order of seating: yet another sign that Inter-Juventus is not and will never be a match like any other.
