Juve enjoys, Inter sinks. The Derby d'Italia didn't give any surprises: the strongest won, without ifs and buts. The bianconeri thus returned to winning ways after the draws with Bologna and Bayern and extended the advantage over Napoli by 4 lengths, forced to respond in order not to detach themselves, perhaps definitively, from the fight for the Scudetto. Late night instead for the nerazzurri, the umpteenth defeat of this disconcerting 2016: from 20 December to today just over two months have passed but it seems like an eternity.
The pre-Christmas first place has become a fifth, moreover with Milan now close behind (-1) and the Champions League position, the minimum goal set by Thohir, is 5 points away (7 if Fiorentina were to win tonight). On the eve Allegri and Mancini had said that the standings, in these games, don't count that much: the gap, however, was evident right from the start. Juventus could have found the advantage after just 5' if Hernanes, lined up in place of the injured Marchisio, hadn't found the usual great Handanovic on his way.
Another 2' and Dybala had the goal, another 2 more and it was Mandzukic's turn: in short, the start was very strong for black and white. But then Inter, fielded by Mancini with an unprecedented 3-5-2, compacted and withstood the impact of Juve until the end of the first half. But then, as often happens on evenings like these, here is the decisive episode to shuffle the cards: free kick by Dybala, clumsy rejection by D'Ambrosio on Bonucci, perfect coordination and big right foot behind Handanovic (47 ').
The 1-0 put the game downhill and Allegri, forced to replace Chiellini (new problem for him) with Rugani already in the first half, was able to manage ball possession and counterattacks. For his part, Mancini tried to shuffle the cards: Medel and Telles out, Ljajic and Perisic in with the consequent transition to a much more offensive 4-2-3-1. However, real opportunities did not come and so Juve, without any particular effort, put the match to sleep and then closed it with Morata's penalty (84', a foul by Miranda on the same Spaniard).
“We played a very good game, we are happy – explained Allegri. – In doing so, a very important victory for the standings has arrived, we will look at Napoli with the awareness that, however it goes, we will still be first ". The Inter environment is decidedly less serene, now grappling with a crisis that seems irreversible. Mancini preferred not to appear in front of the microphones (no controversy but only fever and sore throat) and Ausilio spoke instead of him, very harsh towards his players.
“A situation like this is unacceptable, we need to get back on the bike – thought the Nerazzurri sports director. – I expected much more from some guys, there is a lot of talk about our shortcomings but I say that it takes sacrifice, balls and character". On the one hand joy and satisfaction, on the other anger and bewilderment. Logical consequence of the Derby d'Italia, a game that can condition a season like few others.
