One time each for a draw that is good for everyone and really doesn't please anyone. The Derby d'Italia has given emotions on both sides, demonstrating that, after all, in evenings like this, the distances in the standings matter relatively. Just looking at yesterday's match, you wouldn't think that there is an 18-point difference between leaders Juventus and eleventh-placed Inter. A good game that of Turin, which ended with a fair draw, albeit skimpy in its forms: given and considering the numerous occasions (for both) there could easily have been more goals. Also because the first came after just 5' when Vidal, with an extraordinary number, served Tevez a ball only to be placed on the net.
The 1-0 made Juve's part of the match even easier and, consequently, that of Inter terrible. Vidal came close to scoring twice more and Pogba, with a top class play, forced Handanovic to make a great save. Doubling in the air but, as per the script in recent times, Juventus doesn't know how to "kill" matches. And so, this time too, he ended up suffering the return of his opponents. “No physical collapse, Inter raised the pressure and we had spent a lot in the first half – explained Massimiliano Allegri. – The first 45 minutes were the best of the season, but after the goal we got into trouble and took risks. We make too many mistakes when it comes to closing matches, we need to improve this type of management…”.
Oh yes, because lately (it also happened with Turin, Sampdoria and Naples in the Super Cup) Juve struggled to keep pace for 90'. The turning point came in the 64th minute when Icardi, served excellently by Guarin, slipped in Buffon with a precise and ruthless diagonal. From then on, except for some more casual black and white flare-ups, there was only Inter. At the center of everything again Maurito, protagonist for better or for worse. The Argentine forced Buffon to perform a miracle, then missed the brace arriving for a long moment on Podolski's assist (by the way, good debut from the German who came on in the second half for Kuzmanovic), finally thwarted a sensational counterattack with a limit instead of serving the best placed Osvaldo.
A dispute arose which ended up involving Mancini as well, sent to hell by the former Southampton player. The Nerazzurri's final assault (4-2-4 with Osvaldo, Icardi, Podolski and Kovacic at the same time) was however interrupted by the Croatian number 10: a (silly) foul on Lichtsteiner and Inter in 10. Juve gave the last thrill , close to 2-1 after a percussion by Pogba ended somehow by Evra.
“We have to be sorry, even if the match was difficult we had the chances to win it – Roberto Mancini's analysis. – We weren't able to take advantage of them but I'm happy with our second time, much better than the first”. In short, a fair draw which, on balance, can satisfy everyone even if with a pinch of bitterness in the mouth. However, Juve remains first (watch out for the next round though, with the Bianconeri in Naples and Roma engaged in the derby with Lazio), Inter consolidates their convictions with a prestigious result. For the first of the year, after all, that's okay too.
